Selling my cap, but still want to be able to haul stuff.

[koda6966]

Well, I've decided that I'm so economically desperate, and I'm sick of buying a quart of oil a week, that I'll sell my cap and use the money to get my oil pan fixed. Already have someone coming to look at it sometime next week.

This guy I know that has a F-series dually in my town has some boards up on the sides of his bed, and occasionally will have a piece of plywood on the top making a sort of home made cap. I was thinking about doing the same thing, only instead of having a solid top and back, I would just do the sides and then put those little metal O eyelets around the top and back so that I could either lace a rope to hold the stuff in, or tie down a tarp or canvas good and tight. I need the extra storage both for camping (we bring alot of stuff, usually we pack the Minivan full of people and then I take the truck up loaded as much as possible with the cap) and for hauling garbage to the dump.

What do you guys think? Good idea or no?

I also would need to know the measurements for those holes along the bed, since my bed liner covers them up and I need to cut through it.

 

[RobbieD]

This guy I know that has a F-series dually in my town has some boards up on the sides of his bed, and occasionally will have a piece of plywood on the top making a sort of home made cap. I was thinking about doing the same thing, only instead of having a solid top and back, I would just do the sides and then put those little metal O eyelets around the top and back so that I could either lace a rope to hold the stuff in, or tie down a tarp or canvas good and tight.

I've hauled a lot of stuff over the years. I like using a cargo net, like heavy fishing net. You just throw it over the load, tuck the extra down down the sides, and then bungee the net, to the bed, or lace over it with rope to the bed if it's a heavy load.

If the load needs to stay dry during wet weather, I put a tarp down first, then the cargo net. The net eliminates the tarp flapping, and it's faster than trying to tie just the tarp down.

The entire kit of net, tarp, bungees and rope is compact and easy to put together, and use.

I've never had the need for bed side boards, but if you do use or make some, either arrange to bolt them solid to the bed (even if temporary), or add some tie downs to the bed so that the side boards can be secured to the bed along with the load. At speed the wind can pull a load out in a heartbeat, and I bet we've all seen stuff laying in the road because people didn't secure their load.

Just some thoughts for you, and good luck on the financial situation. I hope things work out for the better.

 

[koda6966]

Well, camping we just usually throw the stuff Randomly into the bed, but the cargo net idea would work well for hauling trash. I was thinking about how I would secure the sides to the bed, I could somehow build it so that I can screw a bolt into it, not sure how I would get a nut to stay in the post though. A bolt in the post wouldn't work because of how I'd have to fit it in. I'll look into those ideas.

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

I have used something similar but it puts 2 things into one. I forget where I got it though - it is just like the cargo net, but it is made of bungee material and has removable hooks to adjust tension. It can be used to secure a load or through the tarp on then the bungee net and you are good to go. If I remember I think I have seen them at Wally World . . . LOL

Best of luck bro . . .

Here is a pic I found real quick - searched for bungee net

 

[koda6966]

I found a 4x5 cargo net online for about 10 bucks. I dunno if I should go bigger, though.

I would still have to do the bed sides/tarp idea for camping.

I'm going to get started on it ASAP to try it out.

Anyone wanna get me some measurements of where those locations are for the holes? I know they're on there, but my bed liner covers them up and I can't take it off.

--Edit--

I'll post up some sketches later when I get them drawn up and scanned.

 

[Hazmat Ranger]

OK

Front Pocket is 6 1/8" to 8 1/8" (2" Wide) from the front edge of the bed. Not inside the box, the very front of it between the cab and bed.

Read pocket - From the inside of the tailgate is 3/4" to 2 1/8".

Hope this helps

 

[koda6966]

Quick representation of what I am thinking. The idea sort of comes from military 6x6 cargo trucks, and how the canvas can be rolled back and whatnot.

Yes I know, it looks horrible. I just wanted to better explain my idea so I wasn't trying at all. I'm going to do a more detailed.. better.. sketch when I get the funds and materials together.

I'm thinking about painting it black and going with a camo tarp with red tie-downs.

 

[RobbieD]

That's a pretty good sketch, koda, and you've got a good idea in it, actually. Maybe could even work in some top bows to it.

The bungee net is cool, Hazmat. I've seen that before, but I already had the plain old cargo netting in stock, bought from a military surplus store; was only a couple of bucks.