Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

The pickup ride comes with specific tasks, such as stowing gear and supplies. It is necessary that things remain dry during the rain, do not fall out of the body, so that heavy objects do not travel back and forth in it, and light ones do not fly away. Here are some ideas to help you.

Steps

1. 1 Prepare your pickup to make it easier to secure your cargo. Depending on the make and model of the pickup, the body may already be equipped for securing loads, but you may still need additional equipment. Consider the various options:
   • Install handrails. With this option, the body platform is protected from scratches and dents when transporting heavy loads loaded over the side. This can improve the look of the truck, and add room for bulky goods that may be above the side of the body.
   • Install a non-slip floor covering. As a rule, it is made from polymeric materials. It has the added benefit of preventing damage to the original body finish. It can be detachable or factory-made, and reduce the load on the slippery floor of the body when braking or cornering.
   • Install the side rails.Most pickups have factory holes on the top of the sidewalls. This is what is left of the days when a lattice body was added to agricultural machines for transporting hay and for increasing the carrying capacity of the body. You can carry garbage or other light bulky cargo, or you can assemble the body at your discretion by installing wooden posts in these holes and screwing horizontal rails along the entire length of the body.
   • Install additional fasteners on the floor of the body. You can purchase D-rings or other similar attachment systems that you can buy at auto parts stores, as well as screws or bolts to attach directly to the body floor, securing a specific load. Keep in mind that drilling holes in the metal of your truck can stimulate the development of rust and lower the vehicle's price if it is resold.
   • A large cooler is fine for hauling small items home from the store. Install a large cooler at the back of the food truck. This will help maintain a constant temperature and prevent the load from flying out of the body under the pressure of the wind.
   • A standard locking aluminum tool box for storing small items. Buy and install a large toolbox. Drawers come in completely different configurations, but if you cannot find what suits your needs perfectly, you can contact the workshop, where they will make a custom-made drawer for you according to your requirements.
   • Buy and install a car cover. It will maximally protect the cargo from weather disasters, block movement and improve aerodynamics. Two disadvantages of this tool are the high cost and the fact that they exclude the transportation of high loads.
2. 2 Use a cargo net to transport lightweight materials such as insulation or cut grass. This mesh is custom made for specific body sizes, and although it requires a significant investment, the nylon or polyester fiber mesh resists rot and decay, is easy to store, and very easy to handle. Most of these nets have hooks that attach to a seam under the side of the body, or have attachments that attach the net to both sides of the body on a permanent basis.
3. 3 Purchase a tarp that matches the size of your load. Pickup bodies come in different sizes, depending on the size of the pickup itself (medium, subcompact or large), with short or long driving. You can buy a snap-on tarp, or you can attach the tarp with tie cords that can be on either side of the body and are attached to the bumpers.
4. 4 Secure the load when placing it on the pallet when loading. Many loads are transported and delivered on tractor trailers that have wooden pallets to enable loading / unloading with forklifts. These pallets can be found in garages or building materials stores, where they can be borrowed for free or purchased for a nominal fee. The pallet timber frame is unlikely to slide on the floor of the body, and since it is quite heavy and made of planks, the load will go directly to the pallet.
5. 5 Remember that it is difficult to secure cargo in the back from thieves who have the ability to sneak into the pickup unnoticed. Here are some simple tips to make it harder for a thief to steal your cargo.
   
   
   • Park your pickup at night in a well-lit area.
   • Make sure the cargo is covered as best as possible, either completely covered with a tarp or stored in a container.
   • Park your pickup so that it can be seen by passers-by. Freeway rest areas are great places for thieves, so try to park in front of the rest area where people coming in and out will scare off the thief.
   • Cover your most valuable items inside the pickup and out of sight, if possible.
   • Consider buying king-cab or quad-cabso that you have more interior space for storing cargo.
   • Drive straight to your destination. Stopping, shopping, sightseeing and other activities put your cargo in great danger in the form of theft or bad weather.
     
     
6. 6 Buy quality snap-on belts for tying heavy loads. They are made from durable synthetic fibers and, when paired with strong bindings, will hold a heavy and unstable load firmly. Be sure to store these belts properly when not in use: sunlight, oil, dirt, etc. can slowly destroy their material. This will weaken them.
7. 7 Tie the load with lashing cables or straps on at least two sides, if possible, or tie it crosswise to prevent movement in all directions.
8. 8 Choose the smoothest and shortest road available to you. Avoid curved or uneven roads. This will reduce the likelihood of damage to the cargo during reloading.
9. 9 You must know the carrying capacity of your pickup. Vehicle suspensions and tires have the maximum weight they can support. The vehicle's load capacity can be seen on the factory decal on the edge of the driver's door panel. Do not exceed the weight indicated there.
10. 10 If you are transporting too long a load. Tie a flag on the end of it so other drivers can see it and don't get too close to your car. Very long weights will likely need to be shifted, so you may need to strap them to keep them stationary.
11. 11Keep very heavy loads as close to the front of the vehicle as possible so that the front of the vehicle does not become easyand the steering is less efficient and more difficult.
12. 12 Try placing valuable tools and other items behind the cab seats. They will be out of sight and sheltered from the rain.

Tips

• For small objects like a wheeled generator, welding machines or garden tools, you can simply prop them up and tie them to the tailgate.
• When transporting heavy cylinders filled with liquid, such as diesel or oil, use heavy duty straps for securing. The fluid in the cylinders will move, so balance problems may arise when braking or turning.

Warnings

• Moving a heavy load during emergency braking is very dangerous. Large objects can fly out through the rear window if they are not securely attached.
• Remember that there are laws regarding the transport of hazardous materials such as fuel, compressed gas cylinders or chemicals. You must have a safety data sheet for the cargo you are transporting, and some jurisdictions require a safety label in a clearly visible place on the machine.

What do you need

• Ropes, lanyards, safety straps, chains or cushioning materials.
• Tarpaulin or cargo net.

↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFk45Sbye3o