Hello! Have been away from beesource for a few years! And have to say, I sure missed this great forum, greetings to all you great folks!
Anyways, I came back to beekeeping this year, and got up to about ~65 hives and a dozen nucs in California. I am wondering if anyone has taken their bees for pollination on a small truck with a flatbed. I read about payloads/etc, but I would like to know from someones first hand experience if its possible, because, sure trucks like rangers/tacomas are small and low powered when compared to what people generally use in the industry, and have only around a half ton payload, but there is a plethora of photos online of people hauling tons of weapons/and people in the back of such trucks. I have found a few dually flatbed rangers/tacomas locally for sale. Anyone know if its possible to haul about 20 hives in those. looking forward to reading all your great advice! Please understand that getting a real flatbed rig might be a bit overkill for me and finishing out someones load might be funky due to hives being spread out in residential areas (6 yards of about 10 hives each), as being in California I can not purchase an old diesel for commercial purposes, and newer ones cost an arm and a leg. Happy to hear all suggestions.
Anyways, I came back to beekeeping this year, and got up to about ~65 hives and a dozen nucs in California. I am wondering if anyone has taken their bees for pollination on a small truck with a flatbed. I read about payloads/etc, but I would like to know from someones first hand experience if its possible, because, sure trucks like rangers/tacomas are small and low powered when compared to what people generally use in the industry, and have only around a half ton payload, but there is a plethora of photos online of people hauling tons of weapons/and people in the back of such trucks. I have found a few dually flatbed rangers/tacomas locally for sale. Anyone know if its possible to haul about 20 hives in those. looking forward to reading all your great advice! Please understand that getting a real flatbed rig might be a bit overkill for me and finishing out someones load might be funky due to hives being spread out in residential areas (6 yards of about 10 hives each), as being in California I can not purchase an old diesel for commercial purposes, and newer ones cost an arm and a leg. Happy to hear all suggestions.
