Safely haul sheet goods using a short-bed pickup truck
Even when tied down, slippery sheet goods can slide out of an open truck bed like playing cards from a fresh deck. To solve that problem, I came up with this hauler accessory. My son and I have used it with success more than 100 times over the past 15 years.
Build yours to fit your vehicle. This one measures 50" between the sides and is made entirely of 3⁄4 " spruce joined with screws and exterior glue, except for the 1⁄4" maple stretchers joined to the sides with glued-and-stapled half-laps. The sides are 24" long and range from 31⁄2 " to 7" in width. The stabilizers measure 6" long and 31⁄2 " wide.
When picking up just one or two heavier sheets, simply place them in the holder—the accessory's back rail keeps them from sliding out. For lighter sheets, or a stack, hold them down with ratchet straps hooked to the opposing tie-down holes.
—George Ziemba, Success, Mo.