Show pics of your truckbed "extender"

[Sodo]

Harbor freight makes one for $69.99



I want it to support the cargo at tailgate CLOSED height, so I can leave my tools in the bed, but still transport long stuff. Soon I have to transport 14 foot metal roofing sheets., and then 12 foot drywall, so I will build this soon. My truck has a 6.5 foot bed.

Pretty simple to modify the HF unit, but I'd like to see what other folks have done before I start this project.

 

[k0ua]

Sodo, looking at the photo, they have a tie down loop on each end of the upper suppport. I would change that I think unless that support is over 48 inches wide, I would place the tie down support on the ends pointing out not pointing up. My thinking is if you carried sheet goods on the support, the pointing up tie down loops might dent them. Just a thought.

 

[bcp]

You need one that curves or slants up from the hitch, or you will be dragging it at every other dip you cross.

Something like these.



Bruce

 

[Sodo]

Hi James, the loops are 49 inches apart, but yep on the bottom is better, would not ever be in the way, &. I would alway have a strap over the top.

Bruce you ALWAYS produce great internet searches - what do you have, GoogleSuper? I definitely need better departure angle than that HF extender. Those pics help immensely, got some great ideas. Some look infinitely adjustable, easy to build too.

Probably need a permanent Red flag on a c-clamp. (tethered on a cable so its always available)

I'll make some crossbars for inside the bed (up on the bed sides) slightly above the tailgate. To carry long cargo above, so I can get tools etc out. Consequently I want the extender to support at heights for a closed tailgate (and perhaps tailgate down too). Will gather info for a little while then build something. I have to haul some 14foot steel roofing soon.

 

[zing]

I'll make some crossbars for inside the bed (up on the bed sides) slightly above the tailgate. To carry long cargo above, so I can get tools etc out. Consequently I want the extender to support at heights for a closed tailgate (and perhaps tailgate down too). Will gather info for a little while then build something. I have to haul some 14foot steel roofing soon.

Backrack makes one that fits into the rear bedrail pockets. Shouldn't be hard to duplicate something like that. Is this what you are talking about?

 

[farm boy00]

Go get a decent trailer to haul the stuff. That way u could have ur tools in ur truck and have ur stuff safely hauled

 

[roadhunter]

Interesting project. I can't say I've ever see anyone haul 14 ft sheet metal with a short bed truck but I'm sure with some creativity it can be done.

I run a headache rack on my truck and it can haul all sorts of interesting loads but I dont' know if it would work for this application.

I would think that a large angel iron rectangle that bolted to the top of your bed might work pretty well. Something similar to the back rack piece that was shown. I don't think that HF unit would hold the weight of many sheets of drywall. Especially since there will still be several feet of material hanging out, the amount of pressure on that could be quite a bit when you hit a bump.

 

[grnspot110]

That's what trailers are for!!!

Sticking thing more than 4' past the back of the vehicle is asking for trouble. ~~ Lowell

 

[Sodo]

Yes Zing fairly similar to those BackRack bars, except the bars would just sit ontop of the side rails inside my canopy.

I have an 18 ft car trailer that would work just fine. 4 feet overhang, and almost normal mobility, vs 23 feet of trailer-mobility? Trailers are not risk-free. Especially for me I'll see a pretty girl or a old truck sitting in some guys barn and jacknife a trailer every time. Also have a hankering to build something don't scuttle my mojo!

I'd like to build this thing so it could be stored in my truck at all times, ready for action. I have a sawmill, and when I need to carry some long wood it seems to just "happen" when the trailer is somewhere else. I considered a headache rack, but I have an ARE topper. It covers over the bed side about an inch below the top of the bed-sides. So to install a headache rack I'd have to notch my (NEW!) topper at the mounting points. Also headache racks cost gas mileage and make noise, so those are my thoughts for pursuing this route.

1/2" drywall 12 feet long weighs 76 lbs so the rear half weighs 38 lbs. The HarBor freight unit is rated at 350 lbs so thats 9 sheets, a significant load. Sounds "ambitious" - I'd be leery of that, but anyway the carrying capacity is a usable number. I'd make mine stronger than HF, which uses .092 sq. tube. I'll use 3/16", twice the strength.

 

[Xfaxman]

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I want it to support the cargo at tailgate CLOSED height, so I can leave my tools in the bed, but still transport long stuff. Soon I have to transport 14 foot metal roofing sheets., and then 12 foot drywall, so I will build this soon. My truck has a 6.5 foot bed.

Pretty simple to modify the HF unit, but I'd like to see what other folks have done before I start this project.

Not a "truckbed extender", but it is a Ladder Rack that comes apart so you can use a goose neck trailer.

Found it on eBay in January, 2006, when my truck was new.

The sellers pictures, he built it for a cross bed toolbox.


Mounted in my truck.


I have used it a lot after I modified it for a side mount toolbox.

Carried a 15' long wooden bench one time and a lot of 20' long steel tubing many times.