Loading Vanguard into truck- my solution

[AK_Taxidermist]

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This is certainly no reinvention of the wheel, and many others have created similar and better contraptions. Still, I decided I would pass along what I came up with.

I need to have a way to get my Vanguard out to where I will use it. My travel needs are very light though compared to pretty much all of you. It’s unlikely I’ll ever need to go more than about 20-25 miles to get to a dropping off point. In fact, that’s about all I can go whereas we have no roads that go any further than that. Such is life in the Alaska bush.

Purchasing a trailer is something I wouldn’t mind doing down the road. At certain times in the year it would see additional duty with the snowmachines. But trailers locally sell at a price that would suggest they’re made of gold and shipping one in from Anchorage carries the price plus a hefty shipping fee. I had an abundance of lumber on hand, so this was my solution for now. It seems to be very solid and I anticipate it will serve me for as long as I need it to.

[plott hound]

[MaxRules]

I like to use two wooden pallets in the bed to raise the 6x6 above the fender wells. Here is an older picture of a Bigfoot loaded in the bed of my Super Duty:

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[AK_Taxidermist]

I saw your photo on another thread and certainly could have gone a similar route. I chose to do what I did to use some lumber I had on hand. I’ll attach a couple of other photos. It amounts to 2x8s atop 2x10s in the bed that the Vanguard actually sits on, while the ramps are 2x10s. Again, it feels solid and I feel pretty certain it will work for as long as I need it to.

Have a great weekend everyone.

[Rock Doctor]

Like it.

RD

[argoford]

Very nice looks like it will work good

[Bazooo guy]

The weak link is the tailgate cables.....they break without warning.
The solution is here:
MA Stainless TailgateStraps 07.5+

[AK_Taxidermist]

That looks like a pretty decent idea... thanks for the heads-up.

[mustangwagz]

The weak link is the tailgate cables.....they break without warning.
The solution is here:
MA Stainless TailgateStraps 07.5+

i remember when all trucks came with those from the factory..lol Maybe not SS, but still metal ones!

[jpswift1]

i remember when all trucks came with those from the factory..lol Maybe not SS, but still metal ones!

Oh yea, I remember seeing some older trucks with those. I think the last trucks to come with those were the Ford F series models up until about 1996.

[Bazooo guy]

I see a lot of people unlatch the tailgate and let it drop on the cables.
Eventually they pull out of the crimped ends or the cable breaks where they bend in the middle.
The gate isn't designed to hold that much weight when its open.
Its best to remove the gate when loading anything heavy and dont drive with it opened.

[Moosetalker]

Looks like it is supported well in the box.
Watch the weight.
I bent the top edge of the tailgate down about a 1/2" on my 2002 Dodge loading my 8x8 with a quartered moose in the tub. Now I have a T Bar from the hitch receiver to carry the ramp load.

[msafi65]

I had a very similar set up for my max II. Lesson learned make a solid block for tires to protect the back window!!

[spookum]

Yah i tried to load one crooked and it put a 2" bow in a tail gate..... I like to pull the tailgate for sure.... If it aint attached, it cant be bent or broken!