Hauling gravel

[VandalSibs]

My wife and I have had our R1T for almost two weeks, and tomorrow we're off to go get about 500 lbs of loose 5/8ths minus gravel. Any tips/tricks/advice for me, and for me to pass along to whomever is gonna load it up?

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[mikehmb]

Makes things way easier to clean later if you lay a tarp down in the bed. It really helps prevent gravel and debris from getting into the spare tire well and under the bed extension cover.

 

[babalegba]

Was going to recommend the tarp idea. Eases the pain of cleanup by A LOT

 

[SSteveEV]

+1 for the tarp.
Have your straps ready before they load under the tarp in case the tie down anchors are buried.

I also have a thin sheet of plywood fit to the bed size for landing pallets on, also easier to shovel out of a flat bottom bed without the ridges but for 500lbs of gravel that's overkill. Just shovel most out then pull the tarp out with the remnants.

Have fun and don't break the back glass!

PS don't forget to drop suspension for unloading!

 

[VandalSibs]

Thanks everyone! We were going to put in a tarp for sure, and I'll think about the plywood for the future...

Do I need to do anything with the air suspension before they start loading up?

 

[SSteveEV]

Thanks everyone! We were going to put in a tarp for sure, and I'll think about the plywood for the future...

Do I need to do anything with the air suspension before they start loading up?

Nope! It probably won't really notice 500lb and will level out when you get in. If worried going to high may help. I've loaded 1600lbs of mortar in while in low without any issues.

Now watching a forklift plop 3000+lbs of wet mulch in... That was terrifying and quickly reversed.

 

[Osyras]

I would recommend some plywood to cover the back glass or at the very least make sure the taro is covering it when the dump the load in (Rivian or not)

 

[Biturbowned]

Like others have said, tarp is probably all you need

 

[Greg Chick]

I keep heavy cardboard in the truck bed . I as well agree that tarps are good. But the cardboard for some things, acts like a sliding surface and my Tauno cover prevents the cardboard from blowing out.
Be advised, the tailgate has that sliding sheet on black plastic and it gets gravel in it and the spare tire cover gets bound with the rock.. The tarp needs to go up the inside of the tailgate to prevent the rock from falling into gaps.

 

[VandalSibs]

Be advised, the tailgate has that sliding sheet on black plastic and it gets gravel in it and the spare tire cover gets bound with the rock.. The tarp needs to go up the inside of the tailgate to prevent the rock from falling into gaps.

Yep, that's what I was planning on. I saw YouTube videos of pea gravel getting into the goose-neck hinge area under the tailgate. Gonna avoid that for sure!

 

[Greg Chick]

Duct Tape can hold tarp or cardboard in place..

 

[jonp4161]

Another +1 on poly tarps like others say. I would prefer one with grommets so it's easier to secure with a bungee cord, but others say it's better to tie a small rock on the part of the tarp you will secure with a rope and start from there.

 

[Greg Chick]

Yep, that's what I was planning on. I saw YouTube videos of pea gravel getting into the goose-neck hinge area under the tailgate. Gonna avoid that for sure!

If a tarp is laid on truck bed before gravel is loaded, and ropes connected to tarp at front of the bed just under the rear window, then the ropes can pe pulled to get the last thin layer of gravel and no shover scratches on the plastic well be made.

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