hauling lumber?

mrshanes · 09-12-2006, 06:37 AM

I'm looking to build a swingset for my boy and I would like to haul the lumber myself. I need a bunch of 12' boards. With our extra short beds, do you think that would hang over the tailgate too far and be risky? I'd rather not pay for delivery if I can help it. What do you think?

**Blackbeauty** · 09-12-2006, 06:48 AM

If you have the CC, your bed length is 66.5" or 5'-6 1/2". With the tailgate down, you will get about another 20" for about 7'-2 1/2" or so. That will leave 4'-9 1/2" hanging off the end. If you have the KC, you have about another 10-11" of bed. Provided you red-flag the ends of the lumber and put something heavy on the end near the bulkhead, you should be ok. Also, tie the loose ends of the lumber together with tiedown straps. They will tend to act as more of a unit then and will flex less. You can also strap a tiedown to the end that hangs over and attach it to the tiedowns inside your bed to keep the lumber from flying out when you accelerate. Use your four-way flashers, drive slowly, take turns gingerly, and good luck!

**Kronos1965** · 09-12-2006, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrshanes

I'm looking to build a swingset for my boy and I would like to haul the lumber myself. I need a bunch of 12' boards. With our extra short beds, do you think that would hang over the tailgate too far and be risky? I'd rather not pay for delivery if I can help it. What do you think?

Get this!

http://www.amazon.com/Deflecta-Shiel.../dp/B000051XJ3

**Blackbeauty** · 09-12-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronos1965

Get this!

http://www.amazon.com/Deflecta-Shiel.../dp/B000051XJ3

Those are neat gadgets! One of the guys I work with has one and carries cayaks with it. Works great for those long loads! Just thought if it was a once and done thing, no $$$$ need be laid out. If you are going to haul much lumber in the future or plan to keep the truck with a short box, definitely look into one of these.

tnbowhunter · 09-12-2006, 09:18 AM

I've hauled 16" 2X6s in my truck, of course mine is a K/C with the utility bed pkg. so I had a little extra bed length and the tie downs.

If I can carry 16 footers i'm sure you could haul 12 footers in your C/C. Just tie them down with a couple of good ratchet straps and you should be good to go.

**gadget74** · 09-12-2006, 10:01 AM

You Can Do It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mtofell · 09-12-2006, 05:21 PM

I've done it in my CC... and it's not too bad. It kind of depends how far you have to go. I use the Home Depot delivery fairly often.... It's a flat $50 no matter how much stuff you buy. I try to plan out several projects and have it all brought at once. The $50 is really pretty small compared to how much all the stuff costs... especially if you can combine a couple things... especially heavy things like patio stones or bags of rocks. Then again, I am getting lazier as I get older too.

ruauman2 · 09-12-2006, 05:33 PM

I recently hauled a bunch of 6"x 6"x 12' boards in my CC for some landscaping I'm doing. I just strapped it down to the utilitrack, red flagged it and I was off.

dav8or · 09-12-2006, 08:01 PM

Put the concrete bags up front on top of the lumber. Rap a ratched tie down around the boards south of the tail gate and hook it to the tiedowns in the bed. Should be no problem.

Herbpov · 09-12-2006, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronos1965

Get this!

http://www.amazon.com/Deflecta-Shiel.../dp/B000051XJ3

HITCHHAND $110.00 from Summit Racing.

12glocks · 09-12-2006, 09:07 PM

Your kidding right?

No problem should be encountered just do as the others recomended with straps. I carried over 1600 pounds of lumber today sticking out the bed. I was only worried it may slide out when driving up my steep driveway (since I have the factory plastic bedliner). Straps held everything just fine.

MantAscona · 09-13-2006, 08:06 AM

Here's a cheaper option. I bought one of these to haul my 17' canoe. I'm not normally a fan of Harbor Freight, but for as often as I will use it, the price was right. I got mine on sale for $19.95 and it is plenty strong and heavy enough to use for almost anything. I comes apart in about 5 seconds to allow for compact storage. I use it more than I thought I would.

I tried to post a link, but it wouldn't let me since I don't have 15 or more posts. So go to Harborfreight. com and type 39168 in the Item number search box on the left side of the screen.

Duane

305hp · 09-13-2006, 11:50 AM

lay the bottom row vertically (Like a beam) and tie them together.

**konigfritz** · 09-13-2006, 12:34 PM

I tote 12's all the time. No problem. Just strap em together and away ya go.

asheborotitan · 09-13-2006, 05:23 PM

Go for it!! Follow all of the good advice and you will have no trouble.