How to haul or transport wood when you have a car

[ThisVeteranVlog]

Greetings FOGrs!!

I’ve been a woodworker for several years now and have owned my Toyota Prius for almost a year. There are certainly some challenges to this combination, but I’ve figured out some good storage techniques to maximize space in my car to haul a good bit of project materials. So if you’re limited by your transport capacity, don’t let that stop you from building the projects you want for you home or customers.

I released a new video highlighting some of the dangers posed to transporting project materials atop a vehicle and wanted to provide some insights on some better ways to go about it.

Hope my video helps someone in the future to avoid a serious incident.

Cheers!

Ben

 

[AstroKeith]

Well made!

When I retired I finally got myself a Mustang (at last a right hand drive model!). It wont take a roof rack or tow bar.

I've discovered that 2.4m timbers will go in, even 3m if they will bend a little. Sheet material are a problem though!

So now I get almost everything delivered. The trick here was to get to know my local builders depot so they know I wont accept damaged sheets or timber. I take the Mustang down there and they put bags of sand and cement etc in the boot, and they too have grown to appreciate both the car and my predicament. Mustangs are reasonably rare over here and very few are used to pick up building material!

The Covid lockdown helped in a way, since delivery became the suppliers preferred or only way of selling their stock.

 

[cpw]

When I had a Mazda 3 with a Thule roof rack or with my Honda Pilot with the factory cross bars, I was/am comfortable with about 2-3" of plywood on the roof rack with ratchet straps.

I have a F150 with a 6.5' bed now and can get as much plywood as I want at any given time in the bed.  Also 16' or 20' trim boards are not bad with a Backrack and a bed extender in the "goalposts position" so that the item is mostly flat and extends over the cab and just a few feet past the tailgate (with a flag).  The Backrack/extender only cost about $300 together, and for light/long things really help.  With the bed extender laying down, I can get a 12' sheet of drywall supported along 8', then at the end hanging out the back as well.

When I am buying 7 or 10 sheets like mentioned in the video, the best answer, for me, though is often delivery (especially if they are special order).  My local lumber yard will do it for $20 and it is well worth the time savings even if you have a truck.

 

[kevinculle]

Go to the nearest Home Depot where you can rent a full size van for $20 for the first hour.  You first go to your lumber supplier and pick and set aside your purchase and pay for it to facilitate quick in and out with the HD van.  My HD is 2 miles away and my lumber supplier is about 12 miles away and I can get the whole process done on a 1 hour rental.

 

[Sparktrician]

I deliberately bought a Ford Expedition EL to haul materials and tools.  I can carry full sheets (48" x 96") of plywood inside with the second and third row seats folded down and close the back door.  Longer materials will go on the Yakima roof rack (up to 200#) and get strapped to the vehicle's factory rails.  No bungee cords are used whatsoever. 

 

[nclemmons]

Nice video Ben.  I have the cordless track saw which makes breaking down sheet goods even easier if I need to at the lumber yard.  I've found fewer and fewer HD or Lowes stores with a cut station or even rental trucks here where I live.  So I've resorted to renting a pickup from Avis.  Not as cheap, but definitely safer and it does force me to plan my materials better.

 

[RJNeal]

Nice video, I would also add a broom and dust pan to the list. View attachment 1
And don’t attempt this.

 

[Ron B]

I remember driving behind another car on a two lane highway, and could tell he had something tied under the car.  This was in the 1980's so cars were much longer and had more framework.  Under the car sticking out both the front and back were a number of lengths of pipe. Some how he had strapped these pipes to the underside.  This is one of those things that will work till it doesn't.  I quickly scooted around him because I did not want to imagine what would happen if he hit a pothole and a length of that pipe caught on the highway going 60 miles a hour. 

I have broken some rules before.  I had a ranger and with support boards and counterweights (my good old 120 lb anvil) I hauled 20' cedar siding.  Even with a sixteen ft 2x10 for support, it still flexed enough to sometime hit the street.  Remember, with this much leverage, it will pull the rear of the truck down.  I could not back up because the siding was that close to the ground. 

At night I was carrying a metal light pole post (from a gas station).  I had it all strapped in with a light on the back (always have a red flag tied to anything sticking out!).  When I tried to back up, it felt like the transmission was being yanked out of the truck, and the pole jerked.  I tried this a few times then got out to see what was going on.  The surplus length on one strap had come un-bundled and was flapping behind the truck.  When I backed up I ran over this loose end, and it tighted and yanked on the pole, and the pole would jam into the back of the cab.

ALWAYS USE A RED FLAG!  I had re-bar properly marked and was sitting in a drive-thru line.  The car behind me kept getting closer.  I moved forward as much as possible, but the person behind me ran into my rebar, jamming a piece between headlight and grille.  I had the flag and she admitted it was her mistake, but I still felt bad. 

 

[RKA]

Nice video, I would also add a broom and dust pan to the list. View attachment 1
And don’t attempt this.

In all fairness, the rear airbags on that Allroad were probably bad before he loaded the lumber in the back!  [tongue]

I will confess, it gets tiring breaking down sheet goods in a parking lot or finding store employees to break them down into sizable chunks that fit in my station wagon.  I do rent when I need to, but that gets tiring as well.  Costs me time running back to return the truck and frankly, I tend to lose at least another 45 mins going through the rental process, sometimes more if I’m waiting for a truck to be returned.  The last time I rented, we loaded 2000 lbs of gardening material, only to discover the weight sensor was faulty and I couldn’t take that truck.  Had to move everything to another rental truck.  Delivery is a little more expensive but saves me a LOT of time and hassle if I have more materials to acquire.  But I’ll only do this with construction grade material not finish materials.  The quality of the pieces they pick is always up in the air and not what I would choose if I was picking myself. 

But, owning and maintaining a truck, even an older used one, is not worth the expense for me (DIYer and hobby). 

So one way or the other you pay, either in $ or time and aggravation.  I wish plywood and lumber just grew on trees!  Got plenty of those in my yard!  [tongue]

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=3515]RJNeal[/member] yep!! I take a battery powered leaf blower with me now after the saw dust clogged up my TS75 on the guide rail! I've been considering picking up a CT SYS or TSC55 for this reason alone

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

Well made!

When I retired I finally got myself a Mustang (at last a right hand drive model!). It wont take a roof rack or tow bar.

I've discovered that 2.4m timbers will go in, even 3m if they will bend a little. Sheet material are a problem though!

So now I get almost everything delivered. The trick here was to get to know my local builders depot so they know I wont accept damaged sheets or timber. I take the Mustang down there and they put bags of sand and cement etc in the boot, and they too have grown to appreciate both the car and my predicament. Mustangs are reasonably rare over here and very few are used to pick up building material!

The Covid lockdown helped in a way, since delivery became the suppliers preferred or only way of selling their stock.

Thanks! Yeah I think if I start handling bigger projects then I'll start looking more into delivery. I save so much money every month not having a truck loan to worry about. It's certainly no mustang  [laughing] but I paid cash for my 2010 Prius and it definitely gets the job done currently - albeit with a little bit of inconvenience. Thanks for sharing

 

[ChuckM]

One day, I might look into this traditional approach....

 

[woodferret]

One day, I might look into this traditional approach....

Excellent idea.  I don't trust the HD van in winter, but this on the other hand...  [big grin]

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

Nice video, I would also add a broom and dust pan to the list. View attachment 1
And don’t attempt this.

In all fairness, the rear airbags on that Allroad were probably bad before he loaded the lumber in the back!  [tongue]

I will confess, it gets tiring breaking down sheet goods in a parking lot or finding store employees to break them down into sizable chunks that fit in my station wagon.  I do rent when I need to, but that gets tiring as well.  Costs me time running back to return the truck and frankly, I tend to lose at least another 45 mins going through the rental process, sometimes more if I’m waiting for a truck to be returned.  The last time I rented, we loaded 2000 lbs of gardening material, only to discover the weight sensor was faulty and I couldn’t take that truck.  Had to move everything to another rental truck.  Delivery is a little more expensive but saves me a LOT of time and hassle if I have more materials to acquire.  But I’ll only do this with construction grade material not finish materials.  The quality of the pieces they pick is always up in the air and not what I would choose if I was picking myself. 

But, owning and maintaining a truck, even an older used one, is not worth the expense for me (DIYer and hobby). 

So one way or the other you pay, either in $ or time and aggravation.  I wish plywood and lumber just grew on trees!  Got plenty of those in my yard!  [tongue]

I feel your pain and although it is a hassle currently to break down my goods in the parking lot - I still have my youth and I'd rather be inconvenienced than put safety at risk. I certainly don't want to find out what it would be like to be fined or charged with roadway debris or injuring someone else. For now, it's manageable and it seems like the route you've found is doable as well. If I get to the point where bulk ordering materials makes sense, I'll definitely be reaching for the rental or delivery service. Thanks for your input!

 

[rmhinden]

I have been doing this for a while.  My Tesla Model 3 can fit about 5' x 3' with the back seats folded down.  This works great for 5' x 5' baltic birch, I have the lumber yard rough cut it in to widths that will fit.    I can also accommodate longer boards between the seats if needed.  Similarly, I have the hardwood supplier cut the longer lengths down to sizes that will fit.

Obviously, this would not work if I had a project that required longer or wider than I can fit.  For that, I would have to have it delivered or rent a truck.

Bob

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Almost couple years ago now I bought a 2019 Chevy Traverse. Maybe there is another out there but it was the only SUV with decent ride quality and fuel mileage that can fit 48" wide panels. It will only fit a length of about 7' so I hold the hatch down with a ratcheting pulley/cord. I have found the pulley works better than the ratcheting straps.

Since MDF is 49" wide I will bring my UEG (Universal Edge Guide) that I have a 6-1/2" cordless saw dedicated to (much easier than bringing my track saw and rail(s)). I bring several 3/4"x3/4" x48" wood strips with to support the sheet on the flatbed steel carts they have and make a rip cut so it can fit in the vehicle.

 

[RustE]

I’ve trimmed some longer 2x4 and 2x6 stock in the parking lot at Lowe’s before. Nothing was said about it. Wanted to just toss these in the back of a SUV instead of tying them on the roof.

When I can get to Hartville Hardware, they’re always willing to do a few cuts to help you get the materials out.  They can even put nicer trim materials in plastic for people using roof racks.

Last go-around, I needed enough bulky stuff that renting a U-Haul trailer was the better option.

 

[vkumar]

Almost couple years ago now I bought a 2019 Chevy Traverse. Maybe there is another out there but it was the only SUV with decent ride quality and fuel mileage that can fit 48" wide panels. It will only fit a length of about 7' so I hold the hatch down with a ratcheting pulley/cord. I have found the pulley works better than the ratcheting straps.

Since MDF is 49" wide I will bring my UEG (Universal Edge Guide) that I have a 6-1/2" cordless saw dedicated to (much easier than bringing my track saw and rail(s)). I bring several 3/4"x3/4" x48" wood strips with to support the sheet on the flatbed steel carts they have and make a rip cut so it can fit in the vehicle.

I like your method [member=4518]Mike Goetzke[/member]

 

[GoingMyWay]

I recently thought about buying a TSC55 so I could breakdown plywood in the parking lot.  I could also just use my cordless Makita circular saw for rough cuts just so everything will fit inside the car, but that would produce much more sawdust since there's no dust extraction.

As anyone gotten in trouble or complaints about cutting wood in the parking lot of a home center or lumber yard?  I don't recall ever seeing or hearing anyone cutting anything in the parking lot before.  It definitely seems like a liability that a store wouldn't want to have to deal with on their property.  Then again, I know the auto parts stores usually have signs up saying no working on your car in the parking lot, but I've seen tons of cars being worked on there.

 

[ChuckM]

As anyone gotten in trouble or complaints about cutting wood in the parking lot of a home center or lumber yard?  I don't recall ever seeing or hearing anyone cutting anything in the parking lot before.

Neither have I seen or heard the sound of anyone sawing a ply sheet or a long board outside any lumber yard or a big box hardware store in my woodworking life.

May be someone cutting a long dowel with a hand saw to fit into the car, but someone using a cordless saw outside a store or in a parking lot -- definitely no. I've seen customers bringing a tape, a block plane, alcohol, etc. along for wood inspection, but no power tools of any kind (unless you count a cell phone.... [tongue]).

Every lumber store regardless of size I have been to provides cuts for customers (for free or from $0.50 or $1 per cut after the second or third cut). I use such service all the time when I get a 4x8 ply or mdf.