Aerodynamics of the bed / "stuff flying out"

[The-X]

The Mav is my first truck, but something I've noticed is light stuff seems to really get sucked out of the bed. I haven't lost a lot, but if I leave ratchet straps in the back, the ropes fly up and flap around.

Then I look over at somebody elses truck and they'll have empty plastic bottles in the back.

I've taken measures to prevent this like bungees and other straps, but has anyone noticed this?

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[fossil]

wait till you have a bed full of white powder this winter, your own personal snow globe

 

[MMDavis]

The Mav is my first truck, but something I've noticed is light stuff seems to really get sucked out of the bed. I haven't lost a lot, but if I leave ratchet straps in the back, the ropes fly up and flap around.

Then I look over at somebody elses truck and they'll have empty plastic bottles in the back.

I've taken measures to prevent this like bungees and other straps, but has anyone noticed this?

Yes, it is quite normal for unsecured items to fly around. If you have room in your cubby they are great for ratchet straps. Good luck and enjoy learning about trucks.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I had a mid-size 1980's dodge truck.

I had a solid rubber steel belted bed mat that was like 3/8" thick and weighed 50 lbs.

It was lay flat. No sides at all.
It got sucked out at highway speeds.
Before I got a bed cap, I had to drive around full time with two sand bags back there.

 

[Montana]

Tonneau cover.

Or just don't keep loose lightweight stuff in the bed.

You can wrap your ratchet straps around themselves and secure the loose ends, or, put them in the cubby space like I do along with a bottle jack.

 

[Deleted member 5597]

Prevention is the remedy. Invest a little money and buy a tonneau cover. I installed a hard top, tri-fold cover on mine and don't regret it one bit. Mine has never leaked. Everything in the bed is safe and secure, as my cover locks when my truck is locked.

I'm not a fan of the canvas type that either snap down or Velcro down. Those covers flap and make additional noise, plus can be cut open with a knife. They expand and contract in the heat and cold, plus have a tendency to leak. I'm not a fan of the roll up nor retracting covers. The hard roll up covers will block your rear window view. The retracting covers take up valuable room in the bed, which is already small enough.

If you choose not to have a cover, then your only option is to put lightweight items in the cab.

 

[MetalThunder]

In younger days helped a friend moving , we put a Recliner Chair in the back of my Friends truck called it good and started off - hit the freeway and about 65 mph m on a windy day - that thing lifted straight up about four feet and tumbled thru the air out of the bed. Thank God nobody was behind him, would have killed people. Always secure anything loose - anything can become a projectile. Be safe out there​

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Cheers​

 

[Joliet Mike]

In younger days helped a friend moving , we put a Recliner Chair in the back of my Friends truck called it good and started off - hit the freeway and about 65 mph m on a windy day - that thing lifted straight up about four feet and tumbled thru the air out of the bed. Thank God nobody was behind him, would have killed people. Always secure anything loose - anything can become a projectile. Be safe out there​

​

Cheers​

After retiring I drove a semi for 4 yrs. The two things I would see quit often on the side of the road were coolers and drop in bed liners.

 

[Oscarcat]

wait till you have a bed full of white powder this winter, your own personal snow globe

Unless you need or want a solid cover which comes with its own frustrations and benefits, why not buy a cheap bed net? Hook it to the tiedowns Ford provided. That way you can toss your empty cans of Bud in the bed without concern.

 

[d7602002]

I have the tri fold hard tonneau cover, So if I put stuff back there that could fly out I usually keep it shut. And if it's something that's big enough where I can't keep it shut then I assume that it's not going to fly out.

 

[Yellow318]

Haha yeah definitely your first truck and that’s how it’s suppose to be so no worries. Aerodynamics over the cab and at the tailgate cause air in the bed to rotate. This is why stuff is being lifted due to the air pressure change and air movement in bed. Cover will solve this issue if closed.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

After retiring I drove a semi for 4 yrs. The two things I would see quit often on the side of the road were coolers and drop in bed liners.

Over the years I have seen those drop in bedliners on the side of the freeway and thought 'what the heck.'
I always believed that they were anchored down but evidently not. I guess it is those folks that are in too big of a hurry and just slap it in. Instead of properly securing it.
Drive safe.

GB

 

[jonshep]

Okay, this is a true story that happened in 2002. A fellow had a flat nylon tie down strap in the bed of his full size Dodge pickup. It got to floating around in the breeze, and managed to work its way between the bed and the cab. It some how got caught on the drive shaft. When it jerked the hook, it broke the rear window. The driver thought someone shot out his rear glass. Before he could get stopped, the hook cut the fuel line and caught fire. Guy was a contractor so he lost his truck and many dolars worth of tools. After visiting with him I made it a rule to never place anything light or lose in the bed of my pickups. The chance of something like this happening is very small, but my experience is that if it can, it will happen to me.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

I was visiting my dad this spring and he loaned my his Titan (Nissan full-size). Everything was great driving it around a couple days 20-40mph until I hopped on the 75mph insterstate- all of a sudden a blue tarp I didn't know was in the bed started flapping and trying to fly. Pulled over quick and put it into the cab.

 

[PeteyPyro]

The Mav is my first truck, but something I've noticed is light stuff seems to really get sucked out of the bed. I haven't lost a lot, but if I leave ratchet straps in the back, the ropes fly up and flap around.

Then I look over at somebody elses truck and they'll have empty plastic bottles in the back.

I've taken measures to prevent this like bungees and other straps, but has anyone noticed this?

I've had my cheapy drop in bed liner blow out at 65 mph, until I put a cap on it.

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