How to Safely Haul Pallets

[eedrew]

So, I recently replaced my 2002 F350 DRW Flatbed with a 2021 Ram 2500 Tradesman. It is a major upgrade. My concern is about the bed, and more specifically, the tailgate.

How do you folks safely load pallets in the bed of your pickup without damaging your tailgate? If it weren't for the camera, I would simply take the tailgate off, although that requires some preplanning unless the tailgate is going to ride around in the back of the pickup. I'm starting to be concerned that I made a big mistake getting a regular pickup bed instead of a flatbed. I have trailers I could put it on, but how do I ever benefit from the payload capacity of my new heavy duty pickup if I never put big pallets of stuff in the bed?

 

[Deleted member 80]

A forklift operator who knows what they are doing can slide the pallet without wrecking your gate. A sacrificial sheet in the bed can minimize digging the bed floor up.

 

[LateToTheParty]

Agreed. If there is big concern about the loader, you could remove the tailgate for loading, then reinstall it before driving, as it only takes a minute or two to remove or reinstall

 

[el_barto]

Yeah the forklift driver should be able to load the pallet without smashing up your truck. I usually spot them too just to make sure they don’t hurt my truck.

If he’s only got really short forks you can take the tailgate off to allow him to load.

 

[eedrew]

Thanks for the comments, guys. I'm also thinking about when I get home, unloading. I know the forklift operator can get it in there, but then getting the pallet out with my skidsteer forks, might be more difficult since the operator might have "pushed" it forward. The sacrificial plywood is a good idea too.

Does anyone know how much weight the tailgate is good for. Google let me down on this search. Seems like it could easily have 1000lbs on it while loading/unloading a 2000+ lb pallet.

 

[LateToTheParty]

The new multi-function tailgates on the 1500 are rated to 2,000lbs, and I don't see how ours can be any weaker than that, though I've never seen anything officially published by FCA regarding that.

 

[Deleted member 80]

If the operator starts at the balance point of the load they will be able to minimize the load on the gate.

 

[farmallboy]

Yeah I cut my teeth on a seed farm at 16 illegally operating.

Today I work in an office and occasionally help a local hardware. Loading full pallets of mulch or burning pellets is easy when you understand the concepts at play and know what to do. Never touched a tailgate. Initial set down of the pallet is minimal weight on the gate.

I am lazy and use my trailer when getting pallets. Just rides easier than loading the truck down and having it too heavy. I want to keep the body and interior in good shape but as far as my bed is concerned, it will get scratches and I don't care. But does anyone have experience sliding a pallet in overtop off factory puck inserts? I keep forgetting to see I believe they are recessed enough to not get caught.

 

[RV_Goose]

Yeah I cut my teeth on a seed farm at 16 illegally operating.

Today I work in an office and occasionally help a local hardware. Loading full pallets of mulch or burning pellets is easy when you understand the concepts at play and know what to do. Never touched a tailgate. Initial set down of the pallet is minimal weight on the gate.

I am lazy and use my trailer when getting pallets. Just rides easier than loading the truck down and having it too heavy. I want to keep the body and interior in good shape but as far as my bed is concerned, it will get scratches and I don't care. But does anyone have experience sliding a pallet in overtop off factory puck inserts? I keep forgetting to see I believe they are recessed enough to not get caught.

I had a pallet and a half of concrete blocks in my 3500. The Lowes fork truck driver was not very good, but the pallet did slide over the puck inserts.

 

[Wileykid]

I have had a number of pallets of bricks (about 3K lbs each) put in the back of my 3500. One fork lift had the extended forks, so no issues, the others didn't, you end up with about 75% of the pallet in the bed, and the other part on the tailgate. Partially picked up the pallet, and slid it in. Some scratches in the plastic of the pucks and the spray in liner, but you have to look for it. I try not to scratch the inside of the bed, but it is a tool for me, and a very good chance it will get scratched up. If you are concerned, I guess you can remove the plastic part of the puck holes.

 

[leeroy300]

turn the top one over and ratchet strap them down

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

turn the top one over and ratchet strap them down

Lol does not make a difference if its flipped over or not

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Use a trailer

 

[John Jensen]

Be sure and strap 'em down real good

 

[Capital E]

Ditch the tailgate...and the rest of the bed. Time for a flat bed.