According to the Foundation for Traffic Safety of the American Automobile Association, poorly secured loads are responsible for over 25,000 crashes and around 90 fatalities annually in the United States.
Additionally, there are non-fatal injuries to drivers and damage to their vehicles. If something falls off your truck and injures someone, you will be held liable. We consulted with experts and loaded our pickup truck with common DIY materials from a local home center to demonstrate proper ways to secure loads. The tie-down methods we present may seem excessive, but securing a load is not just about getting it home safely; it’s about preventing harm to others. These methods can also be used when transporting furniture and household items, which can cause injury if not properly secured. We also present 11 truck bed hacks for creative ideas. Rule number one for securing your load is to purchase heavy-duty 15-foot ratchet straps (a minimum of four) with a load limit of 1,000 pounds and a break strength of 3,000 pounds. While rope and bungee cords may suffice if you drive slowly and avoid bumps or accidents, they are unreliable when you need to swerve or make a sudden stop.
Avoid flimsy straps and invest in heavy-duty ratchet straps (1-1/4 inches or wider). Store the straps in a box in the cab to protect them from moisture and sunlight. When transporting flimsy materials, such as drip edges, flashing, plastic conduit, or siding, wrap both ends with stretch cling film to prevent damage during transportation. For fragile bundles that include lumber, wrap the bundle with the cling film for added support.
When hauling long boards, avoid resting them on a raised gate and use two or more ratchet straps along the bottom of the truck bed. Load the heaviest and longest lumber over the straps and stack shorter lengths on top. Secure the cab end, the middle, and the trailing end with the straps, and anchor the bundle to the truck bed with two additional ratchet straps, crisscrossing them across the load and attaching one end to the cab end anchor rings and the other end to the farthest bundle strap.
For hauling sheet goods with the tailgate down, use two ratchet straps across the truck bed and at least two 12-ft. 2x4s to help support the overhang and protect the sheet goods from any water, rocks, or debris on the truck bed. Use cardboard corners to protect the edges of the sheet goods, then tighten the bottom straps to secure the bundle. Finally, run two straps from the truck bed anchor rings around the back edge of the sheets and down to the bumper.
When transporting bulky loads, use a cargo net to secure the materials. Purchase a cargo net at a home center or online and snap the retainer clips into the anchor points on the bed. For light 8- to 10-ft. loads, the tailgate can be up but still needs to be secured. Use ratchet straps on the bundle in two places and secure each end to the anchor rings on the bed.
Required tools for this project include ratchet straps, a cargo net, and leather gloves.
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This is such a lovely morning.
Oh my gosh, I’m actually learning something about boat repairs.
The product recommendations in this article were really helpful. I had no idea there were so many different types of tie-down straps available!
I’ve been using my pickup truck to transport cargo for years, but this article gave me some great new ideas and strategies for making the most of the space.
This article provided some really helpful tips on how to transport cargo safely and effectively with a pickup truck. I’ve already implemented some of the recommendations, and they’ve made a huge difference.
As someone who frequently uses a pickup truck for work, I found this article to be incredibly informative. The section on weight distribution was particularly helpful.
I appreciated the focus on safety in this article. It’s so important to secure your cargo properly to prevent accidents on the road.
I never realized how important it was to properly distribute weight in a pickup truck until I read this article. Thanks for the helpful tips!
I appreciated the tips on how to properly load and unload cargo. These are simple steps that can make a big difference in preventing damage to your truck and your cargo.
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Today’s weather is perfect for a picnic with loved ones.
I’ve been looking for a comprehensive guide on transporting cargo with pickup trucks, and this article definitely delivered. I highly recommend it to anyone who uses a pickup truck for work or play.
The section on using bed liners to protect your truck was really helpful. I had been hesitant to invest in a bed liner, but this article convinced me it was worth it.