The lid is a second tailgate
An unlatched grill lid will fly open when you take a bump, fill with wind, and either tear off or sail the cart backward in the bed. Latch it. If the latch is broken, strap the lid to the bowl as its own tie, then strap the cart to the truck. The lid strap is not the cart strap. Wheels need a chock or a strap across the frame. A grill that can roll will creep into the tailgate even on a mild ride, and the first stop sends it into the cab. Take the propane cylinder off and out of this load. Cylinders follow their own return path. A cylinder still on the cart is a rolling pressure vessel with a grill attached, which is the thing this tie-down is not meant to solve.
Ash and grates stay inside only if you close the gaps
Bag cold ash. Do not haul a firebox with a live coal and a latched lid. That is a contained fire, which is worse than an open one. Grates that rattle should be wedged or boxed so they cannot walk out through a side shelf. Side shelves fold or bounce. Strap them up or remove them so they do not catch the wind and act as levers on the cart. A vinyl cover, if you leave it on, must be tied. A loose cover is a flag that pulls the lid. Grease drips. A piece of cardboard under the cart saves the bed and then goes to trash because it is greasy. Do not recycle that cardboard. Point the lid hinge so an unexpected opening, if your latch fails, opens away from the cab rather than into the glass.
Unload before you unlatch
Set the brake, unstrap the cart, and lift or roll it down with two people while the lid is still latched. Then, on the ground, open it if the attendant needs to see the empty firebox. Opening it in the bed puts the lid into the wind and into your face. Check that the cylinder is not still in the cab footwell for a later errand you forgot. If it is, it does not get strapped back onto the grill for the ride home. It stays on the cylinder path. Sweep ash off the tailgate before you latch it. Ash on the latch is how the next load's tailgate sticks and then pops.
Before you go
- Remove the propane cylinder and send it on a cylinder return, not in the grill load.
- Latch the lid or strap it shut, and chock or strap the wheels.
- Bag cold ash, and do not haul a coal that is still hot.
- Unstrap and unload with the lid still latched, then open it on the ground if needed.
An unlatched lid and free wheels, with the propane tank still mounted, in an open bed.
Questions people ask
Can I lay the grill on its side?
A latched cart on its side can still leak ash and grease, and the lid hardware takes the bounce. Upright, chocked, and strapped is the better ride.
What holds a broken lid?
A strap from the lid handle to the frame, plus the cart strap to the truck. Do not rely on the broken latch and a bungee on the thermometer.
Search Dumpmapper by ZIP code or city, then call the site before you load the truck. Hours and accepted materials change.