Getting gravel out of the pickup

[avorancher]

I picked up a load of 3/4 inch gravel today and had it dumped into the back of my Tacoma truck. It has a non-skid bed liner with ribs. Getting the gravel out was a real workout... I figure there must be a better way.

It took 2 hours to pick stuck gravel out of each rib. I tried a shovel, a rake, a stiff broom, and finally a screwdriver.

Would throwing a tarp or piece of plywood in the bottom work, or is there an even better idea?

 

[GRUMPA]

Plywood was and always be my best choice for that. First time my wife went with me to get a load of rock she thought for sure I was nuts till it came time to unload it. When I did alot of that awhile back I cut a 4x8 sheet in half and bolted flat steel to both halfs, when I got enough weight off of the closest one I would hook onto the steel and anchor it to a tree or solid pole of some sort and drive forward. Being only 4' long because I cut it in half it wouldn't hurt the bed at all or the tailgate either. When the first half was pulled out I repeated the same procedure for the second half.

 

[SCB]

I have used the tarp method in the past. I also tie it off to a tree or stump and drive forward to unload. You can also tie both ends off to the tree kind of like a parachute and it will remove the tarp from the bed with minimum of spillage. As was already said, some has to be unloaded first or it will be too heavy.

 

[jwstewar]

I have one of the ribbed bedliners in my truck. Got tired of everything sliding around on it, even though it has "grippies" to keep stuff from moving. NOT! What I ended up doing was got one of the rubber mats and put on top of the bed liner. Does double duty. Nothing slides in the bed (that can be a good or bad thing depending upon what you are loading /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) but is doesn't allow gravel to get down into the grooves of the liner and as I get down low enough I just fold the liner and pull it out. Very little gravel is then left in the truck. Works well for mulch too.

 

[WVBill]

I use a Load Handler I was skeptical when I bought it but it had a 100% satisfaction return so I tried it.

It REALLY WORKS!! I've had 1600 lbs of gravel in the truck and with the load handler I just cranked it right out. I've also used it for full pallets of field stone (one at a time) and just cranked them right off the back.

Now, there are always a few left-over stones in the bed of the truck and, frankly they're still there, stuck between the ribs of the bed a year after I moved the gravel. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[GareyD]

I'll second the Load Handler...use it for everything....

It will not only unload gravel, it will spread it as well as a dump truck (if you can get the wife to drive at a constant speed /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

Firewood, topsoil, square bales, round bales, moving, appliances.....

My favorite thing about the load handler is you don't have to get in the bed, move things back to the tailgate, get out of the truck, take things where you want them.....just stand at the tailgate and crank everythin back to you /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GareyD

 

[gadgetman]

Like WVBill, I have used the Load Handler for a number of years. One of the best things I purchased. I have about 20 Pecan Trees whick drop limbs when you "sneeze". I can place a load of limbs in my Pickup with the Load Handler and crank the entire load out in one easy motion. Also picked up a bulk load of mulch in the truck and it worked great.

Until I got it I had looked at one of the dump trailers but didn't really want to spend that much.

 

[DaveNay]

Can't you just pick up the truck and shake the gravel out? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dave

 

[Richard]

I was kinda thinking it would be another use for a backhoe... dual use...

1. Use backhoe to dig pile out of truck
2. When truck is near empty, lash chain around truck, use backhoe to lift truck up and then shake truck (upside down)

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Don't however, do what I did and inadvertently let your backhoe bucket come to rest on the siderail of the truck. Seems they're wern't meant to support that and it now has a very nice dent in it... the good news though? It's my wifes uncles truck, not mine /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[RCannon]

4th vote for load handler!...I'm always late for these advice things.. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif