How To Transport A Truck Bed?

Truck owners can buy aftermarket beds for their vehicles. But how can you transport a truck bed for it to arrive safely at its destination? We researched the solution for this predicament, and here's what we found.

First, remove the truck bed from the vehicle. Once it’s off the truck, proceed with this task by following these steps:

1. Consult the help of assistants to aid you in lifting and carrying the truck bed into the trailer.
2. Use tie-down straps and/or other securing materials to ensure the bed doesn’t move during transit.

Keep in mind that some truck bed sizes may not fit certain trailers. If so, you may need to elevate the bed using a picnic table or other similar surface. Continue reading as we tackle this process to transport a truck bed in greater detail. We’ll also talk about a step-by-step procedure to remove a bed from its truck.

How Do You Take Off A Bed Of A Truck?

You likely need to remove a truck bed before you can transport it. But you might need professional services for this operation. However, it’s still possible to take out a truck bed from the vehicle’s frame without the aid of a technician. Although, the challenges increase if you decide to treat this job as a DIY project.

Also, make sure you have sufficient knowledge in dealing with automotive parts to complete this operation without the significant risk of making costly mistakes. It’s also ideal to have your car owner’s manual nearby in case you need guidance to locate specific parts.

What You’ll Need

• Scaffolding
• Ratchet straps
• Wrench
• Screwdriver
• Power drill
• Bolt extractor attachment
• Jack

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Go underneath the truck and safely remove the bed's electronic connections.
2. Use the wrench to remove the bolts securing the truck’s hitch and rear bumper. Then, take out the hitch and rear bumper and set those components aside.
3. Unscrew the taillights and remove them from the truck bed. Make sure to take out the wires as well.
4. Use the power drill with the bolt extractor attachment to remove the bolts securing the truck bed to the vehicle’s frame.
5. Lift the truck’s rear with the jack.
6. Attach the truck bed to the scaffolding with the ratchet straps.
7. Carefully lift the truck bed to a considerable height.
8. Drive the truck away from the bed.

Check out this bolt and nut remover set on Amazon.

Watch the video below to learn additional details about this task. Watchers should be wary as the person in the video uses some foul language in his explanations.

How To Haul A Truck Bed On A Trailer?

Before continuing this process, make sure that your tow vehicle can handle the trailer’s weight with the truck bed on it. If not, you may experience on-road accidents and perhaps also promote injuries to yourself and other people in the immediate vicinity.

Also, if the trailer has smaller dimensions than the truck bed, you may need to use another surface for leverage. A picnic table can work well in this situation. It’s also ideal to have assistants to help you in lifting the truck bed onto the trailer.

After taking note of those points, you can continue with this truck bed transport project:

What You’ll Need

• Picnic table
• Safety straps

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Place the picnic table in the trailer.
2. With the help of your assistants, lift and carry the truck bed. Then, place it on top of the picnic table.
3. Secure the setup with the safety straps.

Take note that the truck bed shouldn’t move about the trailer during transit. Attempt to nudge the truck bed while the vehicle assembly is still in park to check if the setup is secure. If not, redo the safety straps or add more of these accessories.

Check out this tow strap on Amazon.

You can also watch the video below to gain insight on how to secure a truck bed onto a tow trailer:

Remember that the size of the truck bed can play a significant role in increasing or reducing the difficulty of this project. You can read our post on Chevy and GMC truck beds to help you gain an idea of the key differences between these models.

How Much Trailer Weight Can I Pull?

Towing loads from a trailer needs a careful assessment of different factors. Tow vehicle users should pay attention to the following elements to determine the maximum haul weight capacity:

• Trailer weight: The weight of an assembled trailer without load.
• Tongue weight: The weight capacity of the tow trailer’s tongue.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The weight ceiling of both the cargo and the tow vehicle.

Automobile and tow vehicle accessory dealers should provide specifications that can help users determine the maximum trailer weight for pulling. Contact your product supplier if you can't find these pieces of information in your owner's manual.

How Heavy Is A Truck Bed?

Truck beds come in different weight classifications, which means there’s no definite answer to that question. Still, the weight of truck beds often depends on their sizes. Here are some estimated weight ranges based on truck bed sizes:

• 5 feet: 140 to 200 pounds
• 6 feet: 200 to 300 pounds
• 8 feet: 400 to 600 pounds

You can find more information on the typical weight of a truck bed by reading our post on that topic.

How Do You Tow A Full-Size Truck?

If removing the bed from a full-sized truck is more challenging than intended, towing the entire vehicle can be an option. Also, and like with any other vehicle towing operation, ensure that each part of the setup is compatible.

You also have two options for this project: use a dolly or flat tow the full-sized truck. Generally, only all-wheel drive (AWD) and 4x4 automobiles are flat-towable. If your truck doesn’t fall under these transmission categories, it might be prudent to use a tow dolly instead.

Take note that you may need to install a tow bar to make the connection with the full-sized truck or the tow dolly possible. In this section, you’ll learn the steps to install a tow bar on your hauling vehicle to prepare you for the dolly or truck attachment.

What You’ll Need

• Tow bar kit
• Wrench

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Remove the rear bumper of the tow vehicle if necessary.
2. Take out the rubber covers behind the tow vehicle.
3. Use the wrench to secure the tow bar brackets to the back of the tow vehicle using the included bolts in the kit.
4. Install the main crossbar while following the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Attach the tow ball housing if the bar is a detachable model.
6. Reattach the tow vehicle’s rear bumper and connect the tow ball.

Keep in mind that you may also need to install a wiring kit to ensure the tow bar's electronics work in sync with the vehicle. This set might not be in the product’s original packaging, which means you may need to spend extra cash to purchase it.

Check out this tow wiring kit on Amazon.

How Do You Secure Things On A Trailer?

Take note that hauling loads on a trailer should make use of a compatible setup. Using an incompatible trailer can result in on-road accidents and bodily harm. Also, the trailer and the rest of the towing assembly should be in good working condition.

You should also check your local laws about securing loads onto trailers. For instance, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) imposes a rule for haulers on the proper use of tie-down materials.

In particular, the association requires tow vehicle users to ensure that each tie-down is secure that it doesn’t open, release, unfasten, or become loose during transit. Also, the load should be in the rub rails of the trailer as practicable as possible.

Check out these tie-down straps on Amazon.

Find out additional important points about securing different loads onto trailers by watching the video below:

What Is The Speed Limit For A Car Towing A Trailer On A Motorway?

Many states only permit tow vehicles to only go up to 60 miles per hour on the motorway when hauling loads. Also, some laws don’t allow drivers to drive their load-hauling automobiles in the outside lane if the highway has three lanes or more.

Final Words

The first step to transporting a truck bed is to remove it from the vehicle. Then, place and secure it into a compatible trailer. Make sure that you follow the recommended speed limit for towing to avoid fines and on-road accidents.