Re: Portable work surface

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Sunday, February 24, 2013 12:43:35 PM UTC-5, JoeRaisin wrote:
 I call 'em 'ladder hutches' and have used them for a while. When I had the=
 small truck I had a six and four footers side by side, now with this truck=
 I have on the driver's side half of the bed an eight footer laying flat, a=
 six footer above that also laying flat and a four footer on edge against t=
he divider.gives me a fairly open space on that side for wire and equipment=
 - though I never have enough space for camera jobs. On top of the four foo=
t hutch I have a 2ft tube, 4ft tube and 6ft tube for fish sticks and drill =
bits. The left side of the bed is shelves, drawers and milk crates. When I =
get a new truck it's the first thing I do. Been something of an evolution a=
s well. The first one I built I used 2x6's and shaved them down so the ladd=
er juuust fit. As soon as I started piling wire spools and boxes on top I l=
earned about how plywood will sag enough to make it impossible to pull your=
 ladder out, or push it in once you have managed to wrestle it out. I've al=
ways tried to avoid a full size van but lately I've been seeing things a bi=
t differently. I've never before had a vehicle that could take an eight foo=
ter inside and I've grown to really appreciate it. It's nice having that so=
rt of reach without having melting snow and ice dripping everywhere. On top=
 I have a ten footer and usually and extension ladder, but right now I am w=
ithout an extension ladder and probably will be until I can't avoid getting=
 another.

Since I stopped/now avoid ... doing larger commercial, I don't often have n=
eed of an extension ladder. When I do, having a full size van, I stick it i=
n through the back doors, bungi cord them closed as much as I can, and tie =
a red cloth on the end of the ladder.  Maybe 2 ... 3 times a year makes it =
worth not having to carry it around all the rest of the year. Besides, when=
 they're on a roof rack and you don't use them they deteriorate, rust, etc,=
 too much. Getting them up and down off the roof was always a pain in the a=
ss job I could never get used to, anyway. =20