Plywood

lots of posts on the subject but no direct answer. I want to haul 3 sheets of ply and maybe 10 8” 2x4s. If I have a 2x6 in front bed slots can I just lay the 2x4s in and then the ply over the studs and rest on top of tailgate? Or will it not fit or is it too heavy. Thank you

 

Yes you can. You’re overthinking it, by the way.

 

you'll be fine that's not very much weight . just put a red flag on the end of your load if it sticks out more then 3 feet past the bumper and tie the load down

 

8 inch two by fours. Not sure those will fit. Hope you have the short bed

 

Haha I think you know what I mean. Seems like everyone has bed extenders and hitch rigs. Didn’t want to be stuck at the store

 

We also have a notch towards the rear for another 2x6 so you can lay the ply flat in the bed with the tailgate down. Then put the 2x4s on top and tie them all down. If you have a sb it will be about 2' of overhang from the tailgate.

 

Don't remember what thread this was posted in.

 

Just load it in and drive it home.
5’ bed load plywood first and 2x4s on top with tailgate up.
6’ bed lay 2x4s first and then plywood on top.
Having the plywood in first on a 5’ bed allows for carrying longer 2x material. With the 6’ bed you can already carry 10’ 2x with tailgate up.

Don’t put a 2x4 or 2x6 in those slots. Just slide in as I show here.

 

My old truck.

 

I’ve hauled several 8’ 2x4s in my short bed. Just use a flag.

 

Just ratchet over top of everything Using d rings ?

 

Perfect solution. Get it done.

 

Load it just like this guy did, throw a ratchet strap over using the D rings and snug it down good to go! Done it this way many times.

 

I just put the 2X4s in the bed, plywood on top, and something to hold the plywood down..... before I got a camper shell. Now I just use my utility trailer.

 

Lots of ways to do it just remember our tail gates aren’t very strong, I’ve seen plenty of bent ones on all kinds of trucks from careless use. Try and choose the one that works best for that particular load and it’s a really good idea to drive conservatively when carrying tied in or extended loads, don’t be that guy. Plywood first is better since it also spreads the load across the width but only up to a point, overdo it or hit hard and you’ll find out the point where lumber racks or delivery are a better choice. The notches are great for platforms but leave the tail gate flopping unless you secure that too.
Heading home a guy in a taco passed me by(I was doing 65) with a few 12’ 1 x 4’s tied in and sticking up over the roof. As soon as he pulled into my lane I got into another, within a mile I saw pieces of 1 x 4 in that lane. He’d have been fine at 60 or better still doing 45 on a side road since a headwind will do the same thing as your right foot.

 

Way overthinking it

 

You need to buy a bolt on hood rack and load that first for counterweight so as not to wheelie down the road. The hood rack is probably my favorite mod

 

I do it all the time plus more than some of that weight with all my camping gear on my DIY plywood platform shelf.

 

Yep, from the D rings in the very back of the bed. Let’s us know how it goes.