4’ x 8’ Plywood or Drywall in bed

[FoMoCoBronCo]

Hi, all, I work in construction and I do some material hauling- not enough to justify a trailer, but enough to where it would be nice to be able to fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood, OSB, insulation, or sheetrock in the back of my bronco with the tailgate down. I currently have a stock rear seat installed, but would look to either install a tumble forward, or some sort of setup where one is mounted differently to make room for plywood if I need to haul it.

Obviously, the first thing to do would be to cut the wheelwells shorter. My first thought would be to make two parallel cuts on each wheel well 4.5” apart, in order to remove 4.5“ of material on each side. That would add an additional 9” of width to the bed, which would take me from the current 40” to 49”. Plenty of room for a 4’ wide sheet of plywood with an inch to spare.

I would need also need to add some material to the bed floor.

Last thing would be the wheels. I have a couple inches of clearance now, but I would need to add wheel offsets or change my rim style to move the back wheels further apart somehow.

Has anyone done a project like this or have thoughts / ideas on what I might be missing or not thinking of here? Thanks.

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[Oldtimer]

How many sheets are you planning to haul?
I made a 4 x 8 frame with 2x4s that sat on the wheelwells and milk crates on the tail gate.
Could still close the lift gate. I see stock tire rack hinges like mine. I would close tire rack till spare was against corner of open tail gate, and tie off. (And smell exhaust all the way home)

 

[Broncobowsher]

That sounds like a horrible plan. A ton of work for no good reason.
Couple of 2x4s to support the bottom and just let them ride on the lip of the tail gate. Front on top of the wheel wells (not between them).

 

[73azbronco]

One word, trailer.

Had a heck of time convincing wife I needed a pickup when I showed up with a 4x8 plywood on top of my 2 door wrangler.

 

[ep67bro]

Yeah certainly not the best plant to cut up a good bronco body just to haul some plywood or drywall. You would have to push the wheels out and worry about shock mounts and all kinds of other issues. I agree just put it on top of the wheel wells if its only every now and again or buy a cheap utility trailer for big loads.

 

[FoMoCoBronCo]

Great feedback. Sounds like either trailer or just rig it up as best I can with straps.

Thanks!


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[dmoses42]

If I were planning on something like that, I'd probably get a halfcab bulkhead to use as a "bed front" and just let the wood ride on the wheel wells and tailgate.

 

[73azbronco]

moving pad on roof, straps, walla. Of course this invites a whole host of possible youtube videos. Trailer=no videos

 

[BOBS 2 68S]

I used this, https://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed-extender-69650.html.
But in the long run I will use my 4x8 trailer for most of my building supplies.

 

[FoMoCoBronCo]

I used this, https://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed-extender-69650.html.
But in the long run I will use my 4x8 trailer for most of my building supplies.

I bought one of those as well, but unfortunately, they don’t allow plywood to lay flat, because the two little rings that stick up are not 48 inches wide. Such a dumb oversight lol


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[DirtDonk]

Carry a piece of pipe with you that runs through the two loops and extends out to the side. Wrap a little padding around it to lift the load so that it doesn’t ride on the tips of the rings at those two spots.
The load rides on the Tube instead of the rings.

But, since you were talking about chopping up the entire tub and moving the wheels out, what’s keeping you from a five minute job of cutting the rings off?

 

[JSBX]

You could build a rack out of 1 1/4" square tubing or pipe with 4 legs with plate for feet that will set on the bed floor. make it just tall enough to clear the fender wells. it would be easy to put in or take out as needed. Put some eyebolts in the seat holes or seat belt holes to strap it down or use some flat bar with eyebolts welded on that will bolt down through above mentioned holes.

 

[Colo77Bronco]

I am widening my wheel wells by about 10" not because I have anything specific to go in there but I am running full width axles and the wheel wells are pointless in that far. I am already hacking them up to get my coilers and bypass shocks right so I might as well make the bed bigger.

 

[Rockmnky]

Two words , Roof Rack ! Build you a roof rack and you can put anything you want on it , and a
the tailgate is closed !

 

[Speedrdr]

Another option for you: do you have a friend who has a utility trailer they’d let you borrow? Maybe the folks you work construction for would let you borrow a company trailer (unless they have all their materials delivered to the job site).

R

 

[56f100bbw]

I found a 65 Ford pick up bed 8ft at a junkyard found the camper sale on craigslist added a toolbox Up front I call it my bronco trailer but I pull it with my diesel. You can lock everything up and everything stays dry and it’s good for storage.