Transporting wood on a car

[JoeyGee]

FWIW, I have been in this hobby for 5-6 years, and I have never had the circumstance to need a trailer or a roof rack. Like others, I fold the seats down in my Civic and hang long lumber out the back if I need to. I have sheet goods cut to size at HD or Lowes.

There has only been a couple times when I had to use our minivan. I would start working some projects, determine your cut list, and then figure out how you'll get the stuff home. You'll be surprised at what you can do with a small car.

I did get some privacy fencing from HD once and rented their truck for 1 hour for $20, which was simple and easy.

[twistsol]

I have one of those folding trailers that my Dad gave me when he got a truck. It works really well and doesn't take up a whole lot of space. I kept mine chained to the wall when the kids were little just in case. They tip over easily when they are folded. My wife now has a short bed pickup and we still use the trailer when picking up anything over 8'

You can also carry long boards by running them through the passenger side widow and into the back seat. Just don't rest them on the mirror. One good bump and your mirror gets sheared off.

[JimD]

I used a car or SUV top carrier for over 10 years but now have a HF folding trailer with 12 inch wheels (minor upgrade from the cheaper 8 inch wheel unit). If you want one, get on the mailing list (go in the store and buy something or go to the website) and wait for a sale catelog with the trailer on sale and if you are lucky, it will also have a 15% off coupon. You can easily get one of these trailers under $200. It will come in boxes, I think it was 3 and one is pretty heavy. The heavy box is the frame and it is heavy. The whole trailer is about 300 lbs before you put the plywood floor on and about half the weight is in the one box. It isn't terribly long, if you have a pass through from the trunk in your car, you may be able to haul it that way. I took my son with me and an extra pair of hands was handy both for lifting the one box and for assembling the trailer. It took us half a day and we are both pretty familar with tools (he's in his 20s).

I like this solution but it takes me ~30 minutes to unfold the trailer and put on the sides (they go on with clevis pins). I do not even tie down sheet good for slow speed travel so I save quite a bit of time loading versus car-topping.

I successfully car topped for over 10 years until I got my 06 Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV. I spent close to $200 for the special roof rack which clamps to the top rails. I gave up car topping when the clamping attachment failed (at around 45 mph) and the 3/4 plywood damaged a little pickup behind me. The young kid was nice about it and insurance paid for the damage to his vehicle but I went out and bought the trailer. My previous racks had attached by hooks into the rain gutters and worked very well for me including at highway speeds. I moved my son to college with a loft bed on top of my 1997 Suzuki 250 miles and did many other things including carrying a 14 foot jon boat on top of a little Ford Festiva repeatedly on the interstate so I am sure this method can work. I have also damaged the top of vehicles loading things and when things slipped.

Cost is not much different if you catch the HF trailer on sale the big thing is the space for storage of the trailer. If you can manage that, I think it is the better way to go.

If you get a roof rack, be careful with how it attaches. I looked at the Thule and I think it is good. They did not have a unit for my current Suzuki.

If you get the HF, do yourself a favor and take the side clearance lights apart and make sure the grounding strap does not come right across the power lead. Mine did creating a dead short after a couple uses. That is the only bad design feature I've found.

Jim

[mpauly]

JimD is right, not all racks are created equal. When my thule is on my car, it is rock solid and the load bars extend slightly past the edge of the roof so it stays reasonably well protected. It also mounts to the strongest points of the roof, so it has reasonable weight capacity. Given a solid base, the most important thing is the tiedown method you use. Ropes and twine might work, but a good set of ratcheting tiedowns will serve you well and the nylon straps do not really damage the lumber at all.

I've thought about getting a trailer, but the hassle of storing it, unfolding it and hitching it up was a concern. Also, finding a hitch that worked for my passat was nearly impossible for me (I only could fine one that is sold in the european market and it's over $400 to get here in the US). My next car will likely be a small SUV with a hitch, so I might revisit the HF trailer option.

Let us know what you end up with.

Michael

[radhak]

If you're renting at HD / Lowes, get their van instead of the truck. It's fully covered, and I've found it more spacious (or maybe easier handling) for the same price : $20 per hour.

[JimD]

Another option for occasional use is a U-haul trailer. An open trailer is about $10 /day with the little covered trailers only about $20. I did not keep doing that because of the time to go get the trailer but from an expense point of view, I don't think it pays to buy one for most of us.

Jim

[gabedad]

I have one of those 4x8 trailers. I got it off of CL for $50. It has a PT plywood bed so it does not fold. I put some PT rails and sides and use it all the time.

Best $50 I think I even spent.

[messmaker]

I have one of those 4x8 trailers. I got it off of CL for $50. It has a PT plywood bed so it does not fold. I put some PT rails and sides and use it all the time.

Best $50 I think I even spent.

I paid a little more but I agree about it being a good purchase. I ended up selling my truck and I just use the trailer. Backing the trailer in the dark is the only time I wish I had the truck back.

[prlundberg]

If you go with a roof rack, you need to be very careful. Most car roofs aren't rated to carry very much weight, usually around 80 lbs max.

I'd go with a trailer. Too many issues with weight and aerodynamics when strapping wood sheets to your roof.

[lakkdainen]

For those of you with the folding trailers - approx how much space do they take up when folded? Do you need to get a license plate for the back? They sound like a better idea (sturdier) than roof racks, but the storage/hitch/steering concerns me.

I have a VW jetta with a fold down back seat. That poor car has hauled more dimensional lumber than most trucks. I framed my entire basement, buying a dozen or so 2x4's at a time and putting them in through the trunk, through the back, and diagonally up into the passenger seat. It was quite a routine... stopping at HD almost daily during my lunch break (down the street from work) to grab more lumber. Oh man, good times.

The sheet goods are killing me though. I've bought more than my share of 2x4 sheets of MDF, but for quality ply, the only option is a lumber yard. They deal with pretty much only 4x8 sheets, and don't offer a cutting service. They're also about 20 miles from my house.

[thrytis]

For those of you with the folding trailers - approx how much space do they take up when folded? Do you need to get a license plate for the back? They sound like a better idea (sturdier) than roof racks, but the storage/hitch/steering concerns me.

The trailer with the 12" wheels takes up 24" x 65" of floor space. The 8" version should be a little less than 24". Most states require registration and a license plate. With a trailer you aren't just making it possible to bring home full sheets of plywood, you can save money on delivery charges for appliances, furniture, etc.

Another alternative is to get a cordless circular saw (with a couple of batteries) to cut down the sheet goods in the parking lot.

[lakkdainen]

Another alternative is to get a cordless circular saw (with a couple of batteries) to cut down the sheet goods in the parking lot.

That is a great idea actually. I may get some funny looks from the lumber yard guys, but hey, if they won't cut the stuff for me, it has to be done somehow.

[cabinetman]

Another alternative is to get a cordless circular saw (with a couple of batteries) to cut down the sheet goods in the parking lot.

The only drawback to this idea is that some stores may not want you doing that in their parking lot...you know, the liability thing. If you planned on doing that, get checked out, carry your stuff to the parking lot and get stopped, it won't make for a good day.
.

[TB Roye]

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What I have done and I have Toyota Tacoma Pickup with a 5ft bed(4door) is I figure out what size I need to be managable and ask the store to cut them down to size. I usually leave about and inch over so they don't have to be that accurate. When I get them home then I trim to final size. I have Carpel Tunnel so my hands don't have the strength to handle full size sheets of plywood and MDF. I usually tip the kid that is stuck helping me, give him a $5 tip and next time he is more than willing to help. I am sure if you bought a big stack of wood they would be more than willing to cut it down for you.

Tom

[JimD]

Whether you have to get a license plate is a state by state thing. I live in SC which does not put plates on trailers. No property tax. Even if you paid tax, it shouldn't be much on a trailer that costs ~$200. The HF has the lights and bracket for a plate and comes with a title so you could register it.

Jim