Best way to transport a ladder?

I am being given a ladder that I will need to drive a couple hours to get. What is the best, safest way to transport it?

 

Throw it in the bed and tie it down throw a flag on it.

 

I have a short bed and it’s a full size ladder, maybe 12 ft?

 

Tie it down with a few ropes on it and throw a 50lb sand bag on it.

 

A few straps and a red flag on it.

 

Have it stick out of the back with the tailgate up, and use some rachet straps to hold it down in the front and back. Make sure to give it a flag.

 

Its best to use the roof at that point and not have 6ft of ladder hanging out.

 

Get some foam canoe gunwale pads (~$15) and put them on the ladder rails. Put the ladder on the roof (contact points are the foam) and tie down with equal pressure to the bed and the front bumper. Kinda like this...

 

If you'd rather lay it up over the cab so it's not sticking out the back so far, go to your local Lowes or homers and get some larger diameter split foam pipe insulation. Cut a couple lengths of that to put over the ladder side plates where they contact the cab and tie down appropriately.

Pool noodles work too and should be easy to find right now.

When you do that though if it's tied down in the bed and angled up high over the cab front you'll have to watch your height clearances. Laying it flat over the cab lengthwise avoids that but is least secure from a cargo holding perspective and puts more pressure on the cab roof, you might get some long dents.

Easiest way is like everybody said though, just let it stick out the back and flag it. Then it's every body else's problem.

Don't open the rear slider and put it up through the cab and on to your dashboard. I've seen folks with small beds do that with lumber and shit and it just bothers me.

 

Sell the truck and get a LB.

 

This is what I do when I have to rent a 12ft ladder. I use ratchet straps to secure it. Might want to check your state laws also in regards to loads extending out from the vehicle.

 

Wish i had the 12' bed option. I carry ladders just about daily. Tailgate up, slide ladder in... one ratchet strap on cab end so that when you ratchet it down, its pulling the ladder toward the cab (one wrap about 3 feet up the ladder works). Then strap the tailgate end down good. Bungee a flag out on the back end and you're good to go. Ive even moved a 40 footer plenty of times this way (not far but it works). You can add weight if you want as stated for extra piece of mind.

 

Once when I was a kid I had to move a piece of pipe that was way to long so I straddled it with my pick up and tied it up underneath , flagged it a few miles later Job done . It was about 20' long and I was only 18.

 

OP, go buy a cheap bed extender from harbor freight. It gives you the mounting option to carry ladders/kayaks etc.. in the bed or overhead if you have a roof rack.

 

• Keep the tailgate up.
• Get the foam product of your choice.
• Place foam where it will contact cab (and tailgate if you want).
• Place ladder over cab and on top of tailgate.
• Secure it, secure it well.
• Place flag on back and remember the height of the ladder.
• Don’t drive under anything lower than the height of the ladder.

I’ve done this tons of times without issue.

 

Cut ladder in half, should fit nicely after that.

 

How many steps would there be to that?....

 

OP has a SB, it will need to be cut in 3 sections.

 

In that case he better have lots of tape to get it back together again.

 

But what if the OP retired from the circus performing balancing feats, will tape be even needed?