Looking to hop into my first 3.5L Screw 5.5ft bed. I am choosing the 5.5ft bed because though I live in the burbs its still a small town and surrounding towns. Parking can be tricky and tight.

However I purchased my first home and will be needing to pickup ply/drywall/cement board/studs and all the makings. My first truck and I don't want to be losing stuff out of the box. Can 5.5ft handle all of these things with ease? I know I could prob get a bed extender as well. Although I like the 6.5ft bed it really is not practical for where I live and I'd prefer the ease of the short bed. Thoughts?

 

i dont have any problem hauling stuff in mine with the tailgate down

 

Thanks for quick reply. Do you just ratchet the load down, or any form of tying it down?

 

Stay 8' and under on the drywall/cement board and 10' and under on the studs and you should be fine. Just make sure you use ratchet straps and no "hole shots".

 

ratchet it down is all I do

 

I have not had a problem with mine following what buzzin stated.... If you want some of the guys on here got something like this and they like them a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/Darby-Extend-...s=bed+extender

 

If you need a huge load..... And it can fold up against the garage wall. It's only like 250 or so.

 

With the 5.5 bed and the tailgate down, it's less than a foot short of 8', so you can really haul any standard sheets or 8' lumber without an extender (even 10' is doable). Just strap the stack it down. A rubber bed mat or spray on liner will help things not slide as well.

If it's just a sheet or two of plywood or like a dozen 2x4's I just keep the tailgate up and rest them over that. They don't go anywhere, but I only live a handful of miles from Home Depot or Lowes with no highway driving.

 

I've never had a problem putting a yard of soil/gravel/mulch, or 4x8 drywall/plywood or 8' lumber in mine with the tailgate down... put a ratchet strap across the top and across the end if you're nervous and don't drive like an idiot and you'll be fine! only time it would be detrimental is if it's raining out... then a tarp is your friend.