How Do You Load Your Portable?

[Fishinguy40]

A question for all you guys with pickup trucks and portables. How do you load it into the back of the truck if you are by yourself?

This fall I bought a 2006 Chevy Silverado. Before, I had a 1999 GMC Jimmy. The ground clearance on the Jimmy was low enough where I could lift one end of my portable, a Clam Yukon, and rest it on the back end of the Jimmy. I could then lift the opposite end of the sled and slide it into the back.

The gate on my Silverado is obviously higher than the Jimmy. I haven't been out on the ice yet but got to wondering how am I going to get the porty in and out of the back of the truck when I am by myself. Any suggestions.

[CrappieNut]

i have a rope tied to the sled that i set up on the tailgate,once then i get in the bed of the truck then lift the front up, my voyager and get upwards of 200lbs, it will titer-totter then you can slide it in.

the only down side is all your stuff ends up on one side of the porty

[Farley]

if you have a tow rope on the portable you can stand in the box of the truck on the tailgate and lift up on the rope to get it up there. Then just pull it in the rest of the way. That's what I figured out after many times lifting the one end up onto the tailgate and having the darn thing just slide back off. I've also thought about rigging up a hand winch from a boat trailer to the box of the truck under the rear window to use for this kind of thing.

[shnelson]

I'm also having issues with my frabill predator. It's heavy, and the base of the sled is too short for me to lift one end onto the tailgate while keeping the other on the ground (basically stands straight up and down, and is impossible to lift).

I'm going to keep a pair of 2x4's in the bed of my truck to use as a ramp. It's cheap and I think it will do the trick just fine when I'm out alone.

[CJH]

I was just going to suggest 2x4's or a piece of lumber.

[icerube]

I have voyager & 1/2 chevy 4+4, so a fairly high tail gate. First I unload the auger, eletronics, bait bucket, to lighten things up a bit. I put the back of the house on the tail gate, put my foot in front of the sled to keep it from sliding back,position myself in front of the sled, grab the tow rope and lift it into the truck.

[yoppdk]

Ow ... my back hurts from loading my Otter into the pickup yesterday.

I usually tow my Otter behind a snowmobile, which means I have the snowmobile trailer right behind the truck. I use the empty trailer as an intermediate ramp to pull the sled off the truck, and then back on. The trailer is has a tilt bed, so getting it onto and off the trailer is easy. And once onto the trailer it is half the height of the truck bed, making it much easier to push onto the truck. I wish I had done it that way yesterday ...

[aczr2k]

When I'm alone loading up I use one half of an aluminum atv ramp, just slide it up.

[OnAFly]

I use my one man a lot so I just hold the back of the porty and pull on the rope in front to lift it up and in the truck she goes. The trick is not to use a 3 man porty for a one man trip

[Swill]

unload the heavy stuff, put the nose of my otter lodge on the tailgate, and power lift the back end of the house in one quick squat and lift, toss it in, and reload the auger, propane tank, etc.

I actually bought a one man trap last season because of how much of a pain it was to hand pull my otter lodge in deep snow and lift in and out of my truck, when I am fishing alone.

[BD110]

I keep a 6 foot long 2x4 in the bed of my truck. lay the 2x4 down from the center of the tail gate to the ground. I then lift and drag the front end of the tub as far up the 2x4 that I'm able to then get on the backside of the tub lift up the back end and push it up the rest of the 2x4 into the bed of the truck. I'm going to give a 2x6 a try this season because sometimes the 2x4 gets caught between the glides on the tub as I'm pushing it into the truck.

Another thing I do is leave my cleats on when I'm loading things up to help out with a little extra traction.

[Nordern]

I also have the Otter Lodge and it is a beast to load by yourself. I too stand it basically on end and do the power squat at the other end to muscle it into the truck bed. I would have to think there is a better way. I will experiment with some type of ramp to see how that works. I really enjoy the roominess of the Lodge especially when unexpected company shows up to help me fish.

[Nordern]

Hey DB110,

I'll try that tonight. Thanks for the tip.

[jigginjim]

My pro-trap is light enough to just lift it indo'nt that large of a shack when fishing alone. But I also have a larger shack for 2 guys when another guy comes with, extra hands.

[EBass]

I unload the heavy items (minnow bucket, auger, etc..)

[Duffman]

I pretty much unload everything, yes, it's a hassle. But my back has never felt better.

[DaSwede]

A question for all you guys with pickup trucks and portables. How do you load it into the back of the truck if you are by yourself?

This fall I bought a 2006 Chevy Silverado. Before, I had a 1999 GMC Jimmy. The ground clearance on the Jimmy was low enough where I could lift one end of my portable, a Clam Yukon, and rest it on the back end of the Jimmy. I could then lift the opposite end of the sled and slide it into the back.

The gate on my Silverado is obviously higher than the Jimmy. I haven't been out on the ice yet but got to wondering how am I going to get the porty in and out of the back of the truck when I am by myself. Any suggestions.

I have an 05 F150, and I load it the way that you mention in your post. When the front is resting on the tailgate (almost vertical), I put my foot behind/under it to keep it in place. Then I maneuver around to the back and lift and slide. Seems to work pretty well so far. I have thought about the 2x's also though. Might save a little back pain in the end!

[ROOOOSTERFISH]

Dido on unloading the auger and propane tank before lifting it into your vehicle. It does not take long and saves yourself from a aching back.

I have found out unless you are fishing at a lake that is unknown to any one , which I do not know of any such lakes anymore, that there will be a friendly person that will help you load it in.

[HaRdWaTeR jUnKy]

one end at a time into the jeep, unless i have a buddy with and we just slide her right in...

[bikeoutback]

I'm in the same boat, switched from an Outback Wagon to an 05 Silverado. I loaded it the other night empty for practice and I've been thining of how am I gonna do this loaded ever since. The stand on the tailgate and rope it up and in will be just as painful on the back I think with the topper I put on a month ago also.

The silverado has notches towards the back where boards will fit into. I have a 2x10 that I cut to the correct width and couldn't angle in due to the tonneau cover last summer so I ripped it lengthwise and turned it into 2 boards. I'm thinking I'll use them as ramps, slide the house up and onto the boards and then lift up the ends of the boards and slide it all in. We'll see this weekend if it works. I have heard of guys mounting winches in the bed of their trucks and winching the houses up and in.

[minnbowhunter]

I'm sitting here with 1 bulging disc and another one herniated, probably will need surgery. I have learned my leason lifting things that are too heavy for 1 guy. Ask for help from anyone around, I would never turn down helping someone, it's not worth the risk. If you're going to be by yourself it sounds like the ramps or 2x are a good plan, but don't risk a injury, it just aint worth it.

[chrismackmn]

I just got a 500 lb capacity hitch carrier from Harbor Freight for 59 bucks. I am gonna put a 5/8 piece of board on it and strap down my house. I think it should work ok. thoughts?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92655

[shnelson]

I just got a 500 lb capacity hitch carrier from Harbor Freight for 59 bucks. I am gonna put a 5/8 piece of board on it and strap down my house. I think it should work ok. thoughts?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92655

Make sure your license plate is visible, and try not to swear too much when you go to unload and get all full of the snow slush/road salt that splashed up on it during your drive!

One of those would definitely save some back muscles though.

[BD110]

chrismackmn,

My only concern would be how trashed your house will get when you go down a wet and salty road covered or not. It would seem to me that the life of your portable will be greatly shortened. I may be wrong but that is the concern that I see.

[CJH]

I think its a great idea. I have been looking into something like this for my Durango. I would think as long as the plastic is facing down and you have a cover for the top, it should be fine.

Test it out and let us know how it goes!!

Here's one you could use for lawnmowers and snowblowers, etc..also!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/showpage.taf?pageid=209&email=