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An actual, practical problem?
I recently acquired a new truck, problem is, most all new trucks have ridiculously short beds, and one of the things I need to do is haul rough and dimensional lumber.
If I have plank, length L, is it more stable to place it in the bed with the tailgate up (with the rear of the plank in the air), or to leave the tailgate down? The bed of the truck is 61" and the tailgate is 21".
With the tailgate down, the board is more prone to sliding out upon acceleration, and snapping in half on large bumps. With the tailgate up, there will be a wind load trying to tilt the board out of the bed. Any suggestions are welcome, although I don't have any space for a trailer.
2 Answers
- 4 years ago
I think you overestimate the amount of wind load pushing down on the boards. Consider that is you are hauling a 4x8 sheet of plywood, you will likely have 5-6 feet of material on the bed side of the pivot point. So that is 60 - 75% of the lumber weight favoring staying put. But I would only recommend hauling lumber over the tail gate if it is a couple of sheets. If you are hauling a tall stack, I agree with déjà vu in that it would be best to lay it flat and strap it down. The reason being that the hinges for the tail gate are not typically designed to carry huge amounts of weight.
