canopy for bee truck???

[Chef Isaac]

I have a pick up truck with an open bed. I was wondering if you all would recommend a canopy for the truck.

My thoughts.... a canopy would be nice to haul more bee stuff around. Swarm removal stuff, etc.

On the other hand, putting hives in the truck could be more diffacult.

Any thoughts ,advice, or wisdom?

[Jeffzhear]

Aluminum Caps are the way to go....they are relatively light and easy to remove. This way you can keep it on the truck most of the time, and when you want to move hives, you just take it off....I can talk mine off alone, although I prefer to have help.

[AllFloridaBee]

I've got an A.R.E. commercial topper with side doors. Sure makes it easy to reach in and get things. Bought it on Ebay for real cheap. All aluminum construction; well made.

http://www.brownsta.com/dcu.shtml

[Chef Isaac]

A stupid question maybe but would it be better to find a local shop to get it at or get it through a company and have it shipped? My truck is a "weird" size, especially with the step side and all. How much would one expect to pay?

[AllFloridaBee]

I think retail on mine was about $2000. I got it for $350 and it was like new. Picked it up from the seller, about 3 hours drive.

[Panhandle Bee man]

Just the thought of all that bending over, crawling around bumping my head, trying to get the supers into that cramped space makes my body hurt

[peggjam]

I would like something to put honey supers in when I am pulling honey.:)

[AllFloridaBee]

Just the thought of all that bending over, crawling around bumping my head, trying to get the supers into that cramped space makes my body hurt


that's what's great about the side doors. Open them up and it's almost like not having a topper. Reach right over the bed and plop 'em in. Of course, I'm 6'7" so, plopping supers over might be easier for me than the average bear:D

[DChap]

I have a cap on my truck, a two deep hive will fit in nicely and I can move 10 at a time which is fine for what I do. As far a crawling around inside to get tools or supers I bolted a "j" hook on the end of a 7 1/2' length of 3/4" rigid conduit and just hook what I need and pull it to within reach.

Blessed bee
Doug

[Chef Isaac]

Pan:

I could see that happening to me :). However, trying to haul all my bee crap and swarm removal stuff upfront is a pain!!!

[wayacoyote]

My wife loves that our truck has a cap on it. We're down to it since the car is broken down, and we're still able to travel with everything in the dry.

As far as practicality for beekeeping:
Pro's
1) I can lock everything up
2) I can stop in town without bees buzzing about causing concern to everyone
3) I can shut it up while in the yard (ie when robbing hives) and not have too much trouble
4) The shade it proves for lunch breaks


Con's
1) Having to access everything through the back instead of lifting over the side
2) Worrying about loads shifting and breaking a window
3) Having to pack things in orderly since they can't easily be rearranged at quick stops
4) Filling the back with smoke if the smoker doesn't go completely out

I personally wanted to take the camper off until it was time to rob. My wife prefers it on, so it stays on. Now that I've listed a few pro's and con's, I think I'm glad I'm leaving it on.

[Panhandle Bee man]

I'm 6' 5", and I have tried to use those covers with the sides that open. I still can't get far enough into those things to move the forward most supers, and other items that seem to shift to the front, I end up crawling inside, and dragging the stuff out the back. Chef, go to an Army/Navy store, Pawn shop near Ft Lewis, etc.. and get a couple of .50 Cal Ammo boxes, you can secure them to the bed of your truck with tied down straps, They will hold your "Stuff" securely, and dry.

[sierrabees]

I mostly haul the small stuff in the back of a Chevy Taho. I can usually hook on to it with my walking cane and pull it within reach, or I can lay the back seats down and use the side doors to reach stuff near the front.

[bluegrass]

I had a cap on my nissan. The cap cost 800.00 new and was great for moving supplies as long as the frames did not have wax in them. It was too hot for bees and wax even with the windows open. It was light enough to take off, but after a while you just get lazy. I have an open trailer now for moving hives, and the supplies I move in a Jeep cherokee.