How do you strap down lumber?

[bieber]

Searching the forum I've seen a couple people showing off somewhat sketchily long loads, but what's your go-to technique for just carrying regular 8-10' long boards? Do you strap them down directly to the bed, or put the tailgate in the mid position and use supports in the flex bed to lift them up a little so you can get more downward force from the straps?

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[Redline]

I just picked up a couple of 8 foot boards and put the tailgate in the mid position. I didn't even strap them down. I was only going a mile across town. If I was going further and had longer or more boards, I would run a ratchet strap to the rear most tie downs of the bed by the tailgate or possibly the ones on the tailgate. 8 foot boards don't stick out very far. For longer boards, I'd strap them from the front, too. That's just my 2¢.

 

[strtrkstr]

I have only hauled lumber a couple of times, but they were only 6 foot boards and I had the tailgate up.

 

[Tailender]

I have only hauled lumber a couple of times, but they were only 6 foot boards and I had the tailgate up.

This is how I would do it but I would probably not go longer than 8 ft. If I needed longer I'd take the F250.

 

[fossil]

sometimes you don't have a ratchet strap

I keep ratchet straps, bungees and rope in my trucks

 

[Johnkn]

When strapping down lumber I use an appropriate number of high-quality ratchet straps.

When strapping a queen mattress to the top of my car I do what most people do and just use one small piece of kite string... but it's all good because I stick my hand out the window while driving and hold it down.



.

 

[Cromwell]

I lay a blanket or piece of thick material over the tailgate in the up position to avoid scratches or wear and then just rest 8' lumber on the tailgate, securing the lumber with ropes or ratchet straps at the front and back of the bed.

 

[dalola]

A hitch mount load extender is a handy addition if you frequently haul longer cargo. I've handled as much as 14' long boards using mine. Also handy for canoes & kayaks.

 

[TheWizziard]

For two 2"x10"s I left the tailgate up and tied then down at the front and back.

I have a HF extender but didn't have the hitch receiver installed when I bought the boards to make a bed devider.

 

[kpomeraning]

Hauled a lot of 10' lumber and trim in June. Tailgate to the mid position and a load strap to the tailgate strap attachment points. The load didn't budge a quarter-inch. I've also created a deck of sorts using a sheet of ply and 2x4 lumber for when carrying things that you don't want flexing - stuff such as drywall. Again, same technique - deck in above the wheel wells, tailgate to the mid position and strap it all off. Again, the stuff won't budge.

 

[Mav2112]

 

[surfstar]

For longer 2-by's I'd recommend placing them "sideways" - less flopping (think I-beam construction) when you strap em down.

 

[OleFordGuy]

For me, 10 ft and shorter i set the tail gate mid level and ratchet strap the load down good to all the lower strap points at the bottom of the bed. Longer than 10 ft, i keep the tail gate flat and i have one of the extenders that connects in the the trailer hitch receiver.

 

[Montana]

Like every other Montanan on the road... I don't.

j/k. But seriously, they suck. Never follow too close. I have a flatbed I use for anything too long.

 

[Clock Doc]

If you're talking 2 by lumber then I just drop the tailgate strap it at both ends. No need to lift tailgate to mid position. Last week I loaded 6 sheets of 1/2" ply and 20 ten foot 2x4. Tailgate at midpoint for ply 2by stacked across ply strapped at front and rear only no issues with load.
Also did not support under ply. no need it is rigid enough as is.
Dont forget your flag!
45mph 6 miles no shift in load.

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