I need to buy some 4′ x 8′ plywood sheets. I hate to pay for delivery or truck rental if I can help it, and I don’t have any good friends with pickup trucks. I do have a roof rack on our SUV, but can’t think of any safe way to secure the plywood. Any creative ideas, or should I just accept the fact that I need to rent a truck?
You should to be able to tie it on, tightly. End to end and side to side, at least two ties each direction. Drive back roads and
slowly . I wouldn’t try more than 3 maybe 4 sheets. We have done it before. Make sure it is secure before you start. Be sure to put a blanket or padding on the roof to protect it. You can bring the ropes into the car and slam the doors tightly and tie them together inside to keep it tight.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Accept the fact that you need to rent a truck. You couldnt place the plywood on top of the SUV and secure it without bending the plywood, and by securing it tight enough you could end up snapping the wood when hitting a bump or something that could jar the wood.
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February 21st, 2010 at 10:51 pm
you could secure it inside the suv if you don’t need to many sheets.
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February 21st, 2010 at 11:35 pm
You could try to carry the plywood in the SUV (tilt it at a 45 degree angle). I have done this with a Ford Explorer with no problem. The lift gate won’t close but I tied it down and tied the plywood into the truck.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 12:09 am
Take all the seats out you can in your SUV. Or lay them flat to see if they will fit. You can secure it to the top by using a bungee cord or rope tied over the top and down into the inside (through the windows) the people at the lumber yard should be able to help you, and if one of the workers has a pick-up truck, they’ll probably let you use it if you give them your name, address, insurance info, etc, and gas it up.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 12:22 am
Lowes or Home depot usually have a truck available by the hour. Or if you want to save a little find someone with a truck that likes beer, a twelve pack has a lot of bargaining power. Make sure it’s ice cold.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 12:44 am
cOVER THE PLYWOOD WITH A THICK BLANKET TO PROTECT THE SUV. GET STRONG CORD TO TIE IT SECURELY OVER THE RACK. PUT A RED FLAG AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE TO ALERT PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE CARRYING A LOAD. dON’T DRIVE VERY FAST AND PLEASE USE THE SERVICE ROAD INSTEAD OF THE HIGHWAY. iF YOU CAN BE PATIENT AND ATTENTIVE IN THIS MATTER YOU WILL GET YOUR WISH TO SAVE MONEY. GOOD LUCK.
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PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:02 am
You should to be able to tie it on, tightly. End to end and side to side, at least two ties each direction. Drive back roads and
slowly . I wouldn’t try more than 3 maybe 4 sheets. We have done it before. Make sure it is secure before you start. Be sure to put a blanket or padding on the roof to protect it. You can bring the ropes into the car and slam the doors tightly and tie them together inside to keep it tight.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 1:49 am
make sure you’re signed up to a car recovery company ( we have AA, RAC in the UK )
Tie the ply to the top of your car, then disconnect something the repair guy cannot find, then call them out. Most policies are covered to towing to the place fo your choice….get him to take you home. He won’t like the look of the ply on your roof so will put them on the back of his truck
You did want creative idea, right ?
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February 22nd, 2010 at 2:16 am
Rent a trailer.
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