Hauling sheetgoods/lumber with a small car

If you are wanting to do this on more than rare occasion get a pickup truck, or rent one of the trucks that big boxes offer.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

I was about to say the same thing sIKE… Hauling sheet goods on a car that small can be dangerous. The odd stick of lumber or two, yeah, put it on your roof with plenty of padding. More than that, buy in bulk and rent a delivery truck from the Borg.

-- Derek, Bremerton WA --

I’ve got an old civic (12 yrs old) and people are amazed at what I can fit into that car. If I put the back seats flat forward and tilte the front seat all the way back (and remove the headrest) I can fit a 9’ board in there. I was able to fit about 150 board feet of walnut in 8-9’ lengths.

Sheet goods are a little trickier. I’ve seen trailer hitches for cars. I know that serious hauling can strain the engine on a car, but as long as the weight of the trailer + the material doesn’t exceed about 600 lbs, I don’t see how it can be a problem (since that is a reasonable passenger weight). I haven’t done this yet, but thats mostly because I’m not sure how much longer my car will last.

I’d add that converting to a pickup from a small car would cost you WAY more in fuel than the cost of a small trailer. Just my opinion.

I would install a hitch and rent or buy a small trailer. It will be easier to load and unload sheet goods from a trailer than from the top of your Jetta.

-- - Jim, Carroll, OH

I don’t know what you could do to solve your problem, but I do know what NOT to do…..lol.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Hokie, that depends on the size of the pickup truck, the little toy sized ones will haul hobbyist or light contractor sized loads nicely and won’t gulp too much fuel. Much depends of course on whether or not the vehicle must also serve as a commuting or other high use vehicle.

-- Derek, Bremerton WA --

I agree Derek. I’m assuming that if he is asking this question, he’s not producing the volumes that would warrant purchasing a truck, and therefore needs another daily driver.

If I could have a 3rd car, it would be an old pickup. I had an explorer as a 3rd car, but driving it 600 miles in 2 yrs didn’t warrant the cost to maintain/insure it, so it was sold.

K,
While I do have access to a truck on occasion (nice neighbor), I use my car for 90% of my hauling. Roof racks are the way to go. If I remember right, your car has the attach points on the roof for a VW rack system. I have a BMW 330 and with the roof bars, I can haul plywood sheets (ripped to 2×8) and planks. I have had rather sizable loads (roof bars are rated for 300 lbs) and I take the back roads back to my shop to keep the speeds slow.

Another option, you could get a “Hidden Hitch” installed on your car (like they do in Europe) and get yourself a small (even foldable) trailer to shlep your materials and projects around.

Good luck…

Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

I learned this trick from my friends at REI. They stick one of those foam sleeping pads on top of their cars and tie down surfboards and kayaks. It works pretty well. I use it sometimes on my Civic when I’m hauling lumber. I am careful when I’m on the freeway and I don’t carry sheet goods that way unless I can get back without taking the freeway.

Tom,
That “hidden hitch” idea looks like a real winner. Looks to cost under $200 as well. Add in a little more for the trailer and you are well on your way.

I put a Thule roof rack on my 98 Jetta and I haul 4×8’ plywood sheets and lumber that way. If your rear seat folds down you can also haul lumber that way loading from the trunk.