Hauling Long Lumber

[Climbhigh]

What I did the other day, was just for 4x8 sheets of plywood though. Some people were hating on it though (on Facebook). But whatever to them.

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[Newfr1]

16 foot baseboards. wouldn't want to emergency brake though. lol

 

[LoJac963]

I've done a few trips of 16 foot sections of crown molding. I pad everything with towels and place them through the rear window to the dash with the rest hanging out the back. I did put some bungees at the rear just to keep the stack from sliding around.

 

[sarcasm]

I was raising the rack above the roof when I realized with the top down I could just just stick them thru the back. Laid diagonally you can put a long load above the windshield and carry 16" plus. Multiple places to tie them down if necessary.

 

[Diogenes]

@sarcasm, wouldn't you just strap the wood to the thule rails? I am asking because I have been wanting to buy those very same rails for my truck to carry some light wood 8' 2x4 / 4x4 etc, edging etc.

 

[sarcasm]

@sarcasm, wouldn't you just strap the wood to the thule rails? I am asking because I have been wanting to buy those very same rails for my truck to carry some light wood 8' 2x4 / 4x4 etc, edging etc.

Normally I would just use the rails. They work great. I just put the soft top on about two weeks ago and it never dawned on me with the top down I could just slide them thru the Window. I had actually raised the back one when it dawned on me I did not need them. It was faster to just slide them thru.

I love the Thule rack and with the hardtop on that was my only option. I generally run them at the lowest possible setting below the top. (Like in the pick) I just raise them up when I need haul something that needs to clear the top. It just takes a few minutes to raise or lower them and adjustable slides on the top make it easy to secure 2x4 etc. with a nylon strap. The Slides on the top let you limit the side to side movement and provide a good place to tie them down. I have put ladders, wood and kayaks on them and would recommend them. You can look up my posts for some pictures and mounting experience.

Note: the one in the front will only go as low as 19" because of the shape of the bed. They also Lock and you can remove the rails pretty quickly if needed and just leave the base in place. Securing the base takes time. I have carried a few large items that required me to take them off and it was no big deal because of the design.

 

[Paullyhart]

I hauled 12’ deck boards yesterday. 36 of them. Used a tie down strap up front to make sure they didn’t tip. Seemed to do fine.

 

[Aero_JT]

Not the exact same application but hopefully it could provide some reference/idea.

Here's 2 pics of a 17' canoe strapped on roof rails with the bed extender setup the other way (extending up). Notice that I have a hitch splitter/extender on which brings it back another foot or so.

I believe with lumber you could probably just lay them on top of the roof with some movers blankets and strap it down firmly. Hope it helps.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

Holy unbalanced load batman! See all that front extension? Goodbye steering and brake response. Also thats a huge amount of unsupported load and extension to the rear, id be super worried about swing radius.

 

[88mmm]

Isn't this what the flip down windshield is for?

 

[rockcityphoto]

I ended up getting the hitch mounted bed extender from Harbor Freight. Worked like a charm for the 12 foot boards. Not bad for about $50.

 

[Mnarlock]

I ended up getting the hitch mounted bed extender from Harbor Freight. Worked like a charm for the 12 foot boards. Not bad for about $50.

I need to move 12’ 4x4s...how do you star them down so they don’t shoot out the back? Just a ratchet strap or is there something else I can use with this hitch extender?

 

[Shackleton]

With my Tundra 6.5 ‘ bed I used to carry two very large C clamps under the front seat. If I had to buy 16’ lumber I would ratchet strap it down to the tow hitch through the tailgate seem and also put one or two of the clamps clamped to the lumber way out on the end and ratchet strap Through the C clamp back to the rear upper tie downs. I always made sure to strap whatever I was hauling together as well to make it act as one mass. Never had a problem. Not sure what I’ll do with this truck but I’m guessing the bed extender. I wasn’t thinking any real load on the hard top would be good?? Haven’t read the manual yet

 

[rockcityphoto]

I need to move 12’ 4x4s...how do you star them down so they don’t shoot out the back? Just a ratchet strap or is there something else I can use with this hitch extender?

I used two ratchet straps. One over them in the back of the bed and one over the top of the hitch extender. There are places to hook them in right on the extender. With 4x4's they're probably not that likely to slide out because of their own weight, but I'd still definitely strap them down.

 

[ButinJeep22]

Has anyone tried to drive carrying fairly long lumber in their Gladiator? I need to pick up a bunch of shiplap type boards for a bathroom renovation and the size I'm going to need are 12 foot boards. I know you can lock the tailgate half open to carry lumber, but I feel like that's putting the end of the tailgate still pretty close to the center of a 12 foot board. I supposed I could try to weight them down with something and that might work, but I've never tried anything like this before.

I used ratchet ties on front and back of bed. worked great for 10footers

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