The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Truck Bed Extension?

First time I've seen one of these. Was checking out some
receiver mounted accessories at HF and ran across this
3-foot extension that plugs into the hole. Simpy a square
tube cross 'T' 50 inches long and 16 inches wide that
extends about three feed beyond the tail gate when down.
There have been many times I could have used something
like that with my short bed trucks (6').
First thing that comes to mind is the legality. Any overhang
that I have now gets the red flag. I wonder if that would be
good enough for something hanging out that far in back of
the truck??
We got any coppers out there that might follow me home
who might want to comment on that???

dg

Denny,

What is the HF part number?

Out here, anything 3' past the rear of the truck or 4' past the front requires a flag (or lighting at night.)

Same here Mark and I always flag anything that's outside of the
bed any distance just so no one walks into it. Just wondering
what they'd say if it was hanging out five feet past the end
of the bed.

Tim, can't find it again, have to look later, dentist is waiting for me, needle in hand.


dg

I have used this style carrier/extension traveling through 5 east coast states, and I have never been stopped.

Finally got the chores out of the way, here's what I was talking about.
http://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed-extender-69650.html
Needed some 12 and 14 foot two by's at times and had to have
them delivered. This would extend the 6 foot bet out to nearly
11 feet and you could overhang a few more. It looks like it
would be good for a few boards but not a stack.
dg

I never had seen one like what Denny posted. I have a long bed pickup, but there are times I could use a few more feet. Piling stuff over the cab on a headache rack is no longer an option because I have had a cover on my last several pickups I have bought, I installed covers.

Fredericksburg is a tourist town and our main street is the only possibility for US 87 and us 290. It is very common for 4 door long bed pickups to park 2 feet from the curb and block off one lane of traffic with the things Tim links to.

https://plus.google.com/10819770718...8893136354&oid=108197707187186692269



I advocate parallel parking, but the stores on main are against it. I'm not sure it is legal to cover your rear license plate in any state. It is just something that is so common that it is not enforced. We have a lot of snow birds spend the winter here, and quite a few have a light bar and a license plate on their receiver hitch carriers.

I've got one and use it all the time. My steel supplier sells tubing in 20 & 22' lengths and will cut 'em in half for free. This and 12' lumber keeps me from having to mess with the utility trailer on I-45 with all the idiots during rush hour.

Denny, I've gone 5' or more. With a flag and no problems.

On a bobtail with a 60' pole, you just gotta watch your swing.

Is that the HF one that your have Allen????

Just wondering how heavy of a tube they are using for them. I
haven't seen those in stock at either of the HF stores around
here, suppose you would have to order it.
I'll bet you couldn't buy the square tube for as much as they
want for those at HF. I just priced out 8 feet of 2x2x1/4"
tube on line and that's about seventy bucks plus shipping.

dg

I would probably use heavy wall 2 1/2 tubing to go into my class V receiver. It would probably he so heavy after I was done that I would have to use a forklift to mount it. While I was building, I would probably put a light bar on it that would plug into my 7 way plug. We have a steel supplier that comes to town once a week.

Denny, yes it's the HF version, and it's a long way from heavy wall tubing. I caught mine on sale, and paid about $40 and no way I could build one that cheaply. The recvr insert may be 3/16", but most is 1/8 (12 ga). I've had several hundred pounds on it with no problems. It's even with my bed/tailgate, so most of the weight in the truck...just keeps from worrying about getting any bounce on overhanging matl.

tks Allen, I was figureing 1/4" wall to help a little with the
bending moment that 50"s presents.

What 'ca building there Kenneth is a trailer, right????


dg

These extensions are great, I can flip mine upright to carry my 1892 Chestnut canoe on my 97 GMC 4x4. Great for bringing home 16' boards as well.

I bought mine in the US but easily made with medium wall tubing. I got mine at the LL Bean outlet store in Ellsworth ME, it was being offered at half price as a return - someone bought it for a canoeing run in Acadia Park and returned it thereafter.

There's a similar one on an Explorer down the street, only much taller. It holds up the aft end of an alumin(i)um fishing boat. The rest of the boat sits on cross bars over the roof.