Just traded in my 4 door sedan, for a truck! need truck scrapping tips!

I have scrapped for a while (mostly looking for resellables and scrapping just if I saw something of value that fit in my trunk). Now that I have a whole truck bed to fill I can start grabbing the numerous grills, metal chairs, cabinets, stoves, dishwashers etc, that I alway had to leave behind as I couldnt squeeze them into a sedan.

Any helpful tips as I venture off on my way scrapping for the first time with a truck? Loading tips, stuff to make sure I have with me in the truck, tips to maximize space/load, anything!

I already have a bunch of rope and tiedowns, and a small set of basic tools (hammer, screwdriver set, wire cutters, channel lock, etc).

Truck is a 2014 Toyota tacoma BTW, 2WD, 2DR, 6ft2inch bed.

Thanks!

Helpful tip: stay at home until prices go back up. Stoves, dishwashers are just going to break your body and damage your truck for very little money.

The only truck part that really changed the kind of scrapping I did was my liftgate. It was an investment that paid for itself almost immediately. Otherwise it's all the same ideas of being strategic with your outreach and showing up for clients when you say you will.

Originally Posted by APA

Helpful tip: stay at home until prices go back up. Stoves, dishwashers are just going to break your body and damage your truck for very little money.

Yea this is why I ussually didnt grab metal before unless it was something other than shred (and also could fit in my sedan)... but if I am already out looking around, and have room, I'll still probably grab a stove or the like. Current shred prices around me are around $0.02-.03 a lb, so a 100lb stove might get me $2... so, yea not very worth it, but if Im already grabbing stuff, might as well grab it. Plus I could disassemble and micro scrap it to squeeze a little more value out of them too.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by JJinLV

The only truck part that really changed the kind of scrapping I did was my liftgate. It was an investment that paid for itself almost immediately. Otherwise it's all the same ideas of being strategic with your outreach and showing up for clients when you say you will.

Since my truck is a small truck a liftgate might be overkill for it! but I could see how that would be very helpful for loading heavy/large loads like pallets or gaylord. Thanks!

Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Just we wise about what you do....for pickups of individual items from home owners I charge a minimal fee.....most people are happy to pay $25-$30 to have that one bulky item picked up....they can't rent a truck at home depot for that plus they don't have to waste the time it would take to rent truck and go to the dump

I havent really ventured into trying to conduct my scrapping like that (looking for residential customers) so I dont really have pickups like that. I mostly look for large lots of old electronics and have some ads listed for old PCs. Plus everywhere around me has 1 day a month that they do large item trash so everyone puts stuff out then, not sure charging to take stuff would be very profitable in my area due to having somewhere once a month they can get rid of stuff free (well not free, but included in their normal trash bill). It is good for me though, cause those 1 day a month large item days gets all the good stuff out for the picking in 1 day.

best tip:
take the time to READ all the older threads.

too many ppl just join and ask stuff thats written for all to read.
they think we have nothing better to do than type out advice to every new scrapper who joins here.

Originally Posted by msmoorad

best tip:
take the time to READ all the older threads.

too many ppl just join and ask stuff thats written for all to read.
they think we have nothing better to do than type out advice to every new scrapper who joins here.

I have been a member since may, and scrapping for a while, just never the type of scrapping that required a truck (mostly electronic scrapping which was mostly lower sized loads). Never owned a truck before either. A lot of "truck basics" that are probably common sense to most truck owners are mostly what I was asking about, I will continue to read the old threads that have been posted of course.

Make sure you know your payload and GVW. Its easy to over load a little truck like that. I got a 2010 tacoma and its rated for 800lbs. Ive done 1000 lbs loads before with it but you dont want to wreck your truck for what little $$$ you get from scrap.

Also dont break your back windows lol. You may want to put up sides and a headache rack for better saftey. Get some red Menards flags and keep them in your truck for those items that stick out the back like garage door openers. I would say fold the flags and punch a hole threw them and use that steel wire that looks like thhn wire to make quick wrap arounds for the flags. Do you have 4 of those sliding D rings for your bed? I would say go buy 4 more, then you can ratchet down more straps for better security in transport.

One more thing..... I keep a 2ft 4x4 in the cab. Every once and awhile you my come across something thats to heavy and short or just even with the tailgate that wont flip in the truck.

Example that central a/c thats on the curb very very rarely, they are usually just level with the tailgate and you would have to pick it up to get it in. Just slide that 4x4 under it and leverage works on your side,

On those once a month large item days, you might consider taking a helper with you for the heavy/bulky items. It's also a good time to get the wife or girlfriend involved. You'll be surprised how many 'treasures' they'll find. Also, don't forget a couple pairs of good work gloves. Good Luck...

Originally Posted by greytruck

Make sure you know your payload and GVW. Its easy to over load a little truck like that. I got a 2010 tacoma and its rated for 800lbs. Ive done 1000 lbs loads before with it but you dont want to wreck your truck for what little $$$ you get from scrap.

Also dont break your back windows lol. You may want to put up sides and a headache rack for better saftey. Get some red Menards flags and keep them in your truck for those items that stick out the back like garage door openers. I would say fold the flags and punch a hole threw them and use that steel wire that looks like thhn wire to make quick wrap arounds for the flags. Do you have 4 of those sliding D rings for your bed? I would say go buy 4 more, then you can ratchet down more straps for better security in transport.

As far as GVW, the manual say I can have 1150 payload. which for the size of the truck, seems reasonable. I know technically that includes my weight+all gear, but if I have 1200lb in the bed, I would assume it would most likly be OK. But I will be sure not to push it too much too often.



"headache rack" I have been looking for this term to figure out what to google to find these lol... thanks for that! I was considering making my own also out of some metal stuff I have around.

I have a few red flags on my list of things to get. My bed does have 2 D rings in the back corners and 2 in the front PLUS 2 cleats on each side at the top of the bed that are adjustable, and I got some more for the front rails. So I should have at least.... 10 anchor points, 6 of which are adjustable!

Thanks so much for your input!

Originally Posted by hobo finds

As prices are down appliances sit for awhile lately. I leave them fill up my truck with shred and then add the appliance to the load. Prices are too bad to pick up item unload it at my house reload it later when going to the scrap yard and then unload it again.

Yea I planned on doing this kind-of.... If I find washer/dryer/stove, get it, and fill it as I go along. Problem is, the only yard by me is only open 7am-3pm. I go out around 6am to beat the trash trucks, and get to work around 7, and am not off work until 3 or 4pm. So I only go to the scrap yards on weekends, so regardless it still gotta be coming back to my house (in addition to coming to work with me lol)

Originally Posted by DiamondN

On those once a month large item days, you might consider taking a helper with you for the heavy/bulky items. It's also a good time to get the wife or girlfriend involved. You'll be surprised how many 'treasures' they'll find. Also, don't forget a couple pairs of good work gloves. Good Luck...

I do have gloves in the truck... bringing a friend is a grat idea.... doubt id ever get the wife on board lol... thanks!

Originally Posted by Patriot76

A cordless combo kit has helped maximize a load, saved loading and unloading, and allowed removal of non-ferrous on site. A set with a saw zaw, impact wrench, impact driver, skill saw, flashlight, and drill will pay for itself many times over. A tool box with vise grips (at least two) screw drivers, Alan wrenches, crescent wrenches, saw blades, socket set, and multi screw attachments allows for the disassembly of most products to maximize the load. Most scrap yards will provide a complimentary magnet and these should be plastered all over the vehicle. Greytrucks suggestion of a 2x4 is a valuable suggestion, although I use a tapping bar. An ice cream pail in the box allows you to toss loose screws and small items without concern for causing other motorist a flat tire. I prefer a five gallon bucket and make points with the scrap yard when I dump it for the consideration I give to them and others sharing the road. This is my basic pickup set up, but I usually have a trailer as well.

Hi I have TONS of power tools. Trying to determine if I need to have some with me in the truck for scrapping. I have duplicates of most my ryobi tools (saws-all and drill, etc) but with having just a base regular cab, I am already pretty tight on space... not sure if bringing power tools is worth the space it takes up!

I do have a tool kit with all other basics and a big ol magnet and pry bar and such already in the cab under the seat.

It's just a thought:

A pair of ramps can be pretty handy for getting heavy items up into the bed of a pickup truck.

You've got to use your noggin when you're doing it .. but .. you can rig up a pull point in the back center of the bed. Use a Come-A-Long or a chainfall to winch the heavy item up the ramp and into the bed.

A smallish flatbed trailer would be even better because it sits lower to the ground. Much safer & easier to load and offload.

That's one of the nice things about a truck ... it opens up all kinds of towing options that you wouldn't have with a car.