For years I have been considering all sorts of portable shooting benches but nothing I have seen has really came close to the convenience and sturdiness of just tossing a heavy quilted moving blanket up on the hood of my truck and shooting from there. Today I think I finally came up the what will be the ultimate shooting bench... "for me" at least.
I found a 2000lbs rated 80% extension bed slide for the bed of my truck on craigslist. The beast is 30" wide by 97" long (no top on it currently, just like the picture) and weighs about 300 lbs if not more. The thing is made out of 1/4" angle and heavy box steel. The feature I really like about it is that it is only 3" tall so it doesn't gobble up my truck bed. (My truck does have a canopy for keeping stuff dry).
I am thinking of using a 4' x 8' sheet of 1" plywood for the top. I am also thinking of some aluminum angle around the parameter to keep stuff from rolling off. I am also considering putting a couple heavy adjustable length legs on the end to stabilize the table when most of the way out of my bed. I think two legs on the table and the suspension on my 2006 Chevy 2500 will be plenty sturdy.?
I haven't decided what to put on top of the plywood. I am thinking something rubber to keep things from sliding around while riding in the back of my pickup. I considered some of those heavy recycled rubber stall mats... but those seem like they might be too heavy. What ever I do for a top it has to still be compatible with hauling 4 x 8 sheets of wood and every other project supply I might ever need.
I am also open to good ideas for a chair / bench to sit on. It will have to be adjustable height. I have a pretty complete woodworking shop and a fair hobby welding / metal shop so I have a fair variety of building potential at my disposal.
I found a 2000lbs rated 80% extension bed slide for the bed of my truck on craigslist. The beast is 30" wide by 97" long (no top on it currently, just like the picture) and weighs about 300 lbs if not more. The thing is made out of 1/4" angle and heavy box steel. The feature I really like about it is that it is only 3" tall so it doesn't gobble up my truck bed. (My truck does have a canopy for keeping stuff dry).
I am thinking of using a 4' x 8' sheet of 1" plywood for the top. I am also thinking of some aluminum angle around the parameter to keep stuff from rolling off. I am also considering putting a couple heavy adjustable length legs on the end to stabilize the table when most of the way out of my bed. I think two legs on the table and the suspension on my 2006 Chevy 2500 will be plenty sturdy.?
I haven't decided what to put on top of the plywood. I am thinking something rubber to keep things from sliding around while riding in the back of my pickup. I considered some of those heavy recycled rubber stall mats... but those seem like they might be too heavy. What ever I do for a top it has to still be compatible with hauling 4 x 8 sheets of wood and every other project supply I might ever need.
I am also open to good ideas for a chair / bench to sit on. It will have to be adjustable height. I have a pretty complete woodworking shop and a fair hobby welding / metal shop so I have a fair variety of building potential at my disposal.
Last edited:
