Boat in a truck bed?

[David P]

Ok, one reservoir near me that I fish more then any other place, has a rule that you cannot bring a boat in on a trailer.

I'm looking at 10-12ft jon boats and hopefully will be getting one soon. But before I do, I'm also looking to buy a car, but figured if I could get a jon boat to fit in a truck bed, maybe I should get a used truck..

I also would hate to use a trailer and what not, so it would make things a million times easier just to get a used tacoma or tundra or something before yr2000.

Could this work?

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Trailers make life lots easier but if you have to use a truck bud, not many 12' jons will fit safely.  10', no problem, 12' is hairy.

[Team_Dougherty]

You can use a pickup to haul a 12' boat with one of these. Just make sure it is secure.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39168

[Reddog]

I use a bed extender like the one above(mine is home made) for my 12' Jon.   I drive a f150 that has a toolbox against the cab.  With the extender it leaves about a foot of boat past the support.  I can back down far enough to push the boat into the water and also to drive the boat part of the way back on.  I plan to buy a trailer, just looking for the right deal.  I have the boat on the truck right now, I'll try to go out at lunch and snap a picture.

David

[David P]

I use a bed extender like the one above(mine is home made) for my 12' Jon.   I drive a f150 that has a toolbox against the cab.  With the extender it leaves about a foot of boat past the support.  I can back down far enough to push the boat into the water and also to drive the boat part of the way back on.  I plan to buy a trailer, just looking for the right deal.  I have the boat on the truck right now, I'll try to go out at lunch and snap a picture.

David

Thanks man, that would be great.

I'd love to use a trailer, but what's the point if I can't use it at the main place that I fish. The Delta, Clear Lake, and Berryessa are all about an hour away, and Lafayette is 10 minutes so many days I just go to Lafayette.

Can a 10ft jon boat fit 2 people safely? and is it ok for the bass boat conversion, or would you recommend a 12?

Also, can a 4 cyl truck do alright with the boat in the bed, or must it be a v6 or v8 truck..

[CFFF 1.5]

you can put a 12' in the back of a truck very easy. I have a 12' that I put in the back of my Yukon with the rear seats down. Just make sure you put your battery or a cinder block to hold it in the truck.  I also strap mine down but a buddy of mine leaves his in his truck without any staps and he has never had his come out. Go with the 12' it will stay in the truck just fine, and you don't need the bed extender. Like I said I put mine in the back of my Yukon.

[David P]

Any suggestions on trucks? I know tons about cars, nothing about trucks.

would love to get in the 20's if possible, even low 20's is better then the teens. Also something that is reliable  and won't break down. and under 7,000 if possible.

also is a 4cyl truck ok with a 12ft boat?

and will a 12ft boat have stability issues on the water? Or is it pretty safe?

[rdneckhntr]

A 12ft jon boat will fit fine in a truck bed...we've even had a 14 footer in the bed of a truck one day...strap it in real good and put a red flag/shirt or something on the end of it and you wont have any trouble...

[utser]

hauled my 12 ft. around in the truck no problems. couple of ratchet tie downs to the step bumper.

[=Matt 5.0=]

We put my buddies 12' 36" G3 in the bed of my F150 just about every weekend. The farthest we go is about 15 minutes from his house tho. Sometimes I wish we had a trailer, at the end of the day that 150 lb boat can be heavy to pick up and sling into the truck bed  :-?

[David P]

I'm looking at 98+ Toyota Tacomas, but they come 4cyl or v6 and I can't make up my mind, I'd rather get the few extra MPG, but how much do jon boats weigh??

[David P]

We put my buddies 12' 36" G3 in the bed of my F150 just about every weekend. The farthest we go is about 15 minutes from his house tho. Sometimes I wish we had a trailer, at the end of the day that 150 lb boat can be heavy to pick up and sling into the truck bed  :-?

Yah the place I fish 90% of the time is only 15 minutes from me. That and I will start fishing the delta which is less then an hour. The farthest I'd go is an hour and half away (berryessa and clear lake).

I'd much rather get a 14ft because of the safety concern, but I have a feeling that'd be pushing it.

[Reddog]

Here is a pic of the homemade extender(5' extension) I use.  The one at Harbor freight extends 3', so there will be some difference.

[David P]

I never thought it would stick out that much? Is that boat not pushed all the way to the back of the bed? What size boat is that?

[hi_steel_basser]

I have a 14' jonboat that goes in the back of my truck all the time. I have a dodge ram 1500. The back end of a jonboat weighs more than the front end, so load it with the front end sticking out. I will post pics of my boat loaded, ready to go to the lake, as soon as I can. BTW, I have driven over an hour on the interstate to a fishing hole, no problems.

[David P]

I have a 14' jonboat that goes in the back of my truck all the time. I have a dodge ram 1500. The back end of a jonboat weighs more than the front end, so load it with the front end sticking out. I will post pics of my boat loaded, ready to go to the lake, as soon as I can. BTW, I have driven over an hour on the interstate to a fishing hole, no problems.

thanks man, gives me confidence, is the ram 1500 supposed to have a bigger bed then that of a Tacoma or something? I don't know jack about trucks =\

[=Matt 5.0=]

but how much do jon boats weigh??

The G3 1236 weighs 144 lbs. I think the 12' Tracker is a bit lighter, I used to have all that written down somewhere.....

[Reddog]

It is a 12' boat and it is against a tool box which takes up 2' of the bed.  Works real good for me.

[Jimzee]

I used to have a 92 Toyota 4 cyl. reg. cab pickup and hauled a 14' jon boat around all the time. Most trucks come with hook attachments in the bed. I used two rachet straps, one across the back and through the handles of the boat. The other across the middle of the boat next to the tailgate. You could grab the boat and shake it and the whole truck would shake. No way that thing was ever coming out. I would recommend getting a rubber mat for the bed though. Don't forget your red flag. I always used part of an old blaze orange hunting vest.

[David P]

Is there a huge noticeable difference between 12 and 14 ft boats. I am looking to turn it into a mini bass boat and want it to fit two people standing. Never any more then 2 people, just two regular sized people.

[burleytog]

Two people in a 12' boat = cramped quarters.  My current money pit is 16' and even it is rather cramped.

I think my next one will be at least 26'.   ;D

[Team_Dougherty]

Here is a pic of the homemade extender(5' extension) I use.  The one at Harbor freight extends 3', so there will be some difference.

That is pretty cool. Good Job. Do you have light on the end or just the flags. If you use that in the dark you should put side lights on it. I would hate to see someone hit the boat broad side.

[Reddog]

People do tend to cut it close when they turn behind me at a red light.  I just use flags and not at night.  Looking for the right trailer now, hope to pick up one soon.

[Guest avid]

I carry my 14' double ender canoe in my truck bed all the time.

'05 tacoma extra cab, standard bed.

I lay the tail gate down, then I use two dog collars made the BIG dogs and strap them to an anchor point right behind the cab.  This works for any thing fairly local.

If I need to go aways.  I'll add a ratchet strap down at the end of the bed and tighten it down so there will be no side to side or lifting.  Make sure you have plenty of flags.  I use orange hunters tape cut into several pieces so it looks like streamers and taped to the canoe itself I have reflective auto hazard tape. that really shines if it's dark and a car with headlights on comes up behind me.

[flyphisher #]

Go to www.kellybluebook.com - there you will be able to tell what you want is worth and to price trucks you find...unless you need dealer financing, buy from an individual. No need to pay $1200 in taxes you could spend on a boat.

Go with a V6, you will hate the V4 and the mileage on a truck isnt much different considering the weight of the truck that the smaller motor has to pull. Doubt you will be able to find what you described for that price.and 4x4 if you think you may need it, no not mudding, but getting in and out the ramps, your fishing will expand......I would be looking for a truck with 50,000 to 100,000 miles, with proper maintainace you  can put 200,000+ on them without major work being done...

Find a gheenoe, as long as your trip specific on gear 2 people fish out of my 13ft square back fine, i have a trailor and alot of times its much easier to unload it off the truck.......its even better by yourself...and totally stable....I haul it on a f150 with no tool box fine, did haul it on a Z71 with a toolbox no problems....I have hauled a 16 footer no problem.

if you are set on a john boat ,I would look at the widest 12 -14 ft john boat you can find and will fit on your truck....smaller than 12 and they get dangerous. I would only do the bare minimum decking it out, because its going to make it heavy and really hard to handle alone without a trailer, and you will trust me...Also go with the best quality aluminum you can find....there are many grades of aluminum, many are not made to last, I would avoid rivets if possible, welded is the way to go, they seem to pop loose more in smaller boats than bigger ones.

Also, dont get over your head in your fishing destinations....there is no way I would ever think about putting my gheenoe or other john boats i have used and fished from in bigger lakes....NO WAY..... I have a 18ft heavy duty aluminum bassboat and have been nervous before.... You will get swamped, it is not fun and you will lose gear.....Between the wakes from bigger boats and the wind, you are asking for trouble and the lakes you are speaking of are a lot more open than the lakes here.