How to Put Sides on a Pickup for Hauling
Enlarging the bed of your pickup truck is not as hard as it may seem. Extending the width and height of your vehicle’s bed, allows you to easily transport larger items. Adding the extensions is easy and you do not have to be an expert to do it. Of course, you will need to buy the required materials from your local hardware shop. However, once you have what you need, you can get this job done easily. It is recommended to be careful when installing extensions as you are responsible for protecting the cargo, other drivers and your vehicle.
Instructions
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1
Inappropriate side extensions can collapse, resulting in a financial loss for you and others. It is advised to drive your truck very slow as the extended walls of the bed can block you rear view. Firstly, you should consider measuring the width, height and length of your vehicle’s bed. If possible, put down the measurements on paper so you can make corrections if needed. Take your time when taking the measurements.
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Choose what kind of design you want for your vehicle’s side extensions. Do not use extensions that are too high as they can impair your vision when you drive. Pre-made extensions can be purchased from your local hardware or auto parts shop. However, if you are looking to build customised wall extensions then you should keep certain things in mind.
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Choose the material you would like to use for the extensions. Aluminium sheets are commonly used for this purpose as they are easy to carry and provide low weight. Steel sheets, on the other hand, are considerably cheaper than their aluminium counterparts but they can add a lot of weight to your truck, resulting in reduced engine power. However, the most economical and easy to use material is wood. Make sure you choose the best quality wooden material to support large items.
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Now use a circular saw to cut out two pieces of 2 by 4 lumber to the length of your vehicle. Cut four pieces accordingly to your vehicle’s bed and cut further four pieces of wood measuring the length of the sides you are looking to have for your vehicle. Use a wrench, hammer and other similar equipment to install the extensions and start transporting large items. Be sure that both sides are even so that the weight gets distributed evenly.
