How does the truck bed work?

[Teach]

Pickup newbie question... How would the Slate fit a full size 4 x 8 wood panel? Or, will it?

 

[GaRailroader]

Pickup newbie question... How would the Slate fit a full size 4 x 8 wood panel? Or, will it?

It will. What you do is cut (2) 2x4s the width of the bed above the wheel wells. Probably around 50 inches. You use these (2) 2x4s crosswise across the bed to provide a shelf above the wheel wells. You will notice the side of the bed has pockets for these 2x4s to lay in. When you haul 4x8 sheets you lay them on these transverse 2x4s and that way the sheet sits in there nice and straight. Bed is 5 feet long so you have 3 feet of material extending beyond the bed. The tailgate is probably 16 inches or so, which would leave 20 inches beyond the tailgate. I usually put a strap on the end of the plywood to prevent it from
sliding out if I take off too quickly. Most states require you to put a red flag on your load if you extend more than 3 feet beyond the tailgate. When I have owned compact trucks, I kept 2x4s in my garage cut to size for use when hauling sheet goods.

 

[GaRailroader]

Maverick had a clever design feature on their tailgate which let you secure it at about a 45 degree angle to support lading that was being carried above the wheel wells in this fashion. That would be a cool feature for Slate to incorporate.

 

[Teach]

It will. What you do is cut (2) 2x4s the width of the bed above the wheel wells. Probably around 50 inches. You use these (2) 2x4s crosswise across the bed to provide a shelf above the wheel wells. You will notice the side of the bed has pockets for these 2x4s to lay in. When you haul 4x8 sheets you lay them on these transverse 2x4s and that way the sheet sits in there nice and straight. Bed is 5 feet long so you have 3 feet of material extending beyond the bed. The tailgate is probably 16 inches or so, which would leave 20 inches beyond the tailgate. I usually put a strap on the end of the plywood to prevent it from
sliding out if I take off too quickly. Most states require you to put a red flag on your load if you extend more than 3 feet beyond the tailgate. When I have owned compact trucks, I kept 2x4s in my garage cut to size for use when hauling sheet goods.

Thank you for your informational response!

 

[KingCarlosXIII]

Maverick had a clever design feature on their tailgate which let you secure it at about a 45 degree angle to support lading that was being carried above the wheel wells in this fashion. That would be a cool feature for Slate to incorporate.

As a current Maverick owner, can confirm. Works great.

 

[Luxrage]

Ford used to have spots molded into the Ranger's bed-liner intended for putting 2x4s across that made a flat load floor for plywood that was at the same height as the wheel wells. Would be nice if slate did the same.

 

[YDR37]

Check out the official "Meet Slate" video. In the first five seconds of the video, it says "This Slate seats two ... and can carry sheets of plywood". It appears that a wooden support, presumably the same height as the wheel wells, has been placed in the bed to support 4x8 sheets. Looks like maybe a length of 2x8 or 2x10 ? Maybe there is another piece towards the front of the bed as well.

 

[YDR37]

In this image of the Slate's bed, it looks like there are vertical slots in the side of the bed, both before and after the wheel wells, that could support a length of 2x8 or 2x10 standing on edge. Kind of hard to see unless you enlarge the image.

 

[skidoofast]

In the picture above it looks like you could have 2-2x4 and 2-2x6 from side to side to support

maybe a small version of Decked would be a nice accessory

 

[Duke Slater]

I’m glad this thread was more specific than the title. I was thinking “how’s the bed work? Ya put stuff in, drive it somewhere, then take it out!” Lol

 

[YDR37]

That's some shitty-ass looking plywood. Just sayin'

If you watch the first five seconds of the video, the plywood sheets materialize in thin air several feet above the truck, then they rain down into the bed. While this sort of magical teleportation looks cool, and is faster than using conventional equipment, it is actually not a recommended loading practice for sheet goods, as it has the potential to cause warping, cracking, or chipping.

 

[atx_ev]

Check out the official "Meet Slate" video. In the first five seconds of the video, it says "This Slate seats two ... and can carry sheets of plywood". It appears that a wooden support, presumably the same height as the wheel wells, has been placed in the bed to support 4x8 sheets. Looks like maybe a length of 2x8 or 2x10 ? Maybe there is another piece towards the front of the bed as well.

they need a better vendor for their plywood sheets..

 

[atx_ev]

Like most mid-size and small pickups, the bed walls have indentations to hold either 2x4 or 2x6 dimensional lumber to support 4x8 sheet goods above the wheel wells. In the case of the Slate it looks like either three (3) or four (4) 2x6 can be laid flat laterally across the bed to hold 4x8 sheet products above the wheel wells.

There looks to be front and rear vertical slots too. You can use those as dividers to keep stuff from sliding around, or mount things like bike wheel mounts onto the wood.