How to haul or transport wood when you have a car

[ThisVeteranVlog]

re: cutting materials in a dealer parking lot - The Wurth location closest to me forbids purchasers from cutting purchased items in their parking lot due to possible liability concerns.  Even if you are using a handsaw.

Better to ask first.

Peter

Yes - I always ask first even though my dealer allows it. Better to ask for permission than forgiveness in this instance. Rules can change over time and I want to stay in their good graces.

 

[c_dwyer]

Relative to the OP's post, this one is funny to watch:

 

[Bob D.]

cpw wrote: " ... I have a F150 with a 6.5' bed ... "

I do too. Problem with that is you can't close the tailgate to secure your load. You can string some rope or a strap around the end of your stack and keep it from sliding out but years ago I came across this handy device in Wood Magazine. I used it for years and jest recently made a new one as the first was falling apart after over 10 years of use.

The video is too long I know. I will make a condensed version someday.

You can get the free PDF plan here:
https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/clamping/plywood-hold-down-pickup-truck

 

[cpw]

cpw wrote: " ... I have a F150 with a 6.5' bed ... "

I do too. Problem with that is you can't close the tailgate to secure your load. You can string some rope or a strap around the end of your stack and keep it from sliding out but years ago I came across this handy device in Wood Magazine. I used it for years and jest recently made a new one as the first was falling apart after over 10 years of use.

The video is too long I know. I will make a condensed version someday.

You can get the free PDF plan here:
https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/clamping/plywood-hold-down-pickup-truck

I usually take a rachet strap, attach it to a side tie down, then loop it through the safety chain slots of the hitch, back up and then to the other tie down.

I have the bed extender that came with my truck (https://www.fcoemparts.com/oem-parts/ford-bed-extender-fl3z99286a40c?origin=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-af6BRC5ARIsAALPIlX-7EoCJT2cm8nc4Rq2Nv1wX-0_xNVlgONdI7xn7MSS4lCWWS1W6XsaAjq9EALw_wcB), which is really only useful for separating things so they don't move around in the back.  In Ford's infinite wisdom they did not design it such that it would lock down and encapsulate an 8' sheet, even though it gets the length right, it clips the corners.

 

[tjbnwi]

I think I have the material pick up issue resolved...

This trailer is a 20', the new one is 24'.

Tom

 

[sancho57]

Nice trailer Tom

 

[Bob D.]

I find the bed extender not as useful as it could be too.

 

[leakyroof]

I went old school with my latest vehicle purchase.
1984 VW Vanagon.  Full 4x8 sheets of plywood or sheet stock fit right inside since I have the plain Passenger Vanagon model and not a Camper/Westfalia.  Haven’t measured for Metric Baltic Birch sheets, the 5 foot by 5 foot ones, those would either fit inside, or end up on roof bars, but would make it home either way.... [smile]
This is the first time in years that I could do this. I’ve done the hourly rental route too from Home Depot or Menards.
All my first, original haulers in years past were either passenger cars that held what fitted out an open window, or gently tied to the roof with the exception of my first vehicle, a 1968 VW Camper. It held what would fit around the interior cabinets.Not that satisfactory at times, but it worked. [embarassed]
When I started buy SUVs , I had roof gutters to finally attach bars to, so plywood and sheet stock went on way more securely than previous methods, but still limited to not too many sheets on the roof for safety. That was a game changer, as long as it didn’t rain on the way home.... [wink]

 

[Cheese]

That was a game changer, as long as it didn’t rain on the way home.... [wink]

Especially if you were hauling drywall.  [poke]

 

[leakyroof]

That was a game changer, as long as it didn’t rain on the way home.... [wink]

Especially if you were hauling drywall.  [poke]

. True... [scared]

 

[JimD]

I carried wood on top of several cars for years.  I even carried a 14 foot jon boat on top of my Festiva, which was only 12 feet long.  It worked well.  I carried 12 foot sheets of drywall on top of my Suzuki Grand Vitara.  I had 2x4s on the factory roof rack to help support the drywall and it worked fine except one time the front several feet flew off.  So I stopped doing that.  Then the roof rack failed and a sheet of plywood hit a young mans pickup that was behind me.  So I stopped carrying stuff on top of my car.  The only thing unusual was a gust of wind when I was going uphill - it got under the sheet and pulled the roof rack off the SUV.  Shouldn't have happened but did.

Then I got the HF trailer Peter_C already posted.  It came in multiple heavy boxes and had a lot of bolts to put it together.  But once it was together I used it for probably 10 years or more and just sold it for $200, I think I only paid $300 for it.  I brought my SawStop home in that trailer.  It is a better idea than carrying stuff on top of a car, if you have the room to store it.  The foldup feature was useful at my old house, I put it beside the boat under the screened in porch. 

Late last year I solved a couple problems by getting a crew cab pickup.  My convertible could pull the little trailer fine but it didn't carry my grandkids in their car seats fine.  I was also getting tired of hooking up the trailer every time I wanted something.  So I got a pickup with a 5'7" bed.  I thought the short bed would be an issue but it is not.  For a sheet of 3/4, I just slide it over the tailgate and let it stick out a little.  Lighter stuff gets strapped in.  Drywall gets hauled flat with one ratchet strap around the sheets and another pulling the strap towards the back hold down in the bed.  Really long stuff I use a Darby bed extender: https://www.amazon.com/Darby-944-In..._4?crid=3SCLDH1W893BV&dchild=1&keywords=darby+extend-a-truck+bed+extender&qid=1599077083&sprefix=darby+extend%2Caps%2C479&sr=8-4.  I've used it more in the high position than the low, to carry 17 foot sticks of casing.  That requires a roof rail too but it keeps the molding over the truck instead of sticking out of the back.  12 foot lumber or longer I use the bed extender in the low position.  The big advantage of the truck is it is always ready to go.  The bed extender and the roof rack go under the back seat.  Ratchet straps go in compartments below the floor in the back seat area.  Best way to hauls stuff, expecially if you need the people space too.  My daughter can fit in the back seat with both her kids in their car seats.  Not many SUVs are wide enough, hers is not (Durango).