Hauling Sled in the short box?

[Carbon77]

I have an opportunity to get a short box f150 at a good price. I want a 6.5 box but not available at this price.

I only haul my own sled so ill just be getting a ramp to put it in the back. Anyone else do this? I have a 162 Cat and occasionally will haul a 3 place trailer. I know it will have some overhang, I'm just concerned with how it will ride.

Thanks for any input.

Matt

 

[maddog21]

that will do. one time my buddy's dad bought a snowmobile with 159 inch in michigan so he have to haul it home from mich to home in iowa with his colorado truck! I think his was short box. I have hauled my 159 inch on my short bed before, now I use the trailer its much easy. because I dont trust the ramp because I have seen the videos on youtube.com that are failed to load it and made little accident.. dont want to happen to your truck.

 

[Ed Fast]

truck

maybe a sled deck?

 

[Carbon77]

I don't want a sled deck.

1. It's a short box
2. It's an F-150
3. I don't haul other sleds

 

[Coldfinger]

My main concern would be how strong the tailgate is and how strong the cable supports/mounting points are which hold the tailgate.

I know my GM gate bows slightly with my M8 162 and I have the 6.5' box. It seems to spring back. Maybe put a section of square steel tube across the end of the gate to give more support if needed.

 

[Bubbles]

no problem to do it. use a ramp to keep the weight off your tailgate.

 

[Ed Fast]

sled deck

Sorry for the suggestion.

 

[Goinboardin]

My 96 F150 tailgate bowed a little after some aggressive loadings of my sled, but if you have a decent ramp I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think I could live with a mini box though...a short box is a 6.5' box, long box is 8', mini box is anything shorter..

 

[jzanc532]

I put my 155" in my short bed F150 (5.5') with no problems. It rides fine, I don't see you having any issues with a 162" as long as its tied down good.

 

[Jaynelson]

It will work. But,

At the minimum I would put something across the rear of the box to take some weight off the tailgate. It can/will eventually bow it over time or if you hit the wrong bump.

Single place deck is the best $900 I ever spent on sledding.

 

[94fordguy]

I put my 155 in the bed of my truck once with my tool box still installed (8' - 27" = 5'-9") and it did stick out quite a bit... Maybe if you are only going to do it once in a while, otherwise I would suggest to build yourself something to keep the weight off the tail gate or just find a truck with a longer bed... I am sure it could be done if you really want to though.

 

[snokaw]

You could lay a 3/4 inch thick sheet of plywood in the box and cut it long enough to extend to the end of the open tailgate. It would spread the weight and it is better to drive the sled onto the plywood than the bed of the truck.

I have a 6.5' box F150 and it is 8 feet 9 inches to the end of the tailgate. Sled is 11 feet long, you'll have just a bit over 3 feet sticking out with your 5.5'. Most of the weight of the sled is on the front 6.5'. Strap the front bumper of the sled down to the the front tie-down loops in the pick-up, tie red flag on bumper of sled and go.

 

[duarthe]

Quick fix

Further to what Snokaw wrote about using a sheet of plywood...

I'll try to describe this, but if I get the chance, I'll post pics which will help alot..

If you put a piece of plywood, say 3/4" or even 1/2" in the back, but screw some 8' - 2"x4"s to the bottom, along the edge of the plywood, that will give you a bit more support. Now to take it one step further, and this is what I did - go to your local hardware store and buy 2 eye bolts, 2 lengths of chain (probably 5 links each), and 2 turn buckles (one eye end and one hook end). You will also need 4 of those chain links that are used to connect 2 lengths of chain. You put the chain through and squish em closed..

Anyway, screw the eye bolt into the corner of the plywood, through and into the 2x4. Connect the chain link to the eye bolt and length of chain. Use the second chain link to connect the length of chain and the turn buckle.

At this point, you should have an eye bolt stuck in your plywood. Connected to it is the chain and the turnbuckle. The unused end of the turnbuckle is the hook end. If you look on the inside (side wall) of the box of your pickup, you will see a hole near the tail gate latch pins. You can put the turnbuckle hook into there and then tighten it up to the point where the plywood just starts to lift off the tailgate.

Now, when you load your sled, you are distributing the weight between the plywood and 2x4's, those loaded turnbuckles and your tailgate.

This would have been so much easier to post a pic, but hopefully what I wrote makes sense. Send me a message or reply here if you would like clarification.

 

[94fordguy]

That's not a bad idea... makes perfect sense actually!

 

[Carbon77]

Further to what Snokaw wrote about using a sheet of plywood...

I'll try to describe this, but if I get the chance, I'll post pics which will help alot..

If you put a piece of plywood, say 3/4" or even 1/2" in the back, but screw some 8' - 2"x4"s to the bottom, along the edge of the plywood, that will give you a bit more support. Now to take it one step further, and this is what I did - go to your local hardware store and buy 2 eye bolts, 2 lengths of chain (probably 5 links each), and 2 turn buckles (one eye end and one hook end). You will also need 4 of those chain links that are used to connect 2 lengths of chain. You put the chain through and squish em closed..

Anyway, screw the eye bolt into the corner of the plywood, through and into the 2x4. Connect the chain link to the eye bolt and length of chain. Use the second chain link to connect the length of chain and the turn buckle.

At this point, you should have an eye bolt stuck in your plywood. Connected to it is the chain and the turnbuckle. The unused end of the turnbuckle is the hook end. If you look on the inside (side wall) of the box of your pickup, you will see a hole near the tail gate latch pins. You can put the turnbuckle hook into there and then tighten it up to the point where the plywood just starts to lift off the tailgate.

Now, when you load your sled, you are distributing the weight between the plywood and 2x4's, those loaded turnbuckles and your tailgate.

This would have been so much easier to post a pic, but hopefully what I wrote makes sense. Send me a message or reply here if you would like clarification.

I think I'm understanding what you are talking about, I would love to see some pics. Is my MS paint accurate?

 

[hivoltagesledhead]

SIngle place deck will be easier to load with.

 

[grizking]

Single place sled deck

Where do you get a single place sled deck?

 

[hivoltagesledhead]

My brother in law had it built and I bought it from him. I just sold it today.

 

[duarthe]

Airpopoff - your MS Paint pic looks pretty close. I was hoping to snap a pic today and upload it, but I ran out of time. I'll try tomorrow or the next day..

Sorry for the delay.

 

[diggler]

stupid but it worked for the 100 miles i needed it to. 100 gallon fuel tank in the front of the box