Pallet-box for pickup bed?

[sheepfarmer]

Has anyone built a box which is easily picked up with pallet forks, and which is easy to unload from a truck, and easy to unload items from after transport? I often pick up 8 or 10 50 lb bags of feed at the elevator, as well as other odd shaped or bulky things that are too heavy to lift by one person.

The problem I am trying to solve is not being able to lift as much any more, and pulling things forward out of the truck bed, even to slide directly into the bucket, plays havoc with the torn rotator cuffs.

So my idea is to reinforce a pallet I have with a layer of plywood, then put boards about 18" high hinged to three sides of the pallet that would fasten to each other with snaps at the corners to keep stuff from sliding out of the box. Then the snaps could be undone to allow easier unloading. I have rings in the corners of the truck bed, so short pieces of rope or chain attached to eye bolts in the pallet would keep the whole thing from sliding forward in the bed. My truck has a cap on it, so both the tailgate and the door to the cap are limiting factors.

I don't have pallet forks yet and zip zero experience using them, so I would appreciate comments about the feasibility of this idea, and any suggestions about structure or a better one. My carpentry tools and skills, like my tractor tools are somewhat limited but willing to give it a try.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You have the right idea, there is several ways to do it.
I would suggest doubling up the pallet on the bottom, and ply wood the top and bottom, as it's way too easy to tip the forks down a little too much and dig into the bed of the truck till you get a good feel for it all.

For the side's I would suggest one of these styles of latches or something similar:

 

[ipz2222]

Very good idea. The type of latch that folds over a ring that a lock goes in would work on the corners to hold the sides up and some small hinges on the bottom of the sides to make them fold down. The width of the bed compared to the width of the pallet,,, may have to shorten the pallet.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Once you find a good solid pallet you are on your way.

 

[sheepfarmer]

NIW the idea of protecting the bed sounds good, I have a plastic liner that I'd rather not tear up, harder to fix than the lawn

Ipz222, I was just standing out in the barn staring at my pallet, and some measuring is in order. This pallet is rectangular and the long axis is in the direction the forks would go. But the top and bottom are not the same, one side has all the cross bars evenly spaced, and the other side has two gaps and I wondered which side was meant to go next to the product? Or if the gaps were there for the forks to grab onto to pull the pallet forward?

The other thing I was wondering about is pieces of the apparatus on the loader hitting the tailgate. I can't quite visualize what is going to be below horizontal behind the forks. I can see that longer forks might be an advantage. Do most people use the tips of the forks to drag the pallet forward and then try to insert them all the way before tilting and picking up?

 

[eipo]

Get either a plastic pallet or buy a 275 gallon tote and modify it to suit. A wooden pallet will eventually become unusable.

EDIT:

One of these

Pull the plastic liner out and modify the cage to suit.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Once you find a good solid pallet you are on your way.

Actually I was just thinking I should go scrounge for a second pallet so I could practice with the forks before I put a lot of work into my box...

 

[olthumpa]

Do a search on ebay for plastic pallets. Some are junk but others are extremely strong. Just another option.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Get either a plastic pallet or buy a 275 gallon tote and modify it to suit. A wooden pallet will eventually become unusable.

EDIT:

One of these

Pull the plastic liner out and modify the cage to suit.

Those totes are nice, i have 7 for wood chips and pellets, i find them a little fragile. But to line with plywood would make them durable.

As far as using a pallet, wood plastic or otherwise i would leave one end and one side fixed, and hinge the other 2. Would make it more solid.

I have seen warehouse stock carts, almost fit the bill, expanded metal and wheels. Would make life simple.

 

[Russell King]

The top is the evenly spaced side (probably). There may be some reliefs in the larger vertical boards (look at both sides of pallet). These allow forks to go under the pallet and lift heavier items. These will go toward bottom of pallet, usually with missing slats.


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[sheepfarmer]

Do a search on ebay for plastic pallets. Some are junk but others are extremely strong. Just another option.

Thanks ! I hadn't realized how many varieties there were.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Here ya go

 

[sheepfarmer]

TJ it's perfect!

I think the ideal situation is a stable full of pallet-containers depending on what you want to lift. I hadn't seen the 275 gal totes like eipo shows, and which wouldn't be good for grain sacks since I can't lift at that angle, but would be good for a large number of lighter things. A stock cart or something with wheels that could be set down in my one barn with concrete could have all sorts of uses.

Thanks Russell, that makes sense about the pallet structure.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Another off the wall idea is a Pallet with sides and caster wheels under it.

that way you could lift it out of the truck and set it on the ground and roll it around, I've used a version of that for firewood, make it nice and clean and no moving stock item on and off the pallet.

Just make sure you strap the rolling pallet either front or back of the pickup bed.

Or this, think more feed bags than candles and books!

 

[seanbarr]

Not directly related, but close. I have a truck with the shell too. One difference, it has a bed slide in it. Friggin' world of a difference. It slides rearward to preset stops. I can easily load 80# bags of concrete from the sides, when done, slide the bedslide back and it keeps the weight in front of the axle. I can get pallet loads (short of course) on the edge of the bedslide when extended just past the tailgate and then just push the bedslide in & off I go.

Something to consider.


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[eipo]

TJ it's perfect!

I think the ideal situation is a stable full of pallet-containers depending on what you want to lift. I hadn't seen the 275 gal totes like eipo shows, and which wouldn't be good for grain sacks since I can't lift at that angle, but would be good for a large number of lighter things. A stock cart or something with wheels that could be set down in my one barn with concrete could have all sorts of uses.

Thanks Russell, that makes sense about the pallet structure.

You can modify the side of the tote cage and turn it into a gate of sorts without much ado. They are to tall to reach in over the side and pull something out. I use 1 for loose firewood to bring it up to the house.

The real benefit is the bottom is metal so it will last, AND its galvanized so it wont rust. They aren't to heavy so you aren't using up lifting capacity for your container.

 

[eipo]

Not directly related, but close. I have a truck with the shell too. One difference, it has a bed slide in it. Friggin' world of a difference. It slides rearward to preset stops. I can easily load 80# bags of concrete from the sides, when done, slide the bedslide back and it keeps the weight in front of the axle. I can get pallet loads (short of course) on the edge of the bedslide when extended just past the tailgate and then just push the bedslide in & off I go.

Something to consider.


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Did you build or buy?

 

[Greenhead]

You have the right idea, there is several ways to do it.
I would suggest doubling up the pallet on the bottom, and ply wood the top and bottom, as it's way too easy to tip the forks down a little too much and dig into the bed of the truck till you get a good feel for it all.

Wolfman is on to something here. Using forks on a tractor is not easy. Reason being you can't see them from the seat. Not like a skid steer. It may be a bit easier because they're up at tailgate height but not sure. I would attach a chain/strap to the pallet end to pull it out to the edge of the tailgate, then insert forks. It's kinda like using forks with the braille method. Go slow and VERY careful.

 

[seanbarr]

eipo,

Bought it. Bedslide.com.


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[eipo]

eipo,

Bought it. Bedslide.com.


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Thanks.

Few years ago I built a set of drawers for the back of a 4runner that we used for camping in the UP of MI. Im toying with the idea of doing something similar in the back of my truck but with a platform over the drawers that can be fully extended as well as the drawers.

Ive looked at many pre-fabricated types including the bedslide. Just to hard to stomach the price.