Transporting large trees in back of Tacoma.

[yenling83]

I need to transport a few large trees up to the bay area and back which is about a 3.5 hour drive one way from my house. When placed in the bed of my truck, the trees stick up past the roof of the cabin by about 5-12 inches and the tops get blown around a little more than I would like. I’m wondering if anyone has options for me? Ideally something without spending a lot of money. Has anyone built some type of wind block? I am considering renting a van, but would much rather use my truck. I really appreciate any feedback, thanks!

 

[jkd2572]

Van rental would be your safest bet. In the long run it could be cheaper than killing trees.

 

[Poink88]

How fast will you be going?
Are these finished bonsai or just rough stock?
Type of trees?

 

[Don Blackmond]

enclosed uhaul trailer is best and cheapest alternative, apart from a friend lending you an enclosed vehicle. driving with the trees exposed will dry them out and cause wind damage. if its your only option, then get a mesh landscape tarp and cover them securely.

 

[Dav4]

For landscape trees, the tops can be wrapped in burlap and, ideally, a tarp would be thrown over everything and well tied down. For finished bonsai, I would want something guaranteed to keep hot drafts of air off the canopy...a van might be the way to go.

 

[Paradox]

Why not just wrap the pots in burlap to keep the soil from falling out too much and lay the trees down in the bed of the truck? You could cover them with wet burlap and tie it down if you really think they will dry out that way.

 

[Don Blackmond]

I have moved a gazillion trees. I'm telling you, the safest cheapest means is uhaul trailer. Its a flat daily rate. A rental truck or van will have a daily rate plus mileage and will be expensive comparatively speaking. If your trees are worth moving, then they are worth moving safely without risk.

 

[Nybonsai12]

The open bed of your truck might be fine for say a sister in law or something, but for nice trees you gotta get an enclosed van, no question about it if you really want to ensure no damage.

 

[yenling83]

How fast will you be going?
Are these finished bonsai or just rough stock?
Type of trees?

65-75 MPH for most of the trip

Both

Sierra Juniper/Ponderosa pine


Don, I should have thought about that. I think a trailer is the way to go, looks like I could rent a small one that would probably work for about $18/day. Shoot might even be worth looking for a used one to purchase.

If the trees are smaller than the roof of the cabin of my truck, the wind does not seem to bother them.

 

[jkd2572]

The trailer is a great cheap idea and it locks. Depending on the time of year it could be a heated death trap. I'm in Texas and have to think of those things.

 

[Paradox]

When you mentioned how tall they were, I pictured rough stock, not finished trees.

If they are well developed or finished trees, I would also prefer something covered as well.

 

[Don Blackmond]

If the trees are smaller than the roof of the cabin of my truck, the wind does not seem to bother them.

7 hours total at 65-75 may appear to not bother them........

 

[sorce]

Not to say Don hasn't used a trailer successfully....

But those little things jump like hell over my roads....

Then there's the parking.....

Do like a scrapper and put a peice of ply up in front of the bed. Or all sides. A lot cheaper.

Safe Travels.
Sorce

 

[Poink88]

7 hours total at 65-75 may appear to not bother them........

I am with Don. You'll be amazed how much damage that wind can cause. Protected in the bed, the plants may seem not damaged at some point but that can change fast as you pass someone else or they pass you...then off most of your tree foliage or damaged. The remaining may be damaged by the drying effect it got. NEVER travel that speed w/o protecting the foliage...even just wrapping them with old blanket or burlap (individually) is much better. NEVER use plastic or else they may cook inside.

I'd go with Don's suggestion if you have a bonsai in the mix. Good luck!

 

[Adair M]

I have a friend who transported trees from Conneticut to the Bay Area. He used an enclosed trailer. It had a wooden plywood floor.

He nailed strips of 1x2 wood across the floor to keep the pots from sliding around.

 

[Don Blackmond]

I have a friend who transported trees from Conneticut to the Bay Area. He used an enclosed trailer. It had a wooden plywood floor.

He nailed strips of 1x2 wood across the floor to keep the pots from sliding around.

The best I've found is carpet padding. Most carpet shops have old pieces they are happy to give away. Its pretty much nonslip and provides plenty of cushion for bumps, potholes etc. I haul big trees in fragile bonsai pots this way. Some I've had to load with a forklift. I've had trailers loaded to the gills with expensive pottery using only carpet padding and moving blankets.

I also had a guy stop here, buy 5 trees for more than $25,000, load them in his truck with about $19,000 in the open bed, and drive to his home about 2 hours away. He had to stop to acquire a tarp to protect the foliage. The wind caused the tarp to beat the piss out of the foliage which the trees then shed. There is nothing like seeing a 400 or so year old ancient bald cypress in the back of a pickup as it drives off toward the highway..... The trees were very healthy and recovered. Since then, I've delivered his new trees via uhaul.....

 

[M. Frary]

I worked at a nursery and when we transported trees we had to use an open trailer. We tied all of the limbs up then we wrapped the trees in burlap. We soaked them and never went over 40 mph. If the destination was more than an hour away we took water to soak them some more.
Sustained winds if 65 mph.is hard on any tree. Broken branches , foliage gone , dried out. I would try to follow Don's advice and get a covered trailer.