1. Don't under-utilize the...
1. Don't under-utilize the space in your bed. There are many new products on the market that help you get better organized for those long road trips ahead.
Not everyone is going to have complete access to the bed of their rig, especially if they do a lot of towing. But if you mostly bumper-pull, then here are three bright ideas that can help transform your truck bed into a more functional cargo space.
Let's start with the Bedslide
The Bedslide solution is effective, durable and unique. Crawling on your hands and knees can be time-consuming and uncomfortable, and the Bedslide makes accessibility to anything in your bed effortless. The Bedslide is a full-length, slide-out shelf on sealed roller bearings. It attaches directly to the floor of the bed and fits either long or short bed truck bodies. It's made mostly for the construction trades; however, we think there's a bunch of recreational uses for it too.
It's designed to occupy most of the cargo area on the bed's floor, so everything you normally carry finds its rightful place on the Bedslide. The next time you need to access a piece of equipment up against the bulkhead, you simply slide out the platform and get what you need. If there is a drawback, it is that the Bedslide covers up three quarters of your bedfloor. However, there is still some room on both sides of the bed for bed-rail mounted boxes or smaller items, or it can be removed when it's not in use.
2. The Bedslide is a DIY product...
2. The Bedslide is a DIY product and takes only a few hours to install.
"Because of consumer demand for better carrying capabilities, we came out with the new CG Pro, which has higher side rails to contain gear and attachments for tie-downs," David McInturf of Bedslide says. "The big news is that SR-10 will replace our standard model and will be available in 2010, and both units have a 1,800-pound capacity. Retail pricing begins at $800 up to $1,200."
While there are several models of Bedslide to choose from, we installed the Contractor's Grade Bedslide simply because we needed something rugged. It is intended for work trucks that get used everyday and is considered the company's workhorse.
The installation process was very basic and required few handtools. The unit came factory powdercoated on a heavy steel frame with eight roller bearings that glided smoothly through a steel channel. Because the bearings were completely sealed, the Bedslide does not have to be covered and is resistant to foul weather or dirt. It featured three locking positions as the drawer was pulled out and had short aluminum side rails and a WeatherDeck top with a 1/4-inch rubber mat.
So if you have back problems, or simply don't want to crawl around in the bed of the truck, the Bedslide is a worthy upgrade.
3. The idea behind the Bedslide...
3. The idea behind the Bedslide is you can have total access to any cargo without climbing inside the bed. The Bedslide rolls on bearings that are totally sealed against foul weather, dirt, or debris.
If you're like us, there are never enough tie-down points when you need them. So when Snap-Loc Industrial came out with its new Cargo Control System, we couldn't wait to get our hands on a set. These aren't your typical light-duty S-hooks with flimsy nylon straps, either.
These high-end systems come with quality heavy-duty 16-foot by 2-inch straps with E-fittings at the ends and feature Snap Loc's own patented "Loc-Down" anchor points. They are available in ratchet or cam buckle) and E-fit (in multiple grade finishes) and are rated up to 2,500 pounds, especially for motorcycles, ATVs, or other bulky cargo.
The Loc-Downs are very slim, which means you can mount these to the tailgate to carry oversized planks of wood that extend over the bed. Installation required only simple tools, and the Snap-Loc Cargo Control System allowed us to link several straps together for the biggest loads. Retail pricing for the Snap-Loc Cargo Control system ranges from $9.99 to $39.99.