Transporting lumber home without a truck

[skocars]

I love my 5' by 8' Utility trailer. It has a fold up ramp so when hauling longer stock I just cheat it forward a little or run it to the side, around the tailgate. Then it doens't matter what kind of car you drive and you don't have to have lumber in your Mustang. I can't imagine life without a small trailer.

[cactusman]

Aside from drooling about what "others" are doing I present you with two suggestions:

1. Cut to fit..yep cut your lumber purchase to fit inside your vehicle then re-glue to original length as needed!

2. Seriously....get some roof racks that you can install and remove easily. Learn how to tie proper knots [that's not nots but knots] You should be able to carry reasonably safely 4x8 plywood. Just drive a bit slower so the wind won't lift them, maybe use your 4-way flashers etc.

There are a number of clever homeowner type lumber hauling devices do a Google search.

Cactus Man

[Gene Bickford]

Originally Posted by milehigh6080

Hi guys,

I'm just getting into woodworking more seriously as a hobby now that I'm a homeowner and have room for a shop. Right now, it seems like one of the bigger hurdles for me is actually getting lumber back to my house. I have all the time in the world to actually spend working in the shop, but that doesn't get me very far without a truck. What do most of you do if you don't have a truck? The options I've considered so far are 1- borrow a friend's truck, but i hate to put people out, 2- rent a truck, 3 - have it delivered, 4 - install a trailer hitch on my car and devise some type of rack system to support sheet goods and longer lumber, 5 - buy a truck.

It gets old asking people for help every time I need some lumber, and renting a truck every time can get pricey. I'd rather not buy one, so I'm sort of leaning towards a hitch and a small utility trailer for my car. For those of you who do it that way, can you share some tips on racks that work for you and how big of a trailer I'd need to carry man made sheet goods along with some 10' boards?

Thanks for the tips.

Your in MAINE man, go talk to your neighbor. Build him the shelf his wife has been wanting for years over the washing machine and you've got a lumber picking up friend for life.

Seriously though, being a pilot in Brunswick (BNAS?), I assume your from away. Go talk to your neighbor or stop some guy with no teeth and a beat up truck. I'm sure either would be willing to help you out, and I'd be surprised if they asked for anything more then the cost of their fuel.

[Jim S.]

Many years ago I had to transport a 40 foot extension ladder. I took the 2 sections apart, slid them under my 1956 Mercury and tied them up to the bumpers

[DanLawrence]

Originally Posted by Jim S.

Many years ago I had to transport a 40 foot extension ladder. I took the 2 sections apart, slid them under my 1956 Mercury and tied them up to the bumpers

lol, that's one way of doing I guess.

[CWSmith]

Jim S,

Hey, a 1956 Mercury Monteray was my very first car! It was the family vehicle and I bought it from my Dad for $70. Drove that beast for a couple of years, what a vehicle! Mine had the 292 "Turnpike Cruiser" engine... burned oil like it was a quarter a quart! (But wait, back then it was a $0.25 a quart!)



CWS

[NW Diver]

And gas was .19 a gallon.

[vnh]

I have the same problem as the OP. My parents have a SUV. I'm thinking of talking them into buying a trailer hitch. *hehe* Seriously, I am leaning toward the trailer hitch and trailer idea myself. It will save cost in the long run.

[pemdas89]

I'll say, I have little use for plywood, but when I do it's a nightmare to get home in my 2002 Suzuki Vitara. I usually plan ahead and have them cut it at the store to some usuable length that I can transport the 2 miles back home from either my local HD or Lowes. I have on occasion strapped with locking ratchet ties to the roof rails (within OEM limits of course). Other than that, I've transported "tons" of 8' lumber, bags of landscaping rocks, snowthrowers, lawnmowers, and tools to and from the store in the safe comfort inside with the windows up. If I had my way though, I would get a pickup truck wide enought to accomodate 4x8 sheet goods without a problem, that would take care of the most difficult things. I always joke that the only projects I ever take on are limited to ones that I can take home in my vehicle.

[Sgt Beavis]

First, go find out the tow rating for your car. You should be able to tow about 1000lbs.

Check out the FOLDING trailers from Harbor Frieght or Northern Tool. They usually cost a couple hundred bucks and can be folded up for strorage in your garage or a shed.

For the hitch, google "hidden hitch" and see if they make one for your car. Make sure that the trailer you get can be used with the hitch. You'll also need a wiring harness for the trailer lights.

The trailers usually weight about 300 lbs so you can get a pretty decent amount of plywood back to your home, depending on the tow capacity.

NEVER exceed that towing capacity. You'll damage your car.

The only other option I can think of is to buy a junker pickup truck and use that just for trips to the hardware store. Frankly, that is probably a better option than towing.

Something else. Check out Woodfinder.com. There might be other suppliers that are closer to you..

Hope this helps..