Truck bed extender

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,249
I like small trucks and I cannot lie. I like the fact they are easier to get in and out of and easier to park. The only thing is that occasionally\semi-regularly I want a longer bed. My Frontier only has like a 5.5 foot bed. I could get a bigger truck with a longer bed, but don't want to. I don't really want a trailer either.

I came across the Erickson Big Bed truck extenders (they have senior and junior, although I don't really understand whether they are that different--the senior has a 50 lb higher weight capacity).

Basically, they slide into the receiver hitch and kind of look like an L on its side, so you can lay lumber or a canoe, etc., out up to 4 feet beyond bed. They seem mostly to be under about a $100-$150.

Any thoughts, reviews recommendations?

Thanks.
 
They work for things like lumber or a canoe/kayak. Be aware of any maximum stick out on loads for your state. For example, it appears to be illegal to carry a kayak strapped down in the back of a pickup with about half of it's length sticking out (in my case that's 6 ft stickout). I believe the extension eliminates that and certainly makes it safer to haul.

Harbor Freight sells them.
 
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I haul canoes/kayaks a lot with one of these. Works fine. Make sure you put the florescent orange flag on the back of the load. Not having it will get you stopped in Ct. I use an old hunting vest.--KV
 
I need to install or have installed a trailer hitch on my newer pickup. I used the bed extender on my old pickup. I need to do this rather than just sliding the kayak into the back with a lot of stickout which will get me stopped if a LEO wants to. I believe the maximum allowed is 4 feet over the end of your bed. I am right at the limit if I leave the tail gate down. I don't haul far normally. Yes to the flag. I usually just use plastic flagging same as I do with lumber or a ladder.

The hitch is also very convenient for hooking onto to tow somebody out of a mud hole or snow drift (or vice versa).

Trailers are rather convenient if your vehicle can handle the load. I sold my old small one and was going to buy a larger version (and stronger with higher load rating), but I postponed that purchase as I can rent trailers if I need to. But a couple rentals and I have paid for a brand new trailer. The trailer was also handy to haul my kayak at times if I was going a fair distance on the highway.
 
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I do have a hitch on my Frontier, but I've never towed anything in my life. I wouldn't even know how. That's one of the reasons for no trailer for me.

I could have my BIL show me how, he is a bass fisherman and basically has his boat attached to his truck full time in the summer.
 
I have a Deflecta-Shield Hitch Hand truck bed extender and it works great. I ordered it at 4wheelonline last year. I use it to haul my kayak and lumber sometimes.
 
domiro said:
I have a Deflecta-Shield Hitch Hand truck bed extender and it works great. I ordered it at 4wheelonline last year. I use it to haul my kayak and lumber sometimes.
Click to expand...

I like the looks of that one. It seems pretty versatile since you can move the pins around for larger or smaller loads.
 
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