Transporting wood on a car

[nukeqler]

I searched a bit but was not able to find too much related to this question, so here goes.

I am just starting to get in to woodworking (or rather I will once I get the rest of other people's stuff out of my garage), and am wondering what those of you without pickups or other largish vehicles do to get wood home from the lumberyard/hardwood store.

I'd like to be able to get 8' boards and 4' x 8' plywood from the store to my house (~1.5 miles, all on 35mph low-traffic streets). I have a '00 VW GTI as my only car, and am not keen to get anything else. I've been looking at roof bars, but they seem kind of expensive for what they are, and perhaps overkill as well. I also don't see a straightforward way to attach sheet goods to them (boards I have enough knot skills to deal with).

Thanks in advance for your time, and for this excellent forum.

[dkhoward]

For my money, I would look at one of the trailer kits from HF. Lightweight, easy to tow, pretty easy to store and lets you haul sheet goods, dimension lumber, etc without problems.

[jackellis]

I don't have a truck either so I design around 2'x4' sheet goods and have larger sheets cut down at the supplier when I can.

I can get 8' long studs and 8' planks in my car with the ends near the gearshift. For sheet goods, I can fit cut down panels in the back of my wife's Volvo wagon or tie them on the roof.

If you can buy in large enough quantities, another alternative is to rent the Borg's pickup truck or rent from your local car rental agency for the day. Although it seems like a lot of money (maybe 50 bucks), it's lots cheaper than owning a second vehicle.


I'm going to need to stock up on sheet goods at some point and when I do, I'll rent a truck and buy a bit more than I need at the moment.

[LCHIEN]

One solution, HD and Lowes rent flat bed stake-side trucks for $20 per hour for transporting those kinds of things.

Another partial solution, Lowes and HD often have cutting facilities and will break down large panels and long boards for you, one cut is free (per item), they charge a nominal amount for additional cuts. Just preplan where you want the cuts.

They deliver (for a charge, depends on how much stuff you get)

My car has a fold down back seat with a pass thru to the trunk, I can put modest numbers of 8' boards and items in my car easily. Another possible way (haven't tried this in a while) is to lay down the passenger side seat reclined all the way back and you can lay straight items from the floor to the back window... might get 8' items in that way.

make more friends. The more friends you make, the more likely you are to know someone with a pickuptruck or minivan or Suburban and they'll help you. Of course, the more stuff you move, the fewer friends you might find you have...

Still, the paying routes are not too expensive compared to buying a new vehicle. Preplan and buy enough to make each trip worthwhile.

[cabinetman]

For my money, I would look at one of the trailer kits from HF. Lightweight, easy to tow, pretty easy to store and lets you haul sheet goods, dimension lumber, etc without problems.

The trailer is the easiest method, like you said. This is the folding trailer, and on the page top right is the one with 8" wheels for $199.99.
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[Ed62]

The trailer is the easiest method, like you said. This is the folding trailer, and on the page top right is the one with 8" wheels for $199.99.
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I have a trailer very much like that one, but not identical. I use it often. It's great when you need to get sheet goods, or haul other things.

Ed

[nukeqler]

Hmm, I might have to design storage space for such a trailer into my garage shop.

Now all I need is a hitch on my car

[footprintsinconc]

that foldable trailer is pretty cool. i dont have one but have been eying for a while. but since i have a van, cant justify it yet.

[Ed62]

The folding trailers are nice. But they can be more than a little top heavy when folded. You just have to be careful with them. I fold mine before it goes into the garage because it's a problem folding it when it's in there. You can roll it on the small rollers, which are part of the trailer, but you have to be careful it doesn't start to tip, or you won't be able to stop it.

Ed

[Tequila]

I have a sedan with a fold down rear seat. Lumber's easy - you can let it hang out the trunk with a flag if it's secured well.

Sheet goods take some more planning. I typically rent a truck from HD or Lowes, then buy as much as I can fit in my basement.

Not the best solution, but you work with what you've got.

[mpauly]

I have a VW Passat with a set of Thule roof racks and I carry lumber on it all the time, you just need to be conscious of how you load it up there and tie it down. I've had 75bf of rough cut lumber strapped up there with ratcheting tie downs with no problems at 65+ mph, 200+ linear feet of crown molding in 16' lengths (taped together to add some rigidity), 20+ 2x4 studs, etc. Sheet goods are a little tougher strictly from a tie down perspective since they hang over the edge of the rack and you need to protect the edges.

Like others said already you can have them cut down the sheets at the store or the $25 for their rental truck is worth it if you can load up and store at home.

Since you're only a little over a mile away and are OK with sticking with shopping at HD, I think the roof rack would be a better choice than the trailer. You may need to make a few more trips in the end, but it can be more convenient. You don't need to add a hitch, you can store them in a closet, will be cheaper in the end (I think I paid $200 with locks a 5 years ago) and you can easily resell it. Check out ebay or the classifieds of various auto forums, you can probably get a complete set or piece one together for under $125 or so. You just need the foot kit specific for your car, then the bases and load bars.

Michael

[Lonnie in Orlando]

These pix have been around for years. I still love 'em.

- Lonnie

[iceman61]

I never get tired of seeing those pics.

Buy a trailer. You can also use it to haul all those nifty woodworking tools you're going to be buying. LOL I have a truck but I still try to use my 16' utility trailer any time I haul materials. Most suppliers around here will delivery in a 20 mile radius for $10 so some of the time I just let them deliver.

Word of warning: ALWAYS tie down sheet goods no matter how slow you go or how near you travel. It doesn't take much to get a 4x8 sheet of 3'/4" plywood airborn.

[Cheeky]

I have a VW Passat with a set of Thule roof racks and I carry lumber on it all the time, you just need to be conscious of how you load it up there and tie it down. I've had 75bf of rough cut lumber strapped up there with ratcheting tie downs with no problems at 65+ mph, 200+ linear feet of crown molding in 16' lengths (taped together to add some rigidity), 20+ 2x4 studs, etc. Sheet goods are a little tougher strictly from a tie down perspective since they hang over the edge of the rack and you need to protect the edges.

Like others said already you can have them cut down the sheets at the store or the $25 for their rental truck is worth it if you can load up and store at home.

Since you're only a little over a mile away and are OK with sticking with shopping at HD, I think the roof rack would be a better choice than the trailer. You may need to make a few more trips in the end, but it can be more convenient. You don't need to add a hitch, you can store them in a closet, will be cheaper in the end (I think I paid $200 with locks a 5 years ago) and you can easily resell it. Check out ebay or the classifieds of various auto forums, you can probably get a complete set or piece one together for under $125 or so. You just need the foot kit specific for your car, then the bases and load bars.

Michael

ditto on the Thule recommendation. you can always sell it (at least the load bars and feet for a decent price).

HD and Lowes has a machine that can apply those heavy nylon ties (the ones that they reinforce heavier boxes with that require a knife to cut) to lumber or sheet goods. i always have them do that for me. then use cam ties like mpauly.

easy and safe.

[cabinetman]

I was contemplating a removable rack that would fit the factory roof bars that SUV's come with. Those are really too small, and not flat or separated enough for sheet goods or lumber.

A member (aiyou), emailed me this DIY rack to fit a standard roof rack:
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