Go Longer: Truck Bed Extender Buyer's Guide (2023)

FAQs

How much length does a bed extender add? ›

As the name implies, a bed extender adds a valuable two or three feet to your truck's existing length by shifting the tailgate down.

Truck bed extenders are an excellent solution for an age-old problem – not enough space. You need something temporary to help secure your load of drywall or lumber, or maybe that kayak you just bought. But it's 10-feet long, and your bed is only perhaps 6-feet. It's a puzzle, but a solvable one for sure.

A bed extender secures long cargo that would not fit in a standard pickup truck bed. There are three basic types of truck bed extenders. Two of the most common extenders work with the tailgate down. The third type, a rack that attaches to all four corners of the bed, is most common in work trucks.

Length: 55.5" - 62.5" Width: 28" - 48" Weight: 30 lbs. Load Capacity: 375 lbs.

Extender is rated for 350 lbs. of distributed weight; this allows you to haul longer loads safely, no trailer is required.

Signs a Truck Is Overloaded

The cargo is wider than the trailer or taller than the truck – If you can see pieces of cargo bulging off the sides or back of the trailer or on top of the truck, it's likely carrying more cargo than it's designed to hold.

If you go over the payload capacity, you run the risk of breaking your truck's suspension and even voiding your warranty. Thankfully, there is a way to calculate exactly how much weight your truck can handle, known as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

The correct answer will depend on the size of the truck. As long as you have not exceeded the load capacity of the chassis you should be fine. However the longer the springs are the compressed to their maximum deflection the less likely they are to return to their unloaded shape.

Any standard sized mattress won't fit your truck bed perfectly and you'll still be left with gaps around the sides. Simply cut a foam mattress to size, whether it's for your DIY platform or a mattress that goes around the wheel wells, this is a great option.

Even if you have an AWD or automatic 4WD vehicle you won't have safe traction if you've got worn tires. But if you have good tires and are driving a RWD car or SUV, a pickup truck or a manual 4WD vehicle, adding sandbags to the back can give you some additional traction in winter conditions.

What can I add to my truck for more power? ›

Supercharger or turbocharger

A turbocharger works with the exhaust system and can potentially give you gains of 70-150 horsepower. A supercharger is connected directly to the engine intake and could provide an extra 50-100 horsepower.

The standard beds are typically those with a length between 6 and 6.5 feet (72 – 78 inches). In some cases, however, it might refer to beds even a few inches longer. With this size, you get the best of both worlds, and it is ideal for most people.

Because of the longer wheelbase, long bed trucks handle better on the road. Uneven pavement doesn't affect the drive as much as it does on a short bed truck. Plus, a longer truck has better control over a longer travel trailer. Because of the increased stability, this usually means a higher towing and payload capacity.

Less Easy to Maneuver as Daily Driver

They require more space and intentionality when maneuvering. If your truck will tow your RV and serve as a daily driver, a long bed is more difficult to maneuver, especially in tight spaces. You could have difficulty parking as well.

Getting Right Down To Hauling

it isn't necessary to put the tailgate down. Simply put one end of the boards against the front of the bed. Let the rear end lay against the top of the tailgate. Ratchet strap your lumber together at both ends so you have one strong bundle.

They Don't Have a Manufacturer's Weight Rating

Although truck manufacturers might conservatively rate the tailgate itself for a weight such as 500 pounds perfectly centered, for liability reasons it is rare that they rate the tailgate cables specifically.

Subtract the curb weight from the GVWR to find the payload capacity. For example, if you have a light-duty truck with a GVWR of 9,000 pounds and a curb weight of 6,000 pounds, the payload capacity will be 3,000 pounds: GVWR – curb weight = payload capacity. 9,000 pounds – 6,000 pounds = 3,000 pounds.

Whether you need a truck bed extender for everyday use or occasional extra loading space, the added security when using a truck bed extender reduces the risk of damage during transportation regardless of what you are hauling, making it a worthwhile investment for any truck driver.

Removing and replacing a truck bed on your own can be a tricky and dangerous job, so including parts and labor, the entire job can cost anywhere from $1000-$10,000 total. While you're shopping for a truck bed replacement, you may as well shop for a better car insurance policy that saves you money.

A general rule of thumb is 240-300 pounds for a ½-ton pickup and 300-400 pounds for a ¾ to a 1-ton pickup. A common concern with adding weight to your truck bed is that it may increase your brake distance, but this isn't true. The added mass isn't enough to make a noticeable difference in your braking.

How do you know if your load is overweight? ›

By federal regulations, a load is overweight when it is: Over 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Over 20,000 pounds single axle weight.

Carrying a heavier load can lead to additional friction between the tyres of your vehicle, and the road, making it feel slightly harder to stop and start. It may take you a little longer to get going once moving from a standstill position, and the load could also affect the ability to maintain your speed.

New 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Towing Capacity

The Silverado 1500 Double Cab Standard Bed 2WD or Crew Cab Short Bed 2WD paired with the 3.0L Turbo-Diesel I-6 deliver up to 9,500 lbs—this, sans the Max Trailering Package, of course.

Per CVC Section 35406 (a), the load upon any vehicle, or on the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremost part of the front tires of the vehicle or the front bumper of the vehicle, if it is equipped with a front bumper.

Exceeding what your vehicle is designed to tow can strain your engine and transmission, accelerate brake wear, damage your tires and even warp your chassis. This could in turn trigger catastrophic failure while driving and could lead to property damage or serious injury.

It is generally safe to sleep in your car overnight, providing the engine is turned off and you're parked in a secure location. Cars are not airtight, meaning oxygen can enter the vehicle during the night to allow comfortable breathing, even when the windows and doors are closed.

Many truckers leave their truck running all night while sleeping. They often do this to help regulate the inside temperature of the cab so that they can stay comfortable. However, they not only worry about keeping themselves warm but also their truck. Idling the truck engine helps keep it warm in freezing temperatures.

Can I Leave My Fifth Wheel Hooked Up to My Truck Overnight? As long as you have stayed within the tow limits of your vehicle, leaving your fifth wheel hooked up to your truck overnight shouldn't be an issue. Many RVers who travel full-time in their RVs will often stay hooked up during overnight stays.

A pickup truck or cargo van will give you the perfect amount of space to move a queen size mattress when you angle the mattress. All trucks and vans are available through U-Haul Truck Share, so you can pick up and drop off on your time, even if the location is closed.

What is a truck with a bed called? ›

Fleetside:This is the most common type of truck bed out there and the name chosen by Chevy, GMC, Dodge, and just about everyone else. The sides of the bed are flat, and the wheel arches that accommodate the tires are inside the bed.

If you don't want to spring for expensive truck bed weights, bags of sand or dirt are going to be your cheapest option. Of course, if you already have something like an excess of bricks or cinder blocks laying around from an old construction job, those will work too and you don't need to pay for them.

But 500–600 pounds of sand or gravel in bags and place the bags over the axle, not just in the back of the truck. If you have a 250 or a 350 you might want to add 250 lbs. these are minimum weights. If you'in a hard winter area you may need to increase a little.

Cold Air Intakes are said to improve your vehicle's performance by 5-20 horsepower. This number will vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle. While this isn't enough power to put you back in your seat, it will give your car or truck a little pep in its step.

The simplest way to get a larger truck bed is to invest in a larger bed frame. This will replace your vehicle's bed and switch it with a bigger one. Making this switch isn't something you can do on your own, and you'll most likely need a mechanic to do the installation for you.

Typically, a long bed is 8 feet long, a standard bed is 6 feet 5 inches long, and a short bed is roughly 5 feet 8 inches long. It's important to note that these are average measurements , so the exact lengths may differ by a few inches depending on the manufacturer.

2019 Silverado 1500 Durabed Is Largest Pickup Bed.

Why buy a long bed truck? ›

These pickups usually come with a more powerful engine generating more horsepower for anything you throw at it. A longer bed on the truck will make the wheelbase longer as well. This means that your vehicle will be more stable and better grip the road, which makes hauling heavier objects easier.

One of the many reasons semi-trucks take so long to stop is because of their weight. The stopping distance of trucks increases with heavy loads, which cause them to accelerate more quickly when going downhill and take longer to come to a complete stop.

Non-CDL medium-duty – You do not need a CDL to rent any Penske medium-duty 22- or 26-foot box truck, 18- or 26-foot refrigerated truck, or 24- or 26-foot flatbed truck with a GVWR of 26,000 lb. or less.

In fact, some drivers will rack up around 3000 miles each week on the job, which sometimes requires early mornings and late nights to meet deadlines. While many would assume having to maneuver a big truck would be the most difficult part of the job, the long hours are often what truck drivers say is the hardest part.

How many hours a day can a trucker drive? Based on strict Hours of Service (HOS) regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a truck driver can be behind the wheel for a maximum of 11 hours in a 24-hour period.

Product Description

The 5143IVC bed extender attaches at the center and includes a frame extension, sleep surface extension and an extended drive shaft, expanding the bed frame from 80 inches to 84 inches.

How Long Is An Extra-Long SonderCare Hospital Bed? The standard hospital bed is 79 inches long (roughly six feet and six inches); these measurements go from inside the headboard and footboard. The wood-capped headboard and footboard add an extra two inches, making the hospital bed dimensions 36″ wide and 80″ long.

Bed stiffeners are truck bed components that strengthen a truck's bed, bedsides, and tailgate. They are essential because they reinforce the entire bed and prevent cracking, flexing, or damage related to the bed twisting.

Can you expand a bed frame? ›

With the headboard extender in place, you can now add a stylish and functional headboard to your metal bed frame. Whether you have a queen size, full size, or king size bed frame, you can find a headboard extender to fit your needs.

It measures 107 cm by 188 cm, and the extra-length type measures 107 cm by 200 cm. Think of it as a three-quarter bed with extra space when you have to calculate if it offers sufficient sleeping space for your purpose.

How Long of a Mattress Do You Need? Your mattress should be 6 inches longer than the tallest person. Partners should be able to rest both hands behind their heads (elbows sprawled) without bumping into each other.

Single Mattress Size

Standard size: 92 cm x 188 cm. Extra length: 92 cm x 200 cm.

The main difference between a hospital bed and an adjustable bed is that a hospital bed is designed for people who need temporary or permanent medical care, whereas an adjustable bed is designed for comfort and convenience.

To be IEC 60601-2-52 compliant, 220kg (or the maximum patient weight if the manufacturer claims it is higher than 220kg) must be placed evenly in each corner of the bed without imbalance.

Hospital Mattresses Are Specialized, Not Conventional

To fit a mattress onto a hospital bed, it must be 39-inch by 80-inch – this is a Twin XL. Other regular mattress sizes will not meet these size standards; twin mattresses, for example, are typically 39-inches by 75-inches, leaving a lot of room at the ends.

The largest bed to be found is a bariatric hospital bed which has a smaller width and a longer length when compared to a normal king-sized bed. King size hospital bed frames (the largest in bariatric beds) are generally about 54-60 inches wide and about 94 inches long.

A safe bed height is between 18” to 23”, roughly the same as the seat of a chair. If a patient is at-risk for rolling out of bed or wandering out of it, the hospital bed position should be low.