Loading a small boat into truck bed

At 10'+ it needs a headache rack. It will stick up hella high though if you pull it in enough to close the gate. Trailer + hand crank seems a better notion.

 

There are several ideas on here that would work. Except the idea of a friend helping you. You said one person. And a pulley system. Probably not going to accommodate that where you are fishing. Loading a motor cycle whose mass is completely centered over two wheels is way different than loading something with a friction coefficient the same as dragging a stack of plywood. The whole point in going boating is to enjoy your day. Are you making this more difficult by not using a trailer our taking a buddy to help load it? If you have to go by yourself why not get a kayak and be donewith it? Lighter. Easier to load by yourself. And several models have accommodations for trolling motors. Keep it simple and fun. I fish mine almost every weekendin the summer

 

Posting that picture made me readyu for warmer temps so i can introduce my kayaks to the new truck. They are going to be such good friends.

 

Back truck down ramp until the tailgate is underwater. Boat will slide right out.

To load repeat.

When you get home, untie it. Back up at 15mph and hit the breaks.

 

Actually sitting here laughing my ass off while imagining every step of that process.

One problem, though. You solved every step except loading it back into the truck at home.

I'm thinking maybe a long tow strap and launch ramp of some sort?

 

That's what the wife is for. She loads the boat and as a reward gets the house to herself for a few hours.

 

Since it will be sticking almost 3' past the lowered tailgate just fashion a couple tailgate high horses to rest it on. Launching it shouldn't require submerging the tailgate, just close enough to float the stern. It still might be easiest to mount a lightweight hoist to a headache rack to reel it in but it could be done with a block and tackle at that weight. I wouldn't want even that little weight bouncing on the lowered tailgate so I'd likely remove that and put a contoured crossbar with rollers attached to some version of bed supports such as Chaos makes set up tall enough to prevent ass-dragging the boat(2x6 or 2x8 should be enough). Drive with all the gear stowed forward of the axle or in the cab since cantilevering multiplies sag weight.