Minivan for hauling plywood?

[Michael Kellough]

I checked and it's been a few years since a similar thread ran so...

Which minivans are long enough to carry full sheets of plywood with the lift-gate shut?

I'm about to replace a first gen Ford Windstar. It is a few inches too short. I don't know if the Windstar/Freestar ever grew long enough for the gate to close on plywood but I know some minivans are long enough.

Which ones?

My budget is around $5000 and I'd welcome suggestions.

A couple of good features the early Windstar had are the perfectly flat floor and the lack of a center console so larger long items could pass between the front seats. Some of the newer minivans I've seen have stow-able seats (which sounds great, my rear bench has been in the shed for the last decade) but the floors aren't really flat. Is that an issue in practice?

[Prashun Patel]

I have a Toyota Sienna (2005) that works fine. You have to look for mv's with 'removable consoles' between the two front seats.

[Martin Jodoin]

Dodge Grand Caravan 2005 here, i carry 4x8 sheet no problem.

[Peter Kuhlman]

Older Toyota Previa and all the Honda vans other than the imitation van that Isuzu built for Honda years ago. Most of the newer mini-vans no longer will work for 4x8 sheets.

[Ellen Benkin]

Interesting question. I often bemoan selling my 1988 Toyota Camry Wagon which I thought was the perfect vehicle. I could get a 4 x 8 sheet inside with the tailgate tied down over the end that stuck out. And then the automotive gods decided no one wanted station wagons anymore. I did have a Subaru wagon which was not nearly as sizeable and very expensive to repair. Oh, well, I keep hoping the "small" SUVs will be hybrids someday.

[Rich Engelhardt]

My 2004 Honda would haul as many as I could stack in the back.
IIRC, I hauled somewhere around 10 sheets of 3/8" drywall in it once.
My 2010 Toyota Sienna will only hold about 5 sheets. The front seat mounts get in the way after that.

Both had/have fold down rear seats & removable center seats.

[Joseph Tarantino]

Dodge Grand Caravan 2005 here, i carry 4x8 sheet no problem.

+1. all 4 "chrysler" grand minivans i've owned have had sufficient capacity to carry several whole 4X8 sheets with tailgate closed. always enjoyed watching owners of huge, expensive SUVs trying to do the same thing with their vehicles and winding up tying things to a roof rack instead.

[Art Mulder]

I have a Toyota Sienna (2005) that works fine. You have to look for mv's with 'removable consoles' between the two front seats.

Ummmmm, from my perspective this needs qualifications.

First, I've owned a 2004 Sienna, and a 2010. (Both are from the same series. With the 2011 they changed the body so I have no idea about those units.)

#1 - you need to remove the middle seats. They do not tumble into the floor. Each one is around 50lbs, and they are awkward to remove. Be careful not to strain your back -- bent over in the van it is almost impossible to "lift with your legs" when removing them.

#2 - you will probably need to slide the front seats forward. No big deal for some, but at 6'3" I drive with the front seat almost all the way back. A short trip with some plywood back there is okay, but not a long one.

As a hobbyist I try to always have the project designed so that I can have the lumberyard make the first cut, usually knocking the plywood roughly in half. Makes it much easier to fit in the van and much easier to handle.

[keith jensen]

Our Chrysler minivan (2008) has both sets of rear seats that fold into the floor (second and third row). No problem with longer boards that will fit between the front seats either, you just have to remove the center console. I've done both plywood and 10 ft boards in the van. I think they are rated for something like 1500lbs but I'm not positive on that off the top of my head.

[Bill ThompsonNM]

Dodge Grand Caravan 2005 here, i carry 4x8 sheet no problem.
+3. That's why we keep our Caravan around. 4x8 plywood, Laguna LT18 bandsaw. Unisaw, 14 inch delta RAS. You get the idea.

[Ralph Okonieski]

I have a 2001 Honda Odyssey that can hold full size ply with the rear door closed. Similar to what Art said, the middle seats have to be removed.

[Bob Daniel]

I'm on my third Chevy Astro Van for this very reason. Holds 4x8 between the wheel wells and with the back door closed. after two or three sheets, you start hitting the seats as they slope backward, but that hasn't been a show-stopper for me yet. I believe they no longer make the Astro van, so I'm taking care of this one, still on my first 100k.

[Harlan Barnhart]

The GM vans (Montanna, uplander ect...) will take 4x8 laying on the seats with the backs folded down. The back gate will shut if you move the front seats far enough forward.

[Joe Mioux]

I have owned the following, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2005, & 2012 dodge caravans, Plymouth voyagers and Chrysler town and country's. they all haul 4x'8's

stow and go versions are really convenient!..

correction I haven't hauled in my 2012 yet, but can't see why it won't.

[Bill Geibe]

With the Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth minivans you have to have the 'Grand' version to get a 4x8 in and close the liftgate. With my '01 Grand Caravan, I have to unlatch the front console (easy) and push it forward a few inches, too. Oh, and the seats have to come out of course. With the newer ones ('05 on up) with the Stow&Go seats, just fold the seats into the floor.

When Chrysler designed their original minivan, one of the design parameters was that it had to be able to haul 4x8 sheet goods.

Bill

[Ernie Miller]

Years ago I swore I would never buy another Chrysler product. Times change. I'm now on my third Chrysler Grand Caravan and wouldn't be without it. 4x8 sheets - no problem. Middle and rear seats fold into the floor so no heavy lifting and seat storage problems. Best of all, after 8 years, not a single mechanical problem with any of the mini-vans. The Toyota and Honda mini-vans were just re-designed and decided against the stow-n-go seats. For me, that's a deal breaker - I'll stick with Chrysler and save a few bucks while I'm at it.

[Rick Thom]

As an alternative, have you considered buying yourself a good used landscape trailer instead for hauling material? It's easier to load/unload, carries more, doesn't beat up the interior of your people-carrier, can carry other stuff like some top soil/mulch, insulation etc, or a load of junk to the dump ... This way, you can buy the vehicle you like provided they have some towing capacity which most vans do. I think my old Chrysler mini-van had a 3500 lb towing capacity with no need for alterations except installing a proper hitch.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Ummmmm, from my perspective this needs qualifications.

First, I've owned a 2004 Sienna, and a 2010. (Both are from the same series. With the 2011 they changed the body so I have no idea about those units.)

#1 - you need to remove the middle seats. They do not tumble into the floor. Each one is around 50lbs, and they are awkward to remove. Be careful not to strain your back -- bent over in the van it is almost impossible to "lift with your legs" when removing them.
That's the main reason I cobbled this ugly thing together.
The seats are too big and akward for the blade on the two wheeler, but, with this ugly thing stuck on the blade they fit just fine.

BTW - speaking of 2004 to 2010 Siennas - have you had any problems with the sliding doors on yours?
Toyota admitted they are defective and they have extended the warranty on the doors for something like 10 years or 120,000 miles.

[Art Mulder]

That's the main reason I cobbled this ugly thing together.
For me the removal is the main thing. I find awkward and fiddly, and I'm mindful of my back.
Once they're out of the floor mounts, it's no big deal, since they just get moved about 2 ft from the van and put down on the floor of the garage.


BTW - speaking of 2004 to 2010 Siennas - have you had any problems with the sliding doors on yours?
Toyota admitted they are defective and they have extended the warranty on the doors for something like 10 years or 120,000 miles.

First I've heard of this. Can you provide a link or reference? We have the base SE model, with manual doors. They work fine. Was this in reference to power doors?

[Joe Scharle]

2009 Grand Caravan with Stow & Go seats that fold flat into the floor. I keep a cloth painters cloth in mine all the time to protect the carpet. I wish they had a rubber floor covering option! 4.0L V6 gets better mileage than the smaller engines from what I've read.

[Mike Heidrick]

+3. That's why we keep our Caravan around. 4x8 plywood, Laguna LT18 bandsaw. Unisaw, 14 inch delta RAS. You get the idea.

Towing or inside LOL?

[Bryan Slimp]

I was always considering how much a vehicle could haul, but lately I don't think it's worth it. The extra wear and tear, etc. doesn't justify the extra expense to me anymore. I don't haul too frequently. Menards, HD, and Lowes all rent trucks for a pretty good 75 minute rate here (and elsewhere I'm sure.) They are all over the city so even if I'm buying something from somewhere else they are usually close enough that I pop in, plunk down the money, and drive away. A couple of years ago I made eight or nine trips to HD to refresh the mulch in my yard. I could only safely haul about 16 bags of mulch at a time.

I don't have to haul plywood every day or even every month. If you are hauling often then I'd say it should be a consideration, but there are decent alternatives that could allow you access to a vehicle that you are more interested in.

Next vehicle here is going to be about fuel efficiency, can it fit the family, and can it make the weekly Costco trip.

[Michael Kellough]

Thanks for all the input guys!

I do regret that fuel efficiency has to go down the list of priorities. As a one man custom WWing shop in an urban area, I need to deliver finished good as well as haul raw stock (and the family). A minivan is the best option for me. If we lived in a suburban or rural area I'd go for the small fuel efficient vehicle and trailer.

So, I'm now looking for a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. There are plenty around here so the price is a few thousand dollars less than a 2005 Toyota Sienna. That difference will cover a bunch of the repairs I expect the Dodge to need compared to the Toyota (according to Consumer Reports).

I'm looking forward to not having to remove seats. Do you Grand Caravan guys know if the Stow-N-Go seats were standard on the 2005 model or an option I'll have to search for?

[mike holden]

I was working for Chrysler at that time (2005) and stow and go seats were optional extras on the 2005 models. They remained an option through 2010 when I left the company.
Mike

[Ernie Miller]

If you buy one without stow&go seats, you will kick yourself every time you have to remove the seats. Here's another reason to buy stow&go: Suppose you're out for a nice drive in the country and find a great, but unexpected deal on a piece of furniture (or whatever). Fold the seats into the floor and load 'er up. Without stow&go you'll either have to pass on the deal or trade seats for furniture.

[Doug Ladendorf]

I would love to get a pickup but it just isn't in the finance right now. I've been making due with our 2004 Honda Odyssey which performs kid duty most of the time but I'll take out the seats, throw down a sheet of OSB and haul machinery. The relatively low tail means less lifting which is great, especially when you can tilt something in. More than once I've gone to pick something up to be met with "That's what you are going to put it in?" I smile and say "Yup." then proceed to fit whatever it is with room to spare. As far as sheet goods though there is a clip on either side in the back that along with the front seat tilt only allows about two or three inches of material height at 4'x8'. Rarely an issue but it does mean I can't go pick up 10 sheets of something.

[Martin Jodoin]

Do you Grand Caravan guys know if the Stow-N-Go seats were standard on the 2005 model or an option I'll have to search for?

As mentioned by other post, it was an option. I don't have Stow-N-Go seats but honestly, i can remove the 4 seats in less than 1 minute. I am hobbiest, i don't mind doing this once in a while.
I say if you get a good deal with Stow-N-Go seats for the same price go for it but i would not spend more money for this.

[ray hampton]

As an alternative, have you considered buying yourself a good used landscape trailer instead for hauling material? It's easier to load/unload, carries more, doesn't beat up the interior of your people-carrier, can carry other stuff like some top soil/mulch, insulation etc, or a load of junk to the dump ... This way, you can buy the vehicle you like provided they have some towing capacity which most vans do. I think my old Chrysler mini-van had a 3500 lb towing capacity with no need for alterations except installing a proper hitch.

This is a good idea except the rain or snow weather, if you haul material on a trailer will a tarp keep it dry

[Michael Kellough]

Doug, can you close the gate on plywood in your Honda Odyssey?

[Michael Kellough]

Grand Caravan guys, my wife is telling me the "Japanese" minivans are more reliable (even though they're all made here). Have you guys had an inordinate amount of problems with your Grand Caravans?

The average price of a 2004 Sienna is $7700 around here. I could get a 2008 Grand Caravan for the same amount. Any comments?

[Rick Thom]

This is a good idea except the rain or snow weather, if you haul material on a trailer will a tarp keep it dry
In a single word, yes. Tarp the goods not the trailer.

[Doug Ladendorf]

Doug, can you close the gate on plywood in your Honda Odyssey?

Yes. I can get two or three 3/4 sheets in there under the seat clips. At that point I need to go over them and can't quite fit another sheet and close the door.

Here is a recent pic I have on my phone with a full sheet of OSB (actually two and each are just under 1/2") I used when picking up a State B4 sander. I think you can make out the clip on the left.


262294

Edit: actually, looking again at the photo it's the front seat mounts that push the sheet back so the door won't close with more than about three. Shave a few inches off the length and you can fit more.

[Joseph Tarantino]

Grand Caravan guys, my wife is telling me the "Japanese" minivans are more reliable (even though they're all made here). Have you guys had an inordinate amount of problems with your Grand Caravans?

254,000 miles on a '96 plymouth grand voyager. 66K on the 2006 caravan i have now, which is my fourth chrysler minivan (2 plymouths and 2 dodges). i've put a total of 500,000 miles on those 4 vehicles and enjoyed every mile. BTW, they were all used cars, so i'm just counting the mileage i put on them. IMHE, i've only had to repair 2 head gaskets (at 100K mile intervals on the really high mileage plymouth) and that one also needed a new tranny @ 205K miles. many people have really bad luck with chrysler products. my experience (and when i was younger, you couldn't GIVE me a chrysler product) has been nothing but positive. several of my business vehicles are also chrysler products. proper routine maintenance pays off.

The average price of a 2004 Sienna is $7700 around here. I could get a 2008 Grand Caravan for the same amount. Any comments?

get the grand caravan and start laughing at all the SUV owners at your local BORG.

[mike holden]

Grand Caravan guys, my wife is telling me the "Japanese" minivans are more reliable (even though they're all made here). Have you guys had an inordinate amount of problems with your Grand Caravans?

The average price of a 2004 Sienna is $7700 around here. I could get a 2008 Grand Caravan for the same amount. Any comments?

Tell your wife to quit reading consumer reports, they are heavily biased toward foreign vehicles - although I trust them on most everything else.

[Mel Fulks]

I agree with Mike. In the seventies I sold cars for about three years. The Audi Fox had been given a good review by CR and was a strong seller. Most people tell salesmen how wonderful their trade in is. Everyone driving a Fox stepped out cursing the car and saying things like "I've had parts on order for this piece of junk for months". But we never had to say anything good about them to resell.They had all read about how wonderful they were in CR.

[Doug Ladendorf]

Tell your wife to quit reading consumer reports, they are heavily biased toward foreign vehicles - although I trust them on most everything else.

Or just telling it like it was? US manufacturers were not at the top of their game for a while there. Hard to argue with poor owner ratings from their survey results. I recently checked out CR recommendations on pickups and was happy to see the Chevy/GMC at the top of the list. Some of the overseas manufacturers are not getting the love they once were.

[Steve Hajewski]

We have a 2008 Honda Odyssey (wife's). It will fit 4x8 sheet goods with door closed, but it's so tight that there is no room to protect the sides of the van. You'll scuff it up bad. Also, the third row seatbelts are just thick enough to get wedged in there with the material. Other than that it's a great van. Very reliable and huge cargo area. Makes the cargo area of my 2012 Durango look puny.

I have a 4x8' yard trailer, light enough that i used to tow it with my old Nissan Maxima. If I'm getting anything messy or sheet goods, that's the way to do it. Plus, I rarely get to buy wood by myself - always one or two kids in tow. So I rarely have the opportunity to remove the middle seats.

One thing I'll point out about Chrysler's stow and go seats - they are REALLY uncomfortable to actually sit in due to being so thin.

Steve

[ray hampton]

In a single word, yes. Tarp the goods not the trailer.

if your tarp do not cover the goods plus the trailer sides then the rain could be blow under the tarp, if the wheels throw water then the trailer bottom may get wet

[Bob Potter]

I just bought a 2013 Chrysler Town and County and before I tried hauling any plywood I cut a 4ft long stick and put it in the back door opening to make sure a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood wood fit and there is a half an inch on each side to spare than I also checked the length and it was ok also.
This week I hauled three 4 x 8 sheets and some 8ft boards. The 8 ft boards were the random oak boards from Menards which can be as long as 103 inches so that did make it difficult to get the tail gate shut but I got them moved around and the tail gate closed.
When putting the seats down to stow them away I have to remember to side the center seats back before dumping them or the won't fit other wise the van works great for hauling limber.

Bob

[Phillip Gregory]

Thanks for all the input guys!

I do regret that fuel efficiency has to go down the list of priorities. As a one man custom WWing shop in an urban area, I need to deliver finished good as well as haul raw stock (and the family). A minivan is the best option for me. If we lived in a suburban or rural area I'd go for the small fuel efficient vehicle and trailer.

So, I'm now looking for a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. There are plenty around here so the price is a few thousand dollars less than a 2005 Toyota Sienna. That difference will cover a bunch of the repairs I expect the Dodge to need compared to the Toyota (according to Consumer Reports).

I'm looking forward to not having to remove seats. Do you Grand Caravan guys know if the Stow-N-Go seats were standard on the 2005 model or an option I'll have to search for?

I would suggest a full sized van like the plumbers use instead. You can get them in various lengths and the longer ones ("12-passenger length" or longer) can easily hold 4x8 sheets flat on the floor. You also get a flat metal load floor and a truck chassis rather than a floor that may not be flat, is covered with carpet, and unit-body midsize car mechanicals. You can also get these vans set up with seats to haul your family as well. I would recommend going this route or getting an extended or crew cab long-box pickup. The van will be a little easier to park than a 155"+ wheelbase pickup though.

Chrysler minivans in particular are pretty unreliable as their general quality is overall poor and their transmissions are particularly bad. Perhaps the more recent ones are somewhat better but the ones that used the four-speed overdrive were awful. The torque converter was designed to engage too early to modestly improve fuel mileage. It led to these units pretty predictably failing at 50-75,000 miles. My family had one in the 90s and we put two transmissions in it by 130,000 and so did all of the rest of the people we knew who had these vans.

[Michael Kellough]

We have a 2008 Honda Odyssey (wife's). It will fit 4x8 sheet goods with door closed, but it's so tight that there is no room to protect the sides of the van. You'll scuff it up bad. Also, the third row seatbelts are just thick enough to get wedged in there with the material. Other than that it's a great van. Very reliable and huge cargo area. Makes the cargo area of my 2012 Durango look puny.

I have a 4x8' yard trailer, light enough that i used to tow it with my old Nissan Maxima. If I'm getting anything messy or sheet goods, that's the way to do it. Plus, I rarely get to buy wood by myself - always one or two kids in tow. So I rarely have the opportunity to remove the middle seats.

One thing I'll point out about Chrysler's stow and go seats - they are REALLY uncomfortable to actually sit in due to being so thin.

Steve

That's the one place my old Windstar does well, it's 49" between the plastic wheel well covers. It is a jamb tight fit when loading MDF and Novaply, which are both usually 49" wide.

Anyone try to get that material into an Odyssey or Sienna?

[Roy Harding]

if your tarp do not cover the goods plus the trailer sides then the rain could be blow under the tarp, if the wheels throw water then the trailer bottom may get wet

I've been using a landscape trailer behind various vehicles for years. I live in the Great Bear RAIN Forest - so chances are good that it'll be raining or snowing on any given day. If you tarp your load properly (including having it raised on 2 X 4's, or pallets (in the case of finished goods), you won't have a problem.

That being said - I AM looking at either enclosing my current trailer, or purchasing an enclosed trailer. When you're only making one or two runs (either finished goods or raw lumber/sheet goods) a month, tarping is not a big deal - but I'm getting busier now, and the time spent tarping is becoming annoying.

Whatever I end up doing, I WILL be sticking with a trailer - it enables me to have the convenience (and fuel savings) of a smaller truck/car on a daily basis, while still being able to handle big loads on an occasional basis.

Everybody's circumstances are different, of course - but I couldn't let the tarping observation go un-answered.

[ray hampton]

I've been using a landscape trailer behind various vehicles for years. I live in the Great Bear RAIN Forest - so chances are good that it'll be raining or snowing on any given day. If you tarp your load properly (including having it raised on 2 X 4's, or pallets (in the case of finished goods), you won't have a problem.

That being said - I AM looking at either enclosing my current trailer, or purchasing an enclosed trailer. When you're only making one or two runs (either finished goods or raw lumber/sheet goods) a month, tarping is not a big deal - but I'm getting busier now, and the time spent tarping is becoming annoying.

Whatever I end up doing, I WILL be sticking with a trailer - it enables me to have the convenience (and fuel savings) of a smaller truck/car on a daily basis, while still being able to handle big loads on an occasional basis.

Everybody's circumstances are different, of course - but I couldn't let the tarping observation go un-answered.

thank you Roy
a box truck [ASKA enclosed truck ]are the best way to keep wood dry while driving

[Bill Geibe]

"Chrysler minivans in particular are pretty unreliable as their general quality is overall poor and their transmissions are particularly bad."

Ancient history. Since the late 90's, their transmissions have been fine. For that matter, I've had a '96, a '00 and currently a '01 (with 175K miles) and no transmission problems with any of them and I sometimes tow with the '01. I also disagree with the comment about general quality. Their features are excellent and the Chrysler V6's are bullet proof. Are they perfect? No. But they are darn nice vehicles.

Bill

[Joseph Tarantino]

"Chrysler minivans in particular are pretty unreliable as their general quality is overall poor and their transmissions are particularly bad."

Ancient history. Since the late 90's, their transmissions have been fine. For that matter, I've had a '96, a '00 and currently a '01 (with 175K miles) and no transmission problems with any of them and I sometimes tow with the '01. I also disagree with the comment about general quality. Their features are excellent and the Chrysler V6's are bullet proof. Are they perfect? No. But they are darn nice vehicles.



Bill

echo that sentiment here. 205K miles on a chrysler tranny before it quit. all i ever buy these days are pre-owned chrysler products.

[loren forney]

Put your $5K toward something you want to drive and rent a pickup from Home Depot to haul the freight. Less than $20 for 70 minutes. Cheaper than owning one!

[Don Bullock]

Our Chrysler minivan (2008) has both sets of rear seats that fold into the floor (second and third row). No problem with longer boards that will fit between the front seats either, you just have to remove the center console. I've done both plywood and 10 ft boards in the van. I think they are rated for something like 1500lbs but I'm not positive on that off the top of my head.

I agree. My 2004 Chrysler van takes full sheets of plywood with some room to spare. If I rest the end of a board on the dash I can almost get a 12 footer in. It's great for hauling almost anything. In addition to hauling wood my van hauls our basset hounds to dog shows many weekends. The fact that all the back seats fold flat into the floor has solved storing them in the garage or shop. For me that was the biggest reason to go with the Chrysler. Most other vans require removal and storage of the second row seats. If we have the need for one or two of the second row seats it takes just a couple of minutes to unfold them from the floor storage compartment.

[Dave Kirby]

I carry full sheets in our 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with lift gate down and no problems. Only takes a minute to put down the Stow-N-Go seats and the sheets slide right in and fit like a glove!