I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

Michael <michaeldwilson2@gmail.com> writes:
>I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
overhang at the back. Works fine.

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
> >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
> Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
> a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
> wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
> overhang at the back. Works fine.

Sounds great. Much appreciated!

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
> Sounds great. Much appreciated!

The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.

On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 07:50:35 -0800 (PST), Michael
<michaeldwilson2@gmail.com> wrote:

>I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

I bought an extended cab instead of a crew cab for exactly this
reason. I wanted a full-size bed.

On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
<grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>
>The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.

With a standard box, a sheet will extend to about the middle of the
tailgate. I agree that another foot isn't a killer, until you get to
longer stuff. A single, or a couple, of 2Xs will fit entirely in the
bed, too. I've carried 8' metal angle and it was nice fitting it
inside the bed.

My '01 ranger did not have the steps in the fender wells for the
supports. They certainly would have been nice. I had to put the
sheets at an angle. I had 2x4s cut to support the sheets.

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 9:50:39 AM UTC-6, Michael wrote:
> I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

Thanks for the help! I feel better about the purchase.

On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:14:45 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:

>Michael <michaeldwilson2@gmail.com> writes:
>>I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>
>Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>overhang at the back. Works fine.
Put a rack on it and you can haul 16 foot lumber.
A 5.5 foot box without a rack is about as usefull as the trunk on a 72
impala.

On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
<grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>
>The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
And my Ranger has a 7 foot box - - -

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 8:52:34 PM UTC-5, k...@notreal.com wrote:

> My '01 ranger did not have the steps in the fender wells for the
> supports. They certainly would have been nice. I had to put the
> sheets at an angle. I had 2x4s cut to support the sheets.

They had changed the trucks by then... Go back to the '80s! 😉

On 1/11/23 10:50, Michael wrote:
> I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
A kayak/boat carrier extends the load carrying length without a roof
height carrier rack.

krw@notreal.com writes:
>On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
><grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>>> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>>> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>>> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>>> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>>> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
>>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>>
>>The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
>
>With a standard box, a sheet will extend to about the middle of the
>tailgate. I agree that another foot isn't a killer, until you get to
>longer stuff. A single, or a couple, of 2Xs will fit entirely in the
>bed, too. I've carried 8' metal angle and it was nice fitting it
>inside the bed.
>
>My '01 ranger did not have the steps in the fender wells for the
>supports. They certainly would have been nice. I had to put the
>sheets at an angle. I had 2x4s cut to support the sheets.

The bed liner for my old '00 ranger had the steps. As does my '16 colorado.

On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 17:59:25 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:

>krw@notreal.com writes:
>>On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
>><grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>>> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>>>> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>>>> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>>>> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>>>> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>>>> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
>>>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>>>
>>>The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
>>
>>With a standard box, a sheet will extend to about the middle of the
>>tailgate. I agree that another foot isn't a killer, until you get to
>>longer stuff. A single, or a couple, of 2Xs will fit entirely in the
>>bed, too. I've carried 8' metal angle and it was nice fitting it
>>inside the bed.
>>
>>My '01 ranger did not have the steps in the fender wells for the
>>supports. They certainly would have been nice. I had to put the
>>sheets at an angle. I had 2x4s cut to support the sheets.
>
>The bed liner for my old '00 ranger had the steps. As does my '16 colorado.

I wonder if it was because mine was a flare-side. In '13 the Ranger
had rotted out so badly (springs riding on the frame) that I replaced
it with the '13 F150. It probably would have been my last truck.

On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:07:57 -0500, Clare Snyder <clare@snyder.on.ca>
wrote:

>On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
><grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>>> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>>> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>>> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>>> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>>> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
>>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>>
>>The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
> And my Ranger has a 7 foot box - - -

Standard cab? I wanted the extended cab so I could put some
"valuables" inside, particularly when we traveled.

On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:07:01 -0500, Clare Snyder <clare@snyder.on.ca>
wrote:

>On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:14:45 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
>wrote:
>
>>Michael <michaeldwilson2@gmail.com> writes:
>>>I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>>
>>Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>>a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>>wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>>overhang at the back. Works fine.
>Put a rack on it and you can haul 16 foot lumber.
>A 5.5 foot box without a rack is about as usefull as the trunk on a 72
>impala.

I have a hitch extender so I can carry 12' lumber easily and 16'
carefully.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I1AQRM0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

On 1/12/2023 1:18 PM, krw@notreal.com wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:07:57 -0500, Clare Snyder <clare@snyder.on.ca>
> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
>> <grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>>>> Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>>>>>> I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>>>>> Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>>>>> a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>>>>> wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>>>>> overhang at the back. Works fine.
>>>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>>>
>>> The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
>> And my Ranger has a 7 foot box - - -
>
> Standard cab? I wanted the extended cab so I could put some
> "valuables" inside, particularly when we traveled.

This thread got me thinking/learning more about trucks and bed-liners,
ways to carry sheet goods, and things like that. I even browsed a few
car-selling web sites. While I was watching a YouTube video related to
car-buying yesterday, my wife asks me out of the blue, so *WHO* is
getting a new vehicle??? I answered that it was going "to be a
surprise"! If I mount a base for "bird spotting scope" in the truck
bed, she just might fall for it--I mean go for it! ; )

krw@notreal.com writes:
>On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 17:59:25 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
>wrote:
>
>>krw@notreal.com writes:
>>>On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
>>><grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>>>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>>>> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>>>>> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>>>>> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>>>>> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>>>>> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>>>>> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
>>>>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>>>>
>>>>The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
>>>
>>>With a standard box, a sheet will extend to about the middle of the
>>>tailgate. I agree that another foot isn't a killer, until you get to
>>>longer stuff. A single, or a couple, of 2Xs will fit entirely in the
>>>bed, too. I've carried 8' metal angle and it was nice fitting it
>>>inside the bed.
>>>
>>>My '01 ranger did not have the steps in the fender wells for the
>>>supports. They certainly would have been nice. I had to put the
>>>sheets at an angle. I had 2x4s cut to support the sheets.
>>
>>The bed liner for my old '00 ranger had the steps. As does my '16 colorado.
>
>I wonder if it was because mine was a flare-side. In '13 the Ranger
>had rotted out so badly (springs riding on the frame) that I replaced
>it with the '13 F150. It probably would have been my last truck.

Dunno. My '00 ranger was stock base model (manual everything), the kind
that used to dominate fleet sales to the trades. It would still be
running if a tree hadn't fallen on it a couple years ago in a derecho.
Never had a problem with it over the first 120k miles (other than replacing
the alternator once). Body in great condition (california weather dontchanknow).

Loved that Ranger, I'd even custom turned the shifter lever knob from
some local Almond. The replacement colorado was the only manual light truck
for sale at the time (2016).

On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 13:39:18 -0500, Bill <nonegiven@att.net> wrote:

>On 1/12/2023 1:18 PM, krw@notreal.com wrote:
>> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:07:57 -0500, Clare Snyder <clare@snyder.on.ca>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
>>> <grossboj@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>>>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>>>>>> Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>>>>>>> I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>>>>>> Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>>>>>> a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>>>>>> wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>>>>>> overhang at the back. Works fine.
>>>>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>>>>
>>>> The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
>>> And my Ranger has a 7 foot box - - -
>>
>> Standard cab? I wanted the extended cab so I could put some
>> "valuables" inside, particularly when we traveled.
>
>
>This thread got me thinking/learning more about trucks and bed-liners,
>ways to carry sheet goods, and things like that. I even browsed a few
>car-selling web sites. While I was watching a YouTube video related to
>car-buying yesterday, my wife asks me out of the blue, so *WHO* is
>getting a new vehicle??? I answered that it was going "to be a
>surprise"! If I mount a base for "bird spotting scope" in the truck
>bed, she just might fall for it--I mean go for it! ; )

I bought a new one last November ('21). Someone ran a stop sign at
full speed and totaled my '13. A new one, even fairly well loaded,
was the same price as a used one at the time. Used vehicles were nuts,
which helped me out with the insurance claim too. ;-)

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 7:52:34 PM UTC-6, k...@notreal.com wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
> <gros...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
> >> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> >> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
> >> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
> >> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
> >> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
> >> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
> >> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
> >> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
> >
> >The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
> With a standard box, a sheet will extend to about the middle of the
> tailgate.

How times have changed. Long, long ago. Back when the dinosaurs roamed the shopping malls with 25 cent video arcades and Radio Shacks and Sears stores and break dancing was all the rage. A standard box was considered 8 feet. The short box was 6.5 feet. And the super short box of 5.5 feet had not even been invented yet. Back then I remember the only crew cab four door pickup truck I ever saw was one owned by the railroad. It had an 8 foot bed too. Single rear wheels so they could mount the railroad wheels underneath it.

> I agree that another foot isn't a killer, until you get to
> longer stuff. A single, or a couple, of 2Xs will fit entirely in the
> bed, too. I've carried 8' metal angle and it was nice fitting it
> inside the bed.
>
> My '01 ranger did not have the steps in the fender wells for the
> supports. They certainly would have been nice. I had to put the
> sheets at an angle. I had 2x4s cut to support the sheets.

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 2:32:16 PM UTC-5, Scott Lurndal wrote:

> Dunno. My '00 ranger was stock base model (manual everything), the kind
> that used to dominate fleet sales to the trades. It would still be
> running if a tree hadn't fallen on it a couple years ago in a derecho.

I know all about trees and well maintained vehicles.

My super clean 2006 Honda Odyssey in 2014:

https://i.imgur.com/MTBfotQ.jpg

SWMBO's super clean 2011 Honda CR-V in 2022:

https://i.imgur.com/pKO2q4z.jpg

Fun fact: 99% of the time the 2017 Ody you see next to the CR-V is
parked where the CR-V was parked that day. That limb came down
on one of the rare days that we swapped spots.

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 2:40:28 PM UTC-5, k...@notreal.com wrote:
> On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 13:39:18 -0500, Bill <none...@att.net> wrote:
>
> >On 1/12/2023 1:18 PM, k...@notreal.com wrote:
> >> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:07:57 -0500, Clare Snyder <cl...@snyder.on.ca>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
> >>> <gros...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
> >>>>> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> >>>>>> Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
> >>>>>>> I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
> >>>>>> Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
> >>>>>> a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
> >>>>>> wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
> >>>>>> overhang at the back. Works fine.
> >>>>> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
> >>>>
> >>>> The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
> >>> And my Ranger has a 7 foot box - - -
> >>
> >> Standard cab? I wanted the extended cab so I could put some
> >> "valuables" inside, particularly when we traveled.
> >
> >
> >This thread got me thinking/learning more about trucks and bed-liners,
> >ways to carry sheet goods, and things like that. I even browsed a few
> >car-selling web sites. While I was watching a YouTube video related to
> >car-buying yesterday, my wife asks me out of the blue, so *WHO* is
> >getting a new vehicle??? I answered that it was going "to be a
> >surprise"! If I mount a base for "bird spotting scope" in the truck
> >bed, she just might fall for it--I mean go for it! ; )
> I bought a new one last November ('21). Someone ran a stop sign at
> full speed and totaled my '13. A new one, even fairly well loaded,
> was the same price as a used one at the time. Used vehicles were nuts,
> which helped me out with the insurance claim too. ;-)

The only reason that the 2011 CR-V that I mentioned in my other post
was repaired after the large tree limb crushed it was because of the
insane used car prices in 2022.

5 years and 50K miles after she bought it, they valued it at $100 less
than she bought it for.

On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 18:20:51 -0800 (PST), "russellseaton1@yahoo.com"
<ritzannaseaton@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 7:52:34 PM UTC-6, k...@notreal.com wrote:
>> On Wed, 11 Jan 2023 17:12:27 -0800 (PST), John Grossbohlin
>> <gros...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 1:44:18 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote:
>> >> On Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10:14:50 AM UTC-6, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> >> > Michael <michael...@gmail.com> writes:
>> >> > >I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.
>> >> > Get a bedliner with the supports molded in the side for
>> >> > a couple of 2x4s at the same level as the top of the
>> >> > wheel well. Those will hold sheets flat, with some
>> >> > overhang at the back. Works fine.
>> >> Sounds great. Much appreciated!
>> >
>> >The F150 should have a bit over 4 feet between the wheel wells so you don't need to raise the sheets to that level to have enough width. Opening the tail gate so it lays flat, and ratchet strapping the sheets to keep them in the bed, and you should be good to go. The smaller trucks, like the old Rangers, actually had steps stamped into the inner walls of the bed where you could put 2x4s to support the sheets above the wheel wells.
>> With a standard box, a sheet will extend to about the middle of the
>> tailgate.
>
>How times have changed. Long, long ago. Back when the dinosaurs roamed the shopping malls with 25 cent video arcades and Radio Shacks and Sears stores and break dancing was all the rage. A standard box was considered 8 feet. The short box was 6.5 feet. And the super short box of 5.5 feet had not even been invented yet. Back then I remember the only crew cab four door pickup truck I ever saw was one owned by the railroad. It had an 8 foot bed too. Single rear wheels so they could mount the railroad wheels underneath it.
>
I wouldn't want to park that beast!

8' beds are still available but are a PITA to park.

On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 18:20:51 -0800 (PST), "russellseaton1@yahoo.com"
<ritzannaseaton@gmail.com> wrote:

>How times have changed. Long, long ago. Back when the dinosaurs roamed the shopping malls with 25 cent video arcades and Radio Shacks and Sears stores and break dancing was all the rage. A standard box was considered 8 feet. The short box was 6.5 feet. And the super short box of 5.5 feet had not even been invented yet. Back then I remember the only crew cab four door pickup truck I ever saw was one owned by the railroad. It had an 8 foot bed too. Single rear wheels so they could mount the railroad wheels underneath it.

Back in those day my parents had Ford F250 six pack, the camper fitted
on the back for camping. I remember we drove from Lake Charles to
Galveston, my sister and I were in the camper looking out the front
window. We first saw the lights of Galveston, thought we will be there
soon. Our estimate proved incorrect that is one flat stretch of road.

DerbyDad03 <teamarrows@eznet.net> writes:
>On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 2:32:16 PM UTC-5, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>
>> Dunno. My '00 ranger was stock base model (manual everything), the kind
>> that used to dominate fleet sales to the trades. It would still be
>> running if a tree hadn't fallen on it a couple years ago in a derecho.
>
>I know all about trees and well maintained vehicles.
>
>My super clean 2006 Honda Odyssey in 2014:
>
>https://i.imgur.com/MTBfotQ.jpg
>
>SWMBO's super clean 2011 Honda CR-V in 2022:
>
>https://i.imgur.com/pKO2q4z.jpg

For the ranger, the tree flattened the cab. My B-I-L sold it
to a salvage guy who figured he could fix it somehow. Haven't
heard anything further on it.

On 1/11/2023 9:50 AM, Michael wrote:
> I'm getting a good deal on an F150, but a 5.5 box seems really small to be hauling plywood sheets and construction lumber. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

Mine is the Crew Cab with the 5.5 box. No problem with plywood with
the tail gate down.