Ok, I dont know the exact name... I'm wanting to haul more firewood than I can in just the open bed. Whats the name and were to look for metal rails that you can put in the pockets in the bed rails? I figure if possible metal would be better for the vertical pieces, then I could use some two by's around. So far I haul either bed level or slightly heaped up but I got a good pile of wood waiting for me a good drive away, and I'd like to be able to haul a lot more. Eventually would like to get a trailer too, just dont have that kind of money right now.

 

The problem with side rails and hauling wood, is the box sides WILL NOT support much force sideways. Stacking wood against extended side rails WILL eventually bend the sides of the box.

Good luck

 

Sadly, he is correct, too much outward force can cause the bed sides to open out. The weakest point is to the rear of the bed where there is no reinforcement due to the tailgate. Or even worse, the side of the bed could pull outward pulling against the tailgate latch and you wouldn't be able to open the tailgate.
Maybe you could have someone fab up a metal cage/craddle that could be placed in the bed for hauling firewood and removed when not needed. Or a trailer may just be the easiest way to increase hauling capasity.

 

If you make 4 rails (both sides, cab and tailgate end) and tie them together across the truck with brackets and screws, then you would not be applying much if any side force to the bed sides. It would be less convenient to use, but if it is a short term need, it should work OK. I'd just use 2x lumber instead of metal posts. You could also pin the tailgate end in so you can lift it off for access and then pin/secure it back in as needed to keep the load off the bed rails.

Renting a trailer might be your best bet overall. You could carry way more on a trailer than you would gain by extending the bed rails up a bit...

-Dave

 

Figuring that you can fit about 80cuft in your bed

I'm not sure what specie of wood your hauling, but Fresh red oak weighs 61 lbs a cuft
that would be 4800 lbs in your bed.
Every foot higher (above bed rails) would be 40 more cuft or about 2400lbs

seasoned oak weighs about a 1/3 less

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I didnt think about the load being able to bend the bedwalls out... definitely dont want to do that! They would be secured across the front for support I figure, and I suppose I could go across the top to to connect the 4 together. I just dont know about using wood though. I didnt measure it but the pockets look to be 2x3? Thats getting pretty small IMO, 2x4 maybe but I'd be affraid using anything smaller unless I made it out of hardwood perhaps.

Well for wood it would be whatever type fell down! Most of what I have hauled so far is ash and maple, dont beleive I ever have got oak before. Your probably right with 80cuft. 8x5x2 approximately, probably a little less than that (I would have to measure the bed). Also the actual volume of wood would be a lot less, your not hauling a solid block worth of wood, there is a lot of air, probably atleast 1/4 is wasted space I bet. But thats one reason I went for the 350 with 4000+ hauling spec.

The last load I got I stacked it in and heaped it up as far as I felt safe in the middle. Sitting on level ground the overloads were around an inch from touching. Parked at my house on uneven ground a couple were touching and a couple were more like 1-2" apart. Not sure what weight that works out but the truck handling was great. Everything I have got has been seasoned wood though, if it were green I see the load being much heavier...

I would like to get a trailer but figure I'm going to be spending 1,000+ on one which I dont have right now. I was hoping to be able to build something for under $100. But I do plan on sometime the next couple years to get a trailer I hope.