How To Transport Large and Heavy Items in Truck Bed?

Well, pickups are made to transport large objects from one place to another. Transporting may not be a big of an issue because you just have to load it up to the truck bed and you drive. But the tricky part is to keep it steady throughout the ride and prevent it from bouncing away or flying away from the truck bed. Projectile cargo is often a fear when you are carrying loose but heavy items, however, for big blocks, you need to secure them to their place. Other than that, your cargo will determine the types of securing items you need on the truck bed.

How To Transport Large and Heavy Items in Truck Bed? Pick up your large cargo onto a moving blanket, then place the cargo near the truck bed wall and tie it down with a couple of ratchet straps. You could also cover it with tarps and bungee cords to prevent it from elemental damage.

Suppose you are carrying some electronics such as a Television or a home theater system on your truck bed, you have to make sure it is placed in the right position as well as make sure that it does; slide around and damage itself. To keep things secure in the bed you need a few supplies such as a moving blanket, ratchet straps, tarps, etc. If you are planning to carry it in the cab, the seatbelt will do just fine.

Table of Contents

How to Load Heavy Items onto the Truck Bed?

First, lay down a moving blanket which will protect the cargo as well as create a cushion to prevent it from damages.
Now lift your heavy cargo and place it on the blanket and make sure the cargo has a maximum surface area on the bottom; if it’s a television keep it upright at all times.
Next, you want to make sure that the cargo is placed towards the side of the pickup wall so that it can be fixed against one of the sides of the truck bed except for the tailgate.
Now pull all straps across the cargo and while doing that avoid twisting the straps when you feed it through the ratchet.
As you tighten the straps make sure it doesn’t tear or crush the box. Next check if it’s secure by pulling in the straps from all sides. Your cargo should be snugly fixed in its place and not wiggle or pop.
Now you are all set to hit the road, but make sure that you stop from time to time to check if your cargo is in its place.

Carrying Smaller Cargo in the Pickup Cab

If you want you can certainly carry smaller items in the cab of the truck and here’s how

First, of clear out the back seat or your passenger seat to make room for your items.
Lift your smaller cargo such as a small TV box and place it across the seat. Keep it upright so that it doesn’t slide around while you drive.
Now pull up your seatbelt across the cargo and buckle it to keep it secure in its position.
If it’s in the back seat, you could lay the passenger seat down so that the headrest is in front of the box which will minimize chances of damage.
Next, give it a few jolts to see if it’s secure and doesn’t slide out.
Now, you are ready to hit the road with your cargo in the cab.

Preventing Theft of Your Cargo

Always park your truck under a well-lit area at night.
Cover your cargo with a tonneau cover or if you have a topper you can secure a lot of larger cargo safely in the truck bed.
Make sure your cargo is not visible to anyone; you can achieve it by covering it with a tarp or keeping it in a container such as a toolbox.
Next, make sure your pickup is visible to passers-by i.e. keep it in a busy spot where rarely anyone would get a chance to steal your stuff. When you are in the interstate highway rest areas make sure you keep it near the entrance or exit to discourage thieves from breaking in.
Keep the most valuable item inside the cab and out of the sight if at all possible.
If you need more interior space for cargo you could buy a quad-cab pickup or install as camper shell make more room for other stuff.
If you are transporting some stuff, we suggest you go straight to your location without stopping for shopping or sight-seeing thereby reducing chances of theft.

Prepare Your Truck to Make Securing Cargo Easier

Here are a few things you could do to make it easier for you to secure your cargo

Install a Bed Rail

If you install a bed rail you will have the option to protect the rail of the truck bed from scratches, dings, and dents. It could be common among people who frequently carry heavy loads on the back of their pickup.

Install Side Rails

Most pickups come with post holes in the top of the truck bed sides. You can haul lighter cargo by creating your own temporary stake body by installing wooden posts in the holes.

Install Tie Downs

You could purchase additional D-rings or another anchoring system from stores to hook up with your truck bed. It is bolted directly to the bed floor and is necessary if you are anchoring specific cargo.

Install Tonneau Cover

This is probably the first thing you should do after purchasing your pickup. This not only provides protection to your cargo but also prevents weather damage and theft. However, they can be a little on the expensive side and is detrimental to carrying tall loads.

How to Keep My Cargo Dry?

You can keep your cargo dry by using a tonneau cover or get a truck bag. You could also use contractor bags, tarps, and bungee cords.

How to Transport a Tree in Truck Bed?

Lay your tree on the truck bed and keep it rested on an extender. Then secure the tree with ratchet straps and mark the end of the tree with a red flag.

What is the Payload Capacity of the Truck?

The payload capacity of the truck depends on its GVWR rating. if the GVWR rating of the truck is 10,000 lbs and the truck’s weight is 6,000 lbs, then the payload capacity is 4,000 lbs.

How to Know if the Truck is Overloaded?

You can typically tell the truck is overloaded from a number of signs such as it would bulge over the sides, there will be difficulty in maintaining control, it will struggle to slow down, and the suspension springs would be compressed too much.

Conclusion

Hauling cargo takes more than just good ratchet straps and a few bungee cords. It needs experience that can only come from time. Carrying uneven objects on the back of a moving truck is not easy, especially if it’s heavy and you are driving on a rough patch. It would be better if you know your roads well and make trips on the roads you know when you are carrying cargo in the truck bed.