Best way to carry 14ft poles

So I have been doing a lot of installs and will be doing a lot more in the near future that require carrying some lightweight 14ft poles.



So far I have been managing fine with straps and tying down everything super tight plus a "roof protecting device" lol

My main concerns are something to protect the roof and being able to safely carry a couple more poles.

Considering:

-Single side ladder rack although I wanted something that requires no drilling, and can easily be taken out when not in use.

-Getting the factory roof rack and a ladder back all the way by the end of the bed

-Using the same carrying system I use now and simply installing a backrack or roll bar to protect the roof but my budget is around $250 and most backracks/headache rack look really bad.

Any other ideas?

 

If are under #100lbs get the roof rack on the truck like i did..i can carry my 19 foot hang glider....

<- <- <-

 

You could probably build a headache rack to use and only keep it in when you need it. Attach it to the bed rail system. Get some flat bar that's around 1/4 inch thick cut it down to the size of the bed rail and drill a hole in the middle and tap it

 

Thanks, I can't do this since I also carry other equipment that requires the tailgate closed and would prefer to not have 10 foot of pole sticking out behind me as I sometimes have to drive/maneuver/park around tight spaces before I can unload.

 

I usually use it for long pieces of lumber, I think a lot of guys use them for kayak's.

 

16 foot trailer?

 

I hope it never happens, but think of other drivers. Not sure if that’s the safest way to haul 14’ poles.

 

14’6”

 

Cut them in half.

 

If you’re doing this regularly you should get a bigger budget. Need to think of safety and get a proper rack or trailer.

 

If its an "occasional" thing, use the back window.
14 foot poles....
14-6 (bed) = 8
8-5 (cab) = 3
... you don't need a red flag except if it extends MORE than 3 feet beyond the back of the BUMPER.

Ratchet strap it at the front of the bed. Loop the strap all the way around the cargo.

If its an "all the time" thing, then you need to think about getting a rack.

 

Michigan "4 feet or more beyond the bed or body "

Where you live/drive is the law you need to know.

 

I've never seen anywhere under 3 feet, which is why I used that number, but by all means, if your area allows longer, use that.

 

I was looking through my Smugmug gallery to see if I had any pictures of the rack I built out of random lumber I had laying around, and I guess this one somewhat gives you an idea. I guess it was a picture of my traction kite for some strange reason. I cobbled together a rack out of lumber I had, it took a few hours to make and worked awesome. It fit perfectly in the bed and I tied it to the bed tie downs. It was supposed to be temporary but the next year after winter (it was a canoe rack) it was still solid as can be, so I painted it to preserve it and used it until I got a trailer. It was solid as can be and the canoe was a big flat back that weighed 130 lbs.

 

I think that there is some degree of illusion in that image due to 2-dimensions.
Look at the ladder's feet and compare the angle there with the passenger side of the car. If the ladder was entirely perpendicular to the vehicle's direction of motion, then the "front" foot could not be visible through the "back" foot.

However, also compare the angle of the feet with the angle of the back of the car.

So the ladder is actually mounted on a **diagonal**, which isn't nearly as bad as being mounted fully perpendicular to the direction of travel as it initially appears.

Assuming that the ladder complies with osha, the rungs must be spaced between 10 and 14 inches. At the maximum 14 inches, 12 rungs and half rung extension beyond the end rungs, the total length of that ladder is not more than 15.2 feet.

At a 45 degree angle, it would take up a width of 10.75 feet, plus the width of the ladder, so about 12 feet, which is the standard lane width.

However.... assuming a square roof rack base, and that each side of the ladder is mounted against the side rail, then the angle must be LESS than 45 degrees.

The equation to find the width is 15.2 sin X, where X is the angle made between the ladder and the direction of travel.

I.e., at 5 degree increments from 20 to 40 degrees;
15.2 sin 20 = 5.2 feet wide
15.2 sin 25 = 6.4 feet
15.2 sin 30 = 7.6 feet
15.2 sin 35 = 8.7 feet
15.2 sin 40 = 9.8 feet

And note that you still have to add in the width of the ladder's rails, so about 16 inches.

My best guess is that its probably at 20-25 degrees, which isn't NEARLY as bad as it initially looks.

Still stupid as hell though.

 

I was just going to say that .

 

Admit it... it was you.