I’m an employee. I drive a company truck, a tired ’97 F-150. Poor machine – my boss is hoping to replace it in 2009. I have kind of a silly idea for it.
I need a rack, guys. Right now, I’ve just got the open bed and a plastic, leaky truck-box. I run around with a pair of spades, a pick-axe, a hard rake, a scoop shovel, floor broom, small broom, a two-step ladder, fall-arrest bucket, and little giant ladder clone in the bed. Chaos!
The thing is, I do a *lot* of material hauling. Lumber, sheet goods, trash, bags of concrete, scaffolding (often), temporary jobsite stairs, various Hardie products – you name it, I’m the drive-and-get-it guy. Way, way too often I have to toss out the whole bed, load up, and stack all my carp on top. Tedious!
Well, I’m not buying a rack for it, and I already know the boss won’t. So I’m thinking of making one. Problem is, I dislike welding, and steel isn’t free. . .
Think a wooden one might work? I’m not thinking softwood – I can get a certain amount of ash or hickory for free. I think half-lap joints, polyurethane glue and a through-bolt would make for simple, positive connections. The thing could probably end up very rigid.
Yeah, it sounds dumb, but dumb and cheap might do. Smart and expensive won’t do.
Edited 1/4/2009 10:25 am ET by Biff_Loman
Replies
I know you made one out of ash.
Mine was simple. Used some 8/4 stock that I planned down to fit the receiver sockets.And the cross pieces where 1 1/2 x 2" and I morticed it into the uprights and used a couple of screws as pegs.But mine is low usage. At the time DIY. Now I am doing some handyman work, but mostly inside light work. So I only use it maybe 2 - 3 times a year.I have learned that there is a big difference between doing something like that as a DIY and for work.I agree with robert..
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
Guess it depends on what you want to put on top.
If it is a company truck, and your home made rack fails in traffic, who pays?
Just a thought.
As long as you are paid for the loading/unloading, who cares?
Paid to load and unload? That is, IMO, slacker thinking. I'd be interested in carrying my ladder and hanging handled tools off it, to free up the bed for materials. It's not gonna fail.
It's not slacker thinking.
If you are paid by the hour, then you are being paid to load and unload. Obviously, that isn't a license to stretch out the task. No point in being frustrated with the job at hand if the boss won't provide the tools to do the job efficiently... or reward you in some way for stepping up.
Edited 1/4/2009 1:24 pm ET by danski0224
Could you screw lengths of PVC pipe to the side of the cap to drop the tools with handles into?
I did this with my little Kubota to carry a rake, shovel and pruning shears on the side of the front end loader frame and it works great.You could cut out a four blocks of wood with a channel in each one to catch the ladder and screw it to the top or side of the cap and pin or bungee the ladder to them.Good luck, I say go ahead and make anything that work.
You might end up looking like a hillbilly but it sounds like your productivity and enthusiasm will improve.If I ever need another rack I am totally sold on the "rack it" lumber racks. They make a model that fits over a truck cap. I see various models of "rack it" racks on craigs list for anywhere from 150 to 450 dollars. Search craigs list on a daily basis and you might get lucky.
KarlEdit to add:OOPS, I thought you said the truck had a Cap on it. The pvc tube idea might still work to carry the handled tools vertically. Just screw them to the sides of the bedliner.
Edited 1/4/2009 12:52 pm ET by karl
Check craigslist and spent $200.00. You could find a decent used rack fairly locally for cheap. It's like a fire sale on craigslist with the economy the way it is. If it makes your life easier and more efficient it will have paid for itself in a few weeks. Try to convince the bossman to split it with you.
Paid to load and unload? That is, IMO, slacker thinking.
You're a young guy.
Let me save you the years it took me to learn some things.
As an employee there is a fine line between being a proactive, loyal, productive employee and using your own money to put profit in the bosses pocket.
Approach the boss and ask if maybe he'll pick up a cheap ($150 or less) rack if you find one. Times are hard and there should be plenty around.
Explain why.
Don't put your own money into the bosses truck. If he lets you build it? On his time.
Trucks and tools are areas where too many employees shoulder the burden for their employers.
Believe me, I know.
Good advice.
Been there.
i'm with robert.... get the boss to spring for a used steel rack
i wouldn't want the liability of a wooden rack... and the company ins. probably wouldn't either
sometimes you can buy the truck with the rack...., keep the rack and junk the truck
Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 1/4/2009 7:02 pm ET by MikeSmith
Well, guys, I suppose I could have a word with him. I rarely see the owner of the company. I do know that he dislikes putting any money into the truck for maintenance.Yeah, I suppose I am over-eager on this, but I wouldn't want this sort of job unless I was self-motivated.
I don't know man. I seriously doubt you'll be happy with the wood rack for long.
I just think it'll get loose and rickety with daily use, not to mention the liability
brought up by danski. While your motivation is understandable, I'd have a heart to
heart with the boss. Maybe you can strike a deal. Do they have a weld shop they do
business with? Maybe a left over rack you can make work from another old truck?
Bottom line, I'd get permission 1st.
Here's an idea? What about a Huck style setup? False bottom or pull out drawers?
best of luck in 09.
-d
Edited 1/4/2009 1:24 pm ET by dcarroll3000
Most racks here are silicone or saline.
Forrest
Most racks here are silicone or saline.
Forrest
Can you explain what you are talking about?
Or are you going to act like a real boob.
thanks for keeping us abreast of your local conditions"...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn
bakersfieldremodel.com
TMIJohn
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
“You can either wait for the storm to pass, or you can learn to dance in the rain.”
"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008
Had to look that one up
I guess I forgot how old you were.
:)John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
“You can either wait for the storm to pass, or you can learn to dance in the rain.”
"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008
First of all, your boss would be better off buying something other than a brand new truck. Second, if he has you hauling all of these materials, how can he not understand that you need a rack?
You need to talk to him.
First of all, your boss would be better off buying something other than a brand new truck.
If I were still in business for myself? That would be a 50/50 proposition.
In times like these one questions the wisdom of spending cash or taking on another payment..............
However,
Looked at from a strictly business point of view?
You would be crazy to buy anything but a new truck right now.
WIth a little shopping and a little travel there are still full sized Chevy, Dodge and Ford 2008's left. A long bed Chevy work truck can be had for as little as $11K new right now. SOme Dodges for a little less and Fords a few $$$$ more.
The Extended cab V-8 I was looking at was Less than $16K down from a $30K sticker.
From a management stand point, $11K for a truck with warantee coverage, new tires, new brakes and a known history is a no brainer.
Many decent used trucks will be more as the owners paid closer to ful price and still have loans to satisfy at the sale of the truck.
The question is, Is it prudent to spend the money or take on the loan in these times?
others offer good advice , but if you do decide to build one inexpensively would gas pipe work , black steel , cut and thread , all kinds of fittings and nippels to choose from .
Years ago I made a wooden rack from red oak 2x4s. I half lapped the intersections and half lapped in some dovetail corner braces. I used resourcinal for glue. It was extremely strong and would carry anything I asked it to. A dozen 2x10 laminated staging planks on one trip, the only time it creaked. Cross members were 2x6, stub tenoned and bolted workbench style. Rear rail was removable.
It fit late seventies GM pickups until they changed the stake pocket positions. When it was new and nicely varnished, I got a lot of positive comments and a few jobs because of it. I didn't keep up with the varnish and it didn't fit a newer truck. I put it out back for years and eventually cut it up and recycled some of the lumber. I couldn't beat it apart even after years of sitting in the weather. I took a picture of how I did the braces before I finished disposing of it. It's possible to build a solid rack out of wood.
nice joineryMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Biff.....sounds to me as though the only time you'd have to unload tools in order to load materials is when your talking about sheet goods.
Lengths of lumber and such wouldn't require removing tools from truck bed.
If that is the case, why not just add the 2 x 6s across the truck bed that most trucks are designed to accomodate?
Stack sheet goods on top of supports and tools store below.
Don't get me wrong.....racks are great.....but that doesn't sound like what you are actually looking for.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
JD,
where do you get off introducing LOGIC into this?,LOLwhat the OP needs-----is a trash canthe shovels,brooms etc.--go in the trashcan.
see if the 2 step step ladder fits behind the seat?
now----if he needs to empty out the bed he simply pulls out the trash can,the fall arrest bucket and the little giant----probably take all of 15 secondseven better install the 2xs like you mentioned---and a couply crappy pieces of OSB and the trash can,the fall arrest bucket and the little giant can stay in the back and sheet goods can slide underneath BTW-- i gave away a very nice ladder rack for a '97 F150 this spring just to get rid of it.
stephen
Don't waste your time.
Start watching local papers and craig's list for a used rack.
Low effort -- high reward.