Anyone have photos of how you carry 4x8 sheet goods?

It definitely looks like it:

 

Unless that's a 1-ton he needs to get the ramp off the tailgate and make two trips to HD instead of one. A winch mount for the hitch would be a nice addition. I like the idea of transferring the load to the frame through legs instead of just the bedside notches.

The tailgate is just a tin can, try to avoid overloading it with predictable results. Even with a reinfocement panel the hinges are still just stamped sheet metal cups welded to sheet metal side plates. Hitch extender is a much better option.

1x8 hardwood(mines maple from a demo job) fits really well and matches wheel well and side lip height better than 2x.

 

Etrailer.com

https://www.etrailer.com/Ladder-Racks/Toyota/Tacoma/2017/59799.html?vehicleID=201734799

It definitely can hold the 800lbs it's rated for

 

I am too lazy for 2 trips when 1 works fine, and it isnt a Tonka. Would I drive it on the interstate, hell no, but paved residential roads @30 mph during the day seemed fine to me. Tires didn't even look too bad. Way better than the bed full of rock had in the Toyota Pickup Regular Cab... Front end was getting light on that one. But yes, you are right, it was about 2x+ rated payload...

Before using the ramp, the 2x4 was locked into the tailgate/bed crack, not that it was heavy at all. Winch was bolted onto the bottom of the ramp, over a pulley at the top, back to the trolley.

 

Any space over the bump stops? I’ve overloaded mine a time or two but not quite by that much. Added air bags to retain suspension travel regardless of weight because unlike HD leaves the bags can be tuned down to lighter loads.

It’s a cool set up and one I’ll be sure to remember, thanks for posting it.

 

Wow, Ive been living under a rock. I did not know thats what those spaces are for. This thread got me mind blown haha.

 

Did you have to drill the bolt holes or are they already there? Any reinforcement needed or is it not basically sheet metal?

 

Air bags
I pumped them up for this trip until they were about 2 inches above the bump, and went with that.
This board seems to really favor heavy springs, but I love the airbag versatility.

 

You my friend are a genius

 

You have to drill the holes. I put a fender washer on the outside (visible in the picture) and another washer and nut on the backside. The OEM mount is also only in sheet metal so no different.

 

Awesome. I’m doing this!

 

I'm the OP. I appreciate the replies and pics. In the photo below, what's the distance from the bed wall to the edge of the far cross brace? It looks like it's close to 4' since the bed is 5' but it must be slightly longer that 4', otherwise 8" sheet goods would tip. But I suppose that means you want to limit to 8' unless you add another brace or the hitch gizmo that some have shown.

BTW, on those hitch-mount braces, are those lockable (in other words, could someone easily steal it while you were in home depot buying 10' sheet goods)?

 

You could get locking pins, but I just leave it in the bed (under the tonneau) until I come out of the store.

Here is the extender I use, purchased with a 20 or 25% off coupon.

 

Ah, OK, so it installs in a matter of seconds. Good to know.

 

Thanks. That gives me an idea. I wonder if you could adapt a roller stand to the end of the extender, to make 1-person loading easier:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/TOUGHBU...VrSCtBh2m3A4XEAQYBCABEgJKKfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Rollers would dent drywall and only help with the first layer as well as facilitating the load flying off the back should the tie down fail. Nice thought though, might work as a saw stand extension for work. It's not too bad to slide over just a solid stock tee and once the first is in the rest are even easier.

 

Just wanted to note that the position on the holes will depend on the thickness of the boards that you use in the bed notches. I used 5/4 Pine (1" actual thickness).

I supported the tailgate at the correct height, marked the holes and then moved the marks up slightly to allow for a little sag.

 

Brilliant!

 

The original idea came from this thread which I found while searching for a better way to carry sheet goods in my truck (post #8).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-size-plank-fits-in-the-bed-slots.45645/