DIY bed extender

I built a home made bed extender for $54 out of parts from Home Depot (could have gotten them for less at Harbor Freight) but oh well.
(Click on images to enlarge)
Things needed:
10'x2''x12'' peice of wood
4 eye hooks
2 door hinges
4 snap hooks
3 feet of chain (mine is rated for 400 lbs)
1 or 2 cans of bed liner spray paint bepends on how many coats you want.

step one: Measure and cut the piece of wood so that length and width of the open tailgate is covered.


step two: drill holes on the side pieces of wood closet to the tailgate latch for the eye hooks.


step three: sand wood for paint.


step four: wipe saw dust off.


step five: paint using bed liner.


step six: drill hinges on the inside of extender to attach pieces of wood together and for easy storage.


step seven: screw in eye hooks.


step eight: cut two pieces of chain to appropriate length. I used a circular saw with a metal cutting blade.


step nine: use snap hooks to attach top eye hook to top tailgate latch. use chain and snap hooks to attach bottom eye hooks to D-rings in the bed.


Done!

 

Can't believe no one commented on this. Nice write up!

 

Thank you! It was my first one so I didn't know how to make the pictures big.

 

I like it! Another great example of folks coming up with innovative solutions to improve the function of what is basically a great truck. I did something similar, but appreciate some of your approach even better...

Check out my custom version of the bed extender:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd...nice-rack.html