32' extension ladder in back up pick up truck?

[BK911]

Want to pick up a 32' extension ladder today and do not have a ladder rack.
Do not want to rest it on the cab of my truck.
Thinking of sticking in the bed and resting it on the tailgate.
My truck has tie downs on the bottom of the bed so I am confident I can tie it off securely.
My concern is denting the tailgate or bending the ladder.
The truck bed is about 6' long.
Another option is to lie it flat in the bed with the tailgate down and secure to bottom tie off points.

Whatchoo guys think?

[widebody911]

Place it sideways across the bed

[LakeCleElum]

[enzo1]

[Baz]

32' foot ladder = 16' ladder when not extended?

If so....6' bed minus 16' ladder = 10' sticking out back?

No bueno.

You don't want to do it - but you should lay it over top of cab with base in bed against tailgate.

Wrap ladder with towels/blanket and bungee or duct tape to secure where it rubs on cab. Then strap down with ratchet straps.

Done!

[Bill Douglas]

Have it on the bed of the truck with the front of it resting on rolled up blankets/dropsheets over the cab. With good tiedowns or rope. there are laws about how much you can have it sticking out the back.

[BK911]

Thanks guys. Have some moving blankets. No worries about denting or scratching the cab?

[BK911]

Originally Posted by widebody911

Place it sideways across the bed

Glad you put that in green!

[VincentVega]

Originally Posted by BK911

Thanks guys. Have some moving blankets. No worries about denting or scratching the cab?

Thats what I do. Ratchet strat and a moving blanket, just watchout if you go to the drivethru.

[Scott Douglas]

Scratches are caused when there's relative motion between the blanket and paint. Secure it tight enough to prevent it from moving and that won't happen.
Denting will happen if you apply too much pressure to too small an area of the cab. You'll have a lot of mechanical advantage with the straps so go easy on tightening and you should be OK.
If the bottom end is secure against the tailgate it shouldn't take a lot of pressure to keep it in place.

[Scott Douglas]

If it's too tall doing it with the tailgate up, lower the gate and let it extend a bit over the end. When doing this you need to secure it from forward as well as rearward movement. Protect the top of the gate if you don't have some sort of bedliner on it.

[911 Rod]

I'd go out the back with the tailgate up and a red flag. A couple of ratchet straps. Keep it simple.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by BK911

Thanks guys. Have some moving blankets. No worries about denting or scratching the cab?

BTDT no problems. Just make sure side to side is secure and that the blanket doesn't take WING.

[john walker's workshop]

Over the cab with a good thick pad. Gotta go get mine today from my old house. Wrap the last rung with a tie-down strap and run the strap under the tailgate and around your bumper or frame or hitch to keep that end down and secure. Just a tie-down across the bottom may not be good enough. Do both if you have an extra strap.

[BK911]

Thanks again guys.
Made it home safe with no damage to truck.
Now I get to climb up ~32' to put up the dang xmas lights!
Kinda wish I couldnt get the ladder!