I have yet to figure out how to carry 16-foot stock panels in our 8-foot truck bed. We've done it, but is there a trick to it? (Besides borrowing a neighbor's big truck or trailer.)

Thanks.

-- Teresa in TN (otgonz@bellsouth.net), October 30, 2000

Answers

this is not the safest but if you only need to go a short distance lay the panels over the cab and tie in the front the out a blanket on the roof and have them end in the bed. Put them towards the passenger side and flag them,

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), October 30, 2000.

Teresa you need your truck bed empty then put one end against the front and bow them up and put the other end against the tail gate tie them in and go girl go best regards Bob in s.e.ks.

-- Bob Condry (bobco@hit.net), October 30, 2000.

I agree with Bob but be real careful about untying the panels!!!!

-- Beth Weber (talmidim88@hotmail.com), October 30, 2000.

With a tool boX up front the arch method won't work for me. I take a strong rope small enough to go through the hooks the tailgate latches to at the bed top corner. Put the panels in the bed and let them stick out and touch the ground. Run your rope from one top corner back to rear of panels then back to other corner. Have someone raise end on ground as high as they can---6 ft or so. Tie rope and they will stay arched up nicely. Not good for a lot but I haul 2 or 3 15 miles quite often. Flag is nice touch on the far rear if you are followed by any law enforcement fellows. Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), October 31, 2000.

Wish we had benefit of all your experience last Saturday when we hauled stock panels home on our tiny trailer behind the pickup. We just weren't sure that, if arched, those panels would stay put! But would that work with half a dozen?

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), October 31, 2000.

I usually tie the ends together so the are sort of folded, then when I get them home I lay them oput and walk them down straight again.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), October 31, 2000.

Well, I've hauled 16 foot pieces of metal barn siding like this, empty pickup bed, put tailgate down, put two 2x12's that are at least 14 feet long flat in the bed of the pickup to hold up the panels, stack your stock panels flat on the bed hanging out the tailgate. Tie stock panels together, then fasten the whole pile to the pickup bed, preferably the front of the pickup bed, then put a heavy weight on top of the stock panels that will not roll easily, like cement blocks, railroad tie, etc. Your good to go most anywhere if properly flagged at the rear, everything stays put. Impressed my husband, even! Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 31, 2000.

Idea with 2x12's is good. Not having any handy I have taken a 14 ft gate off the hinges and put it into pickup and done the same thing with 16 ft metal roofing. Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo..com), November 01, 2000.

We haul our seventeen foot canoe in (on) hubby's small truck by padding the edges that will touch, hoisting the thing up on top of the cab (upside-down), tie the front to the front bumper, and the rear to the rear bumper. He throws a couple of other ropes over it and ties down to the corner holes in the bed of the truck. He even travels on the freeway with this arrangement, so don't see why you couldn't do the same with stock panels. (Guess we will find out next year how it works, ourselves!)

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), November 01, 2000.

Thanks, everybody! I'll try a couple of these soon.

-- Teresa in TN (otgonz@bellsouth.net), November 01, 2000.

Easy. Have them delivered! Ok.. not always an option.

Well, while we're on this subject, imagine if you will... a 5'2" little spit of a girl carrying these 16' stock panels by herself, from the driveway, over the patio, down the steps, through the mud, back into the corral... only about 50 feet, but it could have won a bundle on 'Funniest Home Videos'! debra in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), November 03, 2000.