LumberJocks

Truck bed riser for carrying plywood

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Project by IcemanSam posted 1866 days ago 3023 views 4 times favorited 15 comments Add to Favorites Watch

My pickup is too small to carry plywood flat. I decided to build a platform to rise above the wheel wells. This is the finished project. I know it’s not a “woodworking” project, but it helps me get the sheetgoods home. It’s a simple 2×4 frame with eye-bolts for bungie cords to hold down the sheets. The cross member in the middle locks the whole unit into the truck bed fitting into one of the pre-formed slots in the liner. I did use half-lap joints for the board crossing the unit towards the front of the bed so the sheets can ride flat. I have used it once so far and it works perfectly. Amazingly helpful.

-- Sam, Texas




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15 comments so far

View wiswood2's profile

wiswood2

874 posts in 1893 days


#1 posted 1865 days ago

Nice job.
Chuck

-- Chuck, wiswood2 www.wisconsinwoodchuck.com

View kansas's profile

kansas

146 posts in 1898 days


#2 posted 1865 days ago

Great idea. I currently have a 1/2 ton but with the price of fuel have been thinking of other options.

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

10263 posts in 2185 days


#3 posted 1865 days ago

That’s a great way of doing it. You can even carry 5’ square baltic birch.

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

10635 posts in 2443 days


#4 posted 1865 days ago

Great idea Ice, Thats why Gary likes it so much, he’s the master of invention around here. He might even be a little jealous he did’nt think of it first. LOL. mike

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

View tenontim's profile

tenontim

2130 posts in 1941 days


#5 posted 1865 days ago

Nice idea, Sam. I’ve been thinking about making something similar for my small trailer, so the lumber yard can fork lift lumber onto it, without worrying about the sides of the trailer.

-- Tim-- http://www.tmuli.com

View trifern's profile

trifern

8131 posts in 1964 days


#6 posted 1865 days ago

Great solution!

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

27253 posts in 2018 days


#7 posted 1865 days ago

Sam,

This is a nice project that is quite useful for sheet goods. I built something similar when I had a Ranger but it wasn’t anywhere near as nice as this.

Nice job.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

8656 posts in 2296 days


#8 posted 1865 days ago

Genius, sheer genius.

Woodworkers are problem solvers for sure.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com

View miles125's profile

miles125

2175 posts in 2202 days


#9 posted 1865 days ago

Nice solution! Although you did commit the mortal sin of a woodworker buying a pickup that wouldn’t hold a sheet of plywood in the first place. Now say three hail marys and sin no more!

-- "The way to make a small fortune in woodworking- start with a large one"

View Brad_Nailor's profile

Brad_Nailor

2450 posts in 2154 days


#10 posted 1865 days ago

Thats using your head. Sheet genius! I have to say I would have never bought a small p/u for the reason miles states…but with todays gas prices…I would trade my full size for a small truck with your invention!

-- http://www.facebook.com/pages/DSO-Designs/297237806954248

View jjohn's profile

jjohn

390 posts in 1910 days


#11 posted 1865 days ago

I’ve also done this similar thing in the past. Works great. But this is a project. It’s forming wood into a useful product. Or, if you want to call it a jig…We like jigs too. LOL. Great idea. Believe it or not, I get as much inspiration from a simple jig as I do from a grand piano. (Not really, Gary…LOL). At least I might be able to build a jig.

-- JJohn

View Bruce's profile

Bruce

174 posts in 1971 days


#12 posted 1865 days ago

Great WOODWORKING PROJECT! I thought about doing this too but the few times I’ve hauled sheet goods they fit pretty well sloped toward the front of the bed with the opposite end proped up on the tail gate. However, I have had to place a couple of 2 X 4’s under flimsier sheets. Maybe this will give me motivation to turn those 2 X’s into one of your frames. Thanks for posting.

-- I think of Jack Nicholson as the Joker in Batman when he says "Where does he get those wonderful toys" and ask WHERE DO U GUYS GET ALL THAT WONDERFUL WOOD?

View IcemanSam's profile

IcemanSam

19 posts in 1957 days


#13 posted 1865 days ago

This was a fun WOODWORKING project (thanks jjohn for reminding me of that) and I am happy to hopefully have inspired. Thank you for all the great comments. Sorry Gary. lol

-- Sam, Texas

View bryano's profile

bryano

546 posts in 2130 days


#14 posted 1865 days ago

Ive seen something similar to this, but it was made permanent. The guy put 3 drawers under it that ran the length of the bed. he water sealed the top with rubber matting. He keeps just about every thing in them and it stays dry. at the same time it leaves the top half of the bed free for ply wood or what ever elce.

-- bryano

View jcees's profile

jcees

913 posts in 1995 days


#15 posted 1865 days ago

Nice going. Great way to adapt, improvise and overcome! Uurraaaahhh!

always,
J.C.

-- When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. -- John Muir

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