How to safely haul 12’ lumber?

I need to pick up some 12’ long 2x4s for a project. About 8 of them. I have the DCLB. I’m new to the truck ownership circle. Is it preferable to haul them with the tailgate closed and sticking up 6’ on angle out the back. Or drop the tailgate to get it to almost 8’ long and drive it like that with them flat and overhanging about 4’? I’ve never driven it with the tail gate open and am not sure that’s even recommended to do.
I don’t want to do something really dumb and end up as one of those memes you see with people hauling things completely wrong in their truck.

 

This is rent a trailer territory, even with a hitch mounted bed extender/support, that is getting a bit far out there for overhang laws. It is doable with a hitch mounted bed extender, but would be cheaper to rent a trailer for a hour or two

Do not hual lumber at an angle so it sticks out beyond the width of the vehicle, big fine if a weigh master or a cop that actually decides enforce load securement laws catches you. You can technically go beyond the width up to a certian point, 51" from center of vehicle, but don't. Max width of a vehicle is 102" on US roads.

 

Leave the tailgate down, tie them in good and put a red flag on the end. Don't overthink it, you got this!!!

 

I've hauled 12' boards in my Honda Civic






And 16' in my shortbed Duramax

 

Long bed you are fine strapping them down with the tailgate open, assuming you aren’t driving 100 miles
Stick a red flag on the end and send it, it’s only 4 feet past the tailgate

 

Well, it’s for a project to build something at home then transfer it to another property later. So then I’d be renting a trailer twice. I didn’t even know there were such things as hitch mount bed extenders. That gives me another safer, secure option. Thank you.

 

Ahh I just noticed you said DCLB, I'm used to only seeing double cabs with short bed. Definitely not as bad to hual just in the bed alone, center weight is all in the bed, barely, but nowhere as likely to teeter on the tailgate, just be sure to have a spacer of sorts so the front has downwards pressure, the hook points are pretty high, and wrap the rachet around so the lumber is sinched together.

 

I'd open the back window and send them through. I had to bring some 12 foot 1x6's home a while back and it was no problem. Boards only stuck a couple of feet past the tailgate (it was up). DCLB here too.

 

You do have the Civic Lumber eXpediter, that's what it's for.

 

Get one of those Harbour Freight hitch mounted bed extenders. They are cheap and really comes in handy for shit like this. I use mine all the time.

 

I've done the through the window without issue, and I've also done the tailgate up, so less vehicles types could drive into my lumber. Both with red flag of course.

 

2x4s will be fine without an extender if you don't want to pay for one but they are useful. What you should at least do though is add D rings to your front bed bolts. This gives you a good spot to tie down the front of the wood too.

 

Through the window? This window?

 

Yup. Just give yourself a reasonable amount of space from the windshield. They break very easily from the inside.

 

While you're at Home Depot (or Harbor freight, wherever) go ahead and buy 1-2 packs of ratchet straps you can stash in the truck.

 

I would do the window thing for a couple pieces of flexible trim (like baseboard), but not 2x4s. They can take care of themselves if tied down properly.

 

Through the window scares me. Plus what I’m building won’t fit in there.
So I need a good way to do this. The bed extender sounds great. I’ll get one today.

 

Drop the tailgate
Put in boards
Strap down boards
Buy couple cheap bags of quikrete to throw on top of them(counter weight) probably would need two
Done
Drive safe

 

What is the shape / size of what you're building?