4x8 Sheets Fit These Vehicles...

[Derek Arita]

I'd like to start this thread, as many have asked this question on several forums. Can it be a sticky? Anyhow, I'm always on the lookout for vehicles that can fit a sheet of plywood, hatch down or tied down doesn't matter. I know my old Expedition fit sheet in with hatch down no prob. Also, my wife's old Nissan Xterra fit sheets in with hatch tied down, although I had to slip in a 6" high framework spacer under the sheets to get the weight off the wheel wells. Whenever I picked up sheets with the Xterra, workers were surprised that they just slipped right in.
Who's next...Don't want to hear trailer.

[Dan Hintz]

Been looking at the Honda Ridgeline (for the wife :D )... I know a sheet lies flat in the bed with the tail down.

[Greg R Bradley]

Been looking at the Honda Ridgeline (for the wife :D )... I know a sheet lies flat in the bed with the tail down.

I received the first of the highest trim models delivered so have had mine for over 9 years. It has had 1000 pounds of 4x8 sheet goods in it numerous times. It is definitely loaded with that much weight that far back. The dual opening tailgate makes it easy to get a pallet loaded at the front of the bed.

The rear seats flip up completely giving you a flat rear floor for inside storage. I can't understand why the American designers are so clueless on that.

In many ways it is far, far superior to the traditional pickups. It drives much nicer. Not as good if you want to haul big loads or pull a large trailer. It is sized for a tall person. Rear vision is poor. I would get a back up camera and I normally backup using only my mirrors. There are strange air currents in the bed. Lots of things will blow out or around the bed that stay put in a normal pickup. A 5 seater pickup that holds sheetgood and fits inside a garage!

[Ernie Miller]

Get a minivan. Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Caravan with stow-n-go seats. Wouldn't be without mine.

[Charles Wiggins]

I'd like to start this thread, as many have asked this question on several forums. Can it be a sticky? Anyhow, I'm always on the lookout for vehicles that can fit a sheet of plywood, hatch down or tied down doesn't matter. I know my old Expedition fit sheet in with hatch down no prob. Also, my wife's old Nissan Xterra fit sheets in with hatch tied down, although I had to slip in a 6" high framework spacer under the sheets to get the weight off the wheel wells. Whenever I picked up sheets with the Xterra, workers were surprised that they just slipped right in.
Who's next...Don't want to hear trailer.

Are you excluding pickup trucks, too?
My '05 Silverado long bed will accommodate 4' x 8' sheets flat between the wheel wells with the tailgate closed, plus it has notches in the bed walls to accept two-bys to create a rack just above the wheel wells for larger stock like drywall.

[Matt Schenk]

Any full sized pickup will fit 4x8s between the wheel wells, whether they'll fit length wise with the tailgate up depends on bed length.
AFAIK all full sized vans, including the new "Euro" vans (RAM Promaster, Ford Transit, Dodge Sprinter) will easily hold 4x8 sheets.



The rear seats flip up completely giving you a flat rear floor for inside storage. I can't understand why the American designers are so clueless on that.

You must not have looked at an F150 in a while, they've had fully flat floors with seats that fold up with one hand for many years.

[Matt Meiser]

F150 6.5' bed fully supports a sheet flat on the floor with the tailgate down and has tie downs that make it easy to run a strap over and under to hold them in place. And yes, flat floors and flip up seats in the back. Crew Cab has a cavernous back seat area--could put a small table back there--no joke. Supercab isn't bad either.

[Derek Arita]

Trucks are fine, although I assume most would handle sheet goods just fine. Maybe I and people like me want to have their cake and eat it too. Optimally, another choice besides the Xterra, in a smaller SUV would be nice. I hear the Honda Pilot, like the Ridgeline, can do it as well.

[Peter Quinn]

Chevy Express 1500.....definetely takes 4x8 sheets, but I guess that's no surprise. Problem is mine is a cargo van with only one passenger seat, so it's better at moving wood than people. Wish I had ordered it with one removable bench seat at the time. If delivery is an option that beats beating up your passenger vehicle, probably not an option for everyone though.

[George Bokros]

The Ford Ranger will fit 4X8 sheets with 2X4's in the side pockets and the 4X8 sheets will lie flat on those 2X4's with the tailgate down, even the short 6" bed.

George

[Shane Copps]

When I first read the OP I was thinking pickup too- I have a F350 that fit's a whole bunch of sheet goods with the tailgate closed. I do have to flip the 5th wheel hitch over when I get those though.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

The Ford Edge and the 2012 and earlier Ford Escape will take a 4x8 sheet on the diagonal. I don't know about the new style models.

Cliff

[Lee Schierer]

I can fit a 4 x 8 sheet in my 2012 Honda Pilot with the tail gate tied down and about 16-18" hanging out. It will lay flat, but it is a close fit.

[johnny means]

If it can't fit a 4x8 in the bed with the tailgate up, it ain't a truck.:)

[Derek Arita]

I can fit a 4 x 8 sheet in my 2012 Honda Pilot with the tail gate tied down and about 16-18" hanging out. It will lay flat, but it is a close fit.
Tailgate tied is no prob. Main thing is that it will slide and out ok.

[Tom Majewski]

What a great thread. The car dealers thought i was nuts for bringing my own plywood test piece.

For the record- 4x8 fits in my 2013 Kia Sorento with 2 feet sticking out the back and tailgate roped shut. it won't lie flat- it must be in the middle widest part of the hatch about 10" above the floor, but it makes the 10 mile trip from the big orange in one piece.

[Stan Krupowies]

I know this is supposed to be vehicles that will fit a piece, but I can tell you that a GMC Terrain absolutely will NOT fit a 4' wide piece much less 8' long. The first time I needed plywood from the BORG I asked them to cut it in half thinking that a 4x4 piece would fit. NOT A CHANCE! I had to stand it up in front of the back seat and even then it was very tough to get in.

So bottom line - if you need to carry 4'x8' sheets, DON'T get a GMC Terrain!!

[Ruhi Arslan]

Been looking at the Honda Ridgeline (for the wife :D )... I know a sheet lies flat in the bed with the tail down.

Leaves room to spare on both sides. More than half of the weight will be behind the rear axle.


You must not have looked at an F150 in a while, they've had fully flat floors with seats that fold up with one hand for many years.
On some trim models, depending on the options you'd choose, there is a large sub-woofer on the floor which defeats the flat floor concept. Also, seats protrude too far forward compared to Ridgeline seats when folded up. I had both RidgeLine and F150, so my opinion is based on my observations.

[Steve Peterson]

I'd like to start this thread, as many have asked this question on several forums. Can it be a sticky? Anyhow, I'm always on the lookout for vehicles that can fit a sheet of plywood, hatch down or tied down doesn't matter. I know my old Expedition fit sheet in with hatch down no prob. Also, my wife's old Nissan Xterra fit sheets in with hatch tied down, although I had to slip in a 6" high framework spacer under the sheets to get the weight off the wheel wells. Whenever I picked up sheets with the Xterra, workers were surprised that they just slipped right in.
Who's next...Don't want to hear trailer.

Full sheets fit in a 1975 Pinto station wagon using the same solution to get above the wheel wells. They stick out the back about 18", so you need to tie the hatch down.

Steve

[Tom M King]

No problem in a Chev 3500. With long forks, they can sit a whole bundle right in.

[Rich Engelhardt]

You can fit about 4 sheets of 4x8 by 3/4" thick in the back of a Toyota Sienna (2004 to 2010) and close the back hatch.

The front seat brackets may interfere if you try to stack more.

The middle seats have to be removed. It's a pain in the backside to remove and reinstall the seats. They are fairly heavy and awkward.

[Mac McQuinn]

I have a 09 Tacoma Base 2WD pick-up which handles a stack of ply with a pair of varnished 2x6's in the bed notches with the tailgate down. These trucks have a pair of tool compartments inside the box where I keep clamps to secure the ply to the 2x6's at the corners. I've found this to be a easy way to transport ply @ 25 mpg.
Mac

[John Downey]

I used to pack several full sheets in my 1970 Jeep Wagoneer. Fold the back seat up, roll the back window down, worked great. Another one of those trucks I never should have parted with :D

I can also carry 9' hardwood boards in my 2002 Saturn - No passenger seat, since I rarely if ever have passengers. I always get a chuckle at the feed store too, stuffing a bale of hay in that little car :D

[Floyd Mah]

For those of us who aren't planning to buy a new truck or van in the near future, here's an alternative method to carrying 4 x 8 goods. A few years ago, I showed up at the local hardware place and wanted to buy a 4 x 8 sheet of hardboard. The salesman said, sure, here's how to carry it. I have a Mazda MPV, a small van which had an interior space just a bit more than 8 feet, but including the driver's area). He had me sit in the car and pushed the board in until I was sitting under it (it spanned the distance between the rear door and the sun visors. It was not the best solution and you couldn't be very tall at the same time. Also with a heavier material, a speed bump could give you a whack on the head. Lifting the head rest up made it so that I wasn't balancing the board on my head.

Anyway, I went through the above narrative so that I could describe my better solution. I built a small wooden frame at first that used the headrest posts to position it. It spanned the two front seats and held a piece of wood that could support two 2x3's which ran from the front to back. The rear end of the 2x3's were held in another frame. I could place 4x8 material on the 2x3's. The front end of the 4x8 sheets just fit under the sun visors, the rear frame kept the sheet from resting on the rear door. I sat under the 4x8 sheet, but did not have to bump into it, since the 2x3's held it up above my head.

I re-made the front support using two small welded frames, one for each side, which were more compact and that I could leave in place on the headrest posts. They also permitted better visibility when I wasn't carrying anything. The 2x3's were made so that they could fold up, both in the middle so that I could stow them easily, and at the front, so that when they were in place, I could flip them out of the driver's area.

In any case, I could carry 4x8 sheets without having to buy a new vehicle. Hope this information is useful to someone else.

[Jim Matthews]

I could carry five full 3/4" thick sheets of 4x8 plywood in my 2003 Honda Odyssey.

More than that, and there were collisions with the rear stow and go seat brackets,
or the front seat mounts. This required the middle seats to be removed.

If ever I needed more material than this, I paid the delivery fee.
That proved to be considerably less money than a full size Pickup truck.

[Ole Anderson]

I can get 7 feet of a 4'x8' sheet flat on the floor of my GMC Acadia (carried 8 sheets of 3/4" ply once), but the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave, built on the same GM platform has a different hatch configuration that is too narrow. Both my previous Safari van and the Acadia are designed for a 48 1/2" floor width, 49" would require a slightly diagonal loading with one side supported 6" off the floor.

[Mike Cozad]

If it can't fit a 4x8 in the bed with the tailgate up, it ain't a truck.:)

I have to agree!

But there was a time when I was truck poor. I did have a Chevy Astro EXT. Could pull the middle and back seats out and load 4X8 shhets until the rear suspension cried. Had a weird single bow fiberglass spring. It looked like a plasti-dipped leaf spring until I really got to looking at it one day. After that I was careful not to overload it...

[Jim Andrew]

When I need to haul just a few sheets, I drive my shortbed ranger, and just let them rest on the top edge of the tailgate, and run a strap over the top. If I need a stack of sheets, drive my silverado 2500hd. The silverado allows you to put the sheets all the way in and shut the tailgate.

[Matt Day]

Great thread! I'll be buying a new SUV in the next couple years and it would be nice to be able to fit sheet goods.

It would be great if people could state 48x96 or 49"x97" (mdf).

[Bob Potter]

I have a Chrysler Town and Country mini van. I flip the second and third row seat into the floor and than there is enough room for a full 4 by 8 sheet with the tailgate closed.
Since I don't have a truck any more this works great and keeps my wood dry.

Bob

[Mike Heidrick]

2006 Nissan Titan King Cab - Has the bed extender so tailgate is down and the flip out extender holds sheet goods falt perfectly. Extender straps down into tailgate latches so there is no need to strap down sheet goods as it fully encloses them (at least I do not for less than 20 mile trips). MDF and plywood - 49/48X97/96 - is zero issue.

My next task is 2X extenders to haul a 16' wire fence section for a trellis. Plan to use the factory in bed rail system for that setup. Rails are also in the walls of the bed as well.

[Bob Michaels]

My solution is simply a 5' x 9' utility trailer. Carries anything I need without crapping up my new SUV. Paid about $1,000 for it new 7 years ago.

[Dale Murray]

I'm really glad this thread came up. I am looking for a new to me vehicle to haul things around, as a new home owner I have a lot of projects I need to work on. I really like my vw passat wagon, I can get about 14 2x4x8' boards in it with everything closed up, however, I cannot get anything 48" wide into it. I heard the old 1996 Roadmaster wagons could get 4x8 sheets in them with the gate closed. Essentially a low suburban.

[John Sanford]

Nissan Maxima.

3 4x8 sheets of 3/4" ply.

Ford Escort Wagon
Ditto.

Another time with the Maxima:

5 5x5 sheets of 12mm Baltic Birch

You can carry a LOT of wood with a Yakima roof rack.

Seriously, let's hear how toting Baltic Birch has worked out also. That extra foot of width puts it on top of the wheel wells in a full sized pickup, and puts it catywompus in a Ford Ranger. Still doable, but that's only because it can stick up over the side. Sticking up over the side is unlikely to work with an SUV, Crossover or Minivan.

[Charles Wiggins]

If it can't fit a 4x8 in the bed with the tailgate up, it ain't a truck.:)

I realize you're poking fun, but I might argue with that assertion anyway. I had an S-10 for 20 years, and I did everything with that truck that I do with my Silverado, it just took more trips or more careful planning.

[Myk Rian]

Ford Ranger PU no longer made since 2012.
Mine will fit 4x8 sheets over the wheel wells with the tailgate down.

[Dale Murray]

You can carry a LOT of wood with a Yakima roof rack.


True.
For the past few weeks I have been looking at trucks and I just do not like how expensive they are. I am now considering crossbars for our Passat Wagon for hauling sheet goods. A set of Yakima or Saris crossbars are significantly cheaper than a truck. Also, at most, I would use a truck once or twice a month to haul more than what would fit in our wagon.

[Jim Tobias]

My old '98 GMC Suburban holds 4 x 8 sheets (and a lot more) which is why I can't let it go.

Jim

[John Downey]

Seriously, let's hear how toting Baltic Birch has worked out also. That extra foot of width puts it on top of the wheel wells in a full sized pickup, and puts it catywompus in a Ford Ranger. Still doable, but that's only because it can stick up over the side. Sticking up over the side is unlikely to work with an SUV, Crossover or Minivan.

I usually lay the sheets flat on the two sides of the bed at the front (87 Toyota pickup) and strap it down tight with ratchet straps. If you do the catywompus thing in a small truck it limits what else you can carry.

Keeps the other stuff from the trip to town dry too, in the rare event of rain on the trip home :D

I do something similar in that truck with 4x8 sheets - put a bar across the back of the bed and strap the plywood down on that bar - then you can still open the tailgate and stick a bunch of stuff in the bed. We live a couple hours from the city, so we tend to want to make the most of a trip to town.

[John Sanford]

True.
For the past few weeks I have been looking at trucks and I just do not like how expensive they are. I am now considering crossbars for our Passat Wagon for hauling sheet goods. A set of Yakima or Saris crossbars are significantly cheaper than a truck. Also, at most, I would use a truck once or twice a month to haul more than what would fit in our wagon.

A Passat wagon will do the trick quite nicely. If it weren't for the self-imposed requirement to be able to haul motorcycles and such, I very well may have forgone an F150 for something more comfortable and cheaper to run, even if it does make hauling lumber less convenient. This sticking point is I just don't think putting a 730lb motorcycle on a roof rack is going to work out well....

[Tom Ruflin]

I can fit 4 x 8 sheet goods (on an angle) into my Honda Element with the rear seats folded up (or removed). Unfortunately Honda stopped making the element in 2011.

[Daniel Smith]

A Toyota Sequoia is wide enough for a 4' sheet to lay flat, but it is 6" - 8" too short for the rear gate to close with a full sheet. For non-sheet goods, the front passenger seat will move far enough forward to fit 8' boards without an issue.

[Len Henkel]

If you got plenty of money the Chevrolet Avalanche give you the best of all worlds. I could never understand why other manufacturers didn't copy this.

[Derek Arita]

Thanks for some great replies. I'm thinking a 4cyl 4 door Tacoma might be a good option. Lots of room and good gas mileage.

[Mike Heidrick]

If you got plenty of money the Chevrolet Avalanche give you the best of all worlds. I could never understand why other manufacturers didn't copy this.

And now no longer made even by GM correct? The later models looked very sexy to me too. Cadillac nice on the LTZ all black ones fully decked out. Big money.

[Jack Jackson]

Chevy Avalanche will fit full sheets with the mod gate down and the tail gate closed and all weather tight...

[Len Henkel]

And now no longer made even by GM correct? The later models looked very sexy to me too. Cadillac nice on the LTZ all black ones fully decked out. Big money.

Yup, I think 2014 was the last year. It's a shame. I wish they would make a scaled down version. I liked the room but sure didn't need all the bells and whistles. The LTZ at about 70K is just plain crazy. I had my 2003 for about 8 years. Hauled everything from dirt, gravel, plywood and building material and 5 people could travel in comfort. But, at 12 mpg it hurt at gas pump.

[Ellen Benkin]

I had an older Subaru Outback and could get a 4 x 8 sheet in the back sliding it over the backseat backrests. The newer Subarus are bigger so I would assume they could carry one more easily.

[Gerald Wervey]

2002 Chevy Venture will fit several sheets of plywood with the rear hatch closed. Seats need to come forward a bit but for a short trip it's okay. Any thing more than that out comes the trailer.

Jerry

[Garth Almgren]

A 4x8 sheet will not fit in a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe. The width is just right, but the length with the seats down is about 2 feet too short - had to tie the tailgate down. Next time I'll be (carefully and securely) strapping it to the roof rack instead. 8' 2-by boards fits fine on a diagonal.

I really need to get a utility trailer...

[Phil Stone]

I had an older Subaru Outback and could get a 4 x 8 sheet in the back sliding it over the backseat backrests. The newer Subarus are bigger so I would assume they could carry one more easily.

Huh. I have a '99 Outback and couldn't fit a 4' by 4' sheet in there, not even canted diagonally.

[Bob Glenn]

The new RAM ProMaster will easily handle a 4 by 8 sheet between the wheel wells and you can close the rear doors even with the short wheel base model. My Astro cargo van would handle a full sheet between the wheel wells, however about two feet would hang out the rear.

[Derek Arita]

Just got a Honda Pilot. 48 1/2" between the wells. Beauty! That was one of selling points back when Pilots first came out. Anyways, couldn't be happier with the car. Thanks for the help.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Bump.....
Any others?

[Dave Kirby]

Get a minivan. Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Caravan with stow-n-go seats. Wouldn't be without mine.

^^^THIS +1^^^ With the seats 'stowed' Full sheets of ply will lay flat on the floor with the back hatch closed normally. Only problem is that you lose all but one passenger seat. This is where a pickup might have the advantage. But a Minivan (at least a 2006 to present model, in my experience) hauls them quite nicely!

[Derek Arita]

For me in. NorCal, it's not so important to be able to close the rear door. As long as I can slide them in, I can tie the door down for transport.
I think the Pilot was a perfect solution for me. It's short enough to fit in my garage easily, is comfortably wide, but not too wide. Gas mileage is only fair, but better than my Expedition. Too bad Nissan narrowed the rear of the Xterra. That was my first choice, however the tape measure quickly eliminated it.

[John Goodin]

When I bought a Honda Pilot in 2003 they were advertising that it would fit a 4x6 sheet of plywood between the wheel wells. A good line if the customer does know about plywood sizing. Anyway, it had the most storage of any Standard SUV I've seen. I traded it for a Highlander Hybrid which is a good bit smaller but I usually have sheet goods broken down into two pieces at the yard. This helps with transport and handling in the shop.

[Bill Geibe]

As touched on previously, the Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler minivans will hold 4X8 sheets IF they are the long wheelbase (Grand) models. When Chrysler first designed these for the '84 model year, that was a a design requirement. The short wheelbase versions also have 4' between the wheel wells but you'll have to tie the lift gate down as the sheets will stick out about a foot. 2008 and up are all longer wheelbase.

I have a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan and when I put 4X8 sheets on the floor with all the rear seats out, they hit the back of the center console and won't slide in far enough to let the lift gate close. To fix this glitch, all I have to do is pull a lever inside the console which releases it from the floor. Then I can push it forward a few inches and everything fits.

[Dave Cullen]

1964 Ford Country Squire station wagon... my uncle had one.

[Jim Becker]

Honestly, a great alternative is a simple utility trailer...even a "fold up" one would suffice. I use a 5'x8" utility trailer for acquiring material if I'm not having it delivered. (Industrial Plywood delivers, but if I purchase from local concerns I have to transport) And $500-1000 for a utility trailer is pretty reasonable as compared to buying a new vehicle if that wasn't already a planned purchase. ;)

[Mike Olson]

My lumber store charges $45 for a delivery, no matter the size. I can get a LOT of deliveries for the cost of a trailer+hitch. I know most people want to be able to get things themselves but to pay for the Gas for a large vehicle every day just so you can pick up some large items every so often just doesn't make sense to me.
I drive a Honda Fit and can get 8' long lumber home with the hatch shut. when I need to use sheet goods, I fork out the $45 and get a couple extra sheets to keep around for other projects.

[Chris Padilla]

I have a 09 Tacoma Base 2WD pick-up which handles a stack of ply with a pair of varnished 2x6's in the bed notches with the tailgate down. These trucks have a pair of tool compartments inside the box where I keep clamps to secure the ply to the 2x6's at the corners. I've found this to be a easy way to transport ply @ 25 mpg.
Mac

Yep...ditto for my '06 Tacoma. Couple of 2x6s (mine are very greyed pieces of redwood) and some rope and the very nice tie-downs and you're good to go.

Incidentally, any E39 BMW 5-series (1997-2003) WITH FOLD DOWN REAR SEAT, can handle quite a few 2x4s and 2x6s at 8' and maybe even 10' long but they will be sitting on the dash a little bit so have a towel handy. However, it won't handle a 4x8 sheet of plywood at all except on the roof I suppose. ;)

[Jim German]

My lumber store charges $45 for a delivery, no matter the size. I can get a LOT of deliveries for the cost of a trailer+hitch. I know most people want to be able to get things themselves but to pay for the Gas for a large vehicle every day just so you can pick up some large items every so often just doesn't make sense to me.
I drive a Honda Fit and can get 8' long lumber home with the hatch shut. when I need to use sheet goods, I fork out the $45 and get a couple extra sheets to keep around for other projects.

I've made this argument before, and thats why I don't have a truck (or van), however it hasn't really worked for me. While in practice its easy to get a delivery, or rent a truck, I always run into issues with delivery times, or rentals being avalible. Not to mention how convient it would be to just run out and grab a sheet rather than having to wait till I have a big project and buying a bunch at a time. I've also ended up using far more expensive sheet goods than what I really needed just because it was what I had.

[Mike Olson]

I've made this argument before, and thats why I don't have a truck (or van), however it hasn't really worked for me. While in practice its easy to get a delivery, or rent a truck, I always run into issues with delivery times, or rentals being avalible. Not to mention how convient it would be to just run out and grab a sheet rather than having to wait till I have a big project and buying a bunch at a time. I've also ended up using far more expensive sheet goods than what I really needed just because it was what I had.

Yes, that is all true. plus, I used to pick up any old real wood furniture i'd see on garbage day, and bring home pallets when I had a truck. I do really miss that, but it's all about how much is your convenience worth in $

[Doug Richardson]

I'm able to fit both 4' x 8' and melamine panels in my extended Ford Econoline van..... OK, I'll go away now.....:p

[Jason Roehl]

^^^THIS +1^^^ With the seats 'stowed' Full sheets of ply will lay flat on the floor with the back hatch closed normally. Only problem is that you lose all but one passenger seat. This is where a pickup might have the advantage. But a Minivan (at least a 2006 to present model, in my experience) hauls them quite nicely!

Make that '05+...

[daniel lane]

I know the vehicle's been mentioned already, but I love my Ridgeline. 49" between wheel wells, and 1500lb bed capacity. Plus, a really handy trunk that holds tie downs, snow chains, and apparently even a cooler full of fish on ice (http://vimeo.com/11768053). I've a hard tonneau cover that I use to hold down long dimensional lumber, I just let it (the lumber) rest on the tailgate and put the tonneau down on it - nothing slides anywhere. Only issue I have is that it's a bear to handle uncut BB ply because the bed walls slope downward to the back bumper. Even if you can find a way to hold it down, it will still be angled such that it poses a hindrance to safe driving (on the highway, at least). So...only BB I've bought has been cut down to fit before leaving the supplier.

I also love my Ridgeline because of its safety features. My first one was totalled when a guy on his cell phone behind me didn't notice that traffic was at a dead stop and plowed into me doing 60. Although I had some respiratory issues from the airbag residue (when he pushed me into the car in front of me, the airbag deployed), I walked away from that accident. I didn't even consider another type of vehicle when I replaced it.


daniel

[Bill Geibe]

To get back to the 5X8 trailer idea: I have a nice one with 15" wheels and a 2990 lb GVWR. Aside from hauling lumber and furniture, it's great for stuff I don't want in my van like mulch, topsoil, brush, etc.

However, with wooden sides installed on the steel frame, it reduced the 8' length on the inside enough that the ramp-type tailgate wouldn't close with 4X8 plywood in it. They should make these things a couple inches longer!

Anyway, I solved the problem by welding a new tailgate out of 1-1/2" angle iron, positioned to give some additional bed length. All is good.

[David Bassett]

Sorry, I know this is an older thread but it has a lot of good information and I hope we can update it with any newer options.

My wife & I are need a new 2nd car and being able to carry larger materials is on our wishlist. Other wishes are decent economy, ease of driving, and hopefully not too pricey. We will seldom, if ever, need more than two seats. So, what can haul 4x8' & 5x5' sheets and long boards and is cheaper, easier to drive, and more economical than a full-sized truck?

Three vehicles have attracted my attention so far, but none of them seem perfect:

Nissan NV200 -- cheap'ish, economical, and reasonably compact. But it doesn't look like it will actually hold 4x8' sheets.

Mercedes Metris ("mid-sized") Van -- spec'd to carry 4x4x8' pallets, reasonably economical, and supposed to small enough to fit in normal spaces. But it is pricey and so scarce I've never seen one.

Honda Ridgeline 2017 -- a review in our local paper loved the 2017 redesign. It has decent economy numbers, can hold 4x8' sheets, will accept a truck rack for longer lumber, and has passenger space with a folding seat allowing 3 extra passengers or a locked storage space. But it is very pricey.

Any first hand experience with any of these? Any other options that might be closer to "perfect" for us? Thanks!

[Derek Arita]

I'll just renew what I said earlier and that's, my 2011 Honda Pilot will hold a 4x8 sheet with hatch tied down. I have an aftermarket rack on the Honda rails, to hold 2 or 3, 5x5 sheets of ply...keeping in mind that those sheets are well tied down and I drive slowly.

[Cliff Polubinsky]

Funny you should mention the 2017 Ridgeline. They just dropped one off in my driveway an hour ago.

I had 2011 Ridgeline and really liked the truck. Only thing I wasn't enamored with was the gas mileage which is why I traded it in on the 2017. I drove an F150 a couple weeks ago and didn't like the ride (drove like a truck) and was just too big. I need something to haul lumber and occasionally sheet goods and the Ridgeline does that well. A joy to drive and still hauls what I need.

I've previously had Ford Escapes (older style) and an Edge. Great cars and can haul a sheet of plywood. But the Ridgeline gives a freedom that's nice. I can haul anything I need without a second thought and enjoy driving it any time.

Cliff

[Greg Parrish]

If it can't fit a 4x8 in the bed with the tailgate up, it ain't a truck.:)
If I take out the 5th wheel hitch mine could carry a couple tons of 4x8 but I'd have to have the tailgate open as my F350 is a short bed. 😁

[Peter Kuhlman]

Have to jump on the train!
My 07 Ridgeline has been great for hauling stuff. No need to have cross boards or a rack to haul breakable stuff like drywall as has no wheel wells so has a flat floor that is 49" wide. I commonly haul 14-16 foot trim and boards by running them through the back window. I use the wife to hold the stuff from moving while I drive. :)

I need to check out the new Pilot and Odyssey to see what they can haul with the hatch closed.

[Chris Padilla]

Cliff, please comment on the touch-screen. I read where the volume control is annoying to adjust and that the steering controls are preferred for such things. Cargo and capacity looks impressive and it could be my next 'truck'. :)

[Mike Olson]

If you can get over the whole Mini-Van thing they are great for hauling 4x8 sheets and lumber.
It's a comfortable ride and gets about 20mpg around town.

I have a 2014 Chrysler minivan "former rental for just under $20k" and love it. I should have gone down this road years ago but it took me a while to get over the whole mini-van thing.

I have had plenty of Pickup trucks through the years but never liked the open bed in the rain and snow, or the ride.

[Chris Padilla]

Mike, I'm not sure I can handle seeing a minivan parked in my driveway!! LOL!!

[Matt Day]

2 years ago I posted I'd be buying a new car in a couple years and I don't plan on a new car anytime soon.

Here's my line of thinking (though this is still a great and informative thread): limiting your buying choices to only those that can fit sheet goods doesn't seem practical when most hobbiest use that feature what, 1% or less of the time? Think about what the car will be used for most of the time or even some of the time and go for that type of vehicle.

For those very rare times you need sheet goods, go the delivery route or, as i did, go the trailer route. I bought a foldable 4x8 HF trailer that i store behind my house and probably have $500 into it after licensing and a plywood deck and rails. I've used it numerous times in the few months I've had it. Mulch, plywood, 8' tables, a 12" jointer, and I've delivered a few things we've sold (kid toy house, a closet organizer cabinet).

I strapped things to the roof for a while and wasn't happy with it; a bit sketchy.

[David Bassett]

If you can get over the whole Mini-Van thing they are great for hauling 4x8 sheets and lumber.
It's a comfortable ride and gets about 20mpg around town.

I have a 2014 Chrysler minivan "former rental for just under $20k" and love it. I should have gone down this road years ago but it took me a while to get over the whole mini-van thing....

Reviews & specs suggested to me most mini-vans have been "prettied-up" and newer models don't carry sheet goods well anymore. Sounds like, (your comment & one other review,) Chrysler might be an exception. Unfortunately we had bad luck* with a Chrysler mini-van and swore "never again."

* 3 transmissions in the 7 year / 70K miles warranty period. (Plus, I swear, it had a pregnancy sensor and broke down more often when my wife was visibly pregnant.)

[David Bassett]

... Here's my line of thinking (though this is still a great and informative thread): limiting your buying choices to only those that can fit sheet goods doesn't seem practical when most hobbiest use that feature what, 1% or less of the time? Think about what the car will be used for most of the time or even some of the time and go for that type of vehicle.

Second vehicle. For us that means when the first vehicle isn't available or to do the stuff the sedan can't. Except for hauling, I'd probably be looking for a nice used Yaris (we know a guy that's been good to us at the local Toyota dealer.)


For those very rare times you need sheet goods, go the delivery route or, as i did, go the trailer route. I bought a foldable 4x8 HF trailer that i store behind my house and probably have $500 into it after licensing and a plywood deck and rails. I've used it numerous times in the few months I've had it. Mulch, plywood, 8' tables, a 12" jointer, and I've delivered a few things we've sold (kid toy house, a closet organizer cabinet).

I strapped things to the roof for a while and wasn't happy with it; a bit sketchy.

I can see delivery, rental, or trailer being ideal in a lot of situations for a lot of people. However, my wife & I dislike those options for the way we'd use the vehicle. I want to be able to (safely) grab that extra sheet of plywood when I need it and to stop at Home Depot to cherry-pick their racks on the way to the market. Hence economical and easy to drive. (My wife is more interested in picking up a pallet of mulch / tan bark once instead of a couple bags everyday for a week, but she's on board too.)

We may not find anything that suits since we clearly aren't one of the common usage models, but I'm still hoping.

[Mike Olson]

Suck it up and get a mini-van.

Here is a shot of me on a Plywood run, and look... I stopped and garbage picked an air cleaner on the way home because I could... Since it's enclosed I don't have to wait for a nice day to get the ply either since it's not open to the rain and snow.

342565

[Rod Sheridan]

This sticking point is I just don't think putting a 730lb motorcycle on a roof rack is going to work out well....

That's because you bought a 730 pound motorcycle........................Rod.

[Steve Milito]

If it can't fit a 4x8 in the bed with the tailgate up, it ain't a truck.:)

I recently bought a new P/U and considered every option. Every nicely configured P/U required a crew cab package. A P/U with a crew cab and an 8' bed is huge. I needed to pull though parking spaces with my old F150 with a 6 1/2' bed and crew cab. Additionally, I wouldn't be able to garage a P/U with crew cab and 8' bed. Alternatively, I could either get a no frills standard cab and 8' bed or a fully equipped cab with a 6 1/2' bed. Thus, the trade off is being inconvenienced every time you are in the cab or having to leave the gate open and tying down sheet goods. I opted for the fully equipped cab.
I guess my 2500 series diesel P/U isn't a real truck. Darn.

[Peter Kelly]

http://i.imgur.com/6CF5ZBW.jpg

[Matt Meiser]

Bet that's fun with a good crosswind!

[mark mcfarlane]

Funny you should mention the 2017 Ridgeline. They just dropped one off in my driveway an hour ago. ....

Cliff

+1. I'm still waiting (almost 3 months) for the factory to ship my new Ridgeline. Been a Honda fan for years. It's awesome to do nothing but change the oil and tires for 100,000+ miles.

[David Bassett]

Suck it up and get a mini-van....

But which mini-van? Reviews suggest both newer Odyssey and Siena have choke points of 47" or less. Certainly they have pretty interiors that take care to not mar. Plus, it's been reported, that none take the oversize 4x8' sheets at 49" or 50" wide. (Chrysler may be on the list, but as I said above really really bad experiences.) Plus that says nothing of the 5x5' sheets baltic birch plywood comes in.


....

I'm *NOT* that dedicated to economy! :-)

[David Bassett]

+1. I'm still waiting (almost 3 months) for the factory to ship my new Ridgeline. Been a Honda fan for years. It's awesome to do nothing but change the oil and tires for 100,000+ miles.

Great. Expensive, open to the weather, *AND* unavailable! (Otherwise it sounds close to perfect.)

[mark mcfarlane]

Great. Expensive, open to the weather, *AND* unavailable! (Otherwise it sounds close to perfect.)

:), they are a tad expensive at the higher trim levels. For an extra $1K you can get a hard cover to circumvent the weather, plus the rear seats fold up and there is actually a fairly large secure trunk. The first ones hit showrooms in June. I read somewhere that Honda is apparently only building 45K units the first year, my dealer was slated for 7 and they are selling before they arrive and I wanted specific features, so the wait.

The new Ridgeline was designed for the person who wants a semi-luxury car-like ride and occasionally wants to haul some crap, which describes me. Plus, it is the only pickup truck that will let me lay down a 4*8 sheet and will (barely) fit in my garage. Some of the new home builders should be shot for building tiny garages.

[Phil Stone]

http://i.imgur.com/6CF5ZBW.jpg


I've been thinking about a bike trailer capable of carrying 8 footers (not necessarily plywood) for quite a while. Thanks for the inspiration! Would you happen to know the source?

[Eric Stefl]

My '16 Odyssey will fit 4x8 sheets. Its tight, but they go in, and the hatch closes all the way.

[Thomas Pratt]

I am reminded of the time I had a 4'X8' sheet plywood in the back of my full sized F150 with the tail gate down. I stopped at a red light and was at the head of the line, but I was in the wrong lane. When the light changed I tried to out drag the one on my left so I could change lanes. Guess what. It was sort of uphill and the plywood slid out into the road...........

[Patrick Curry]

This is a great thread to keep in mind when making new friends. My one buddy with a truck has tired of me

[Chris Padilla]

:), they are a tad expensive at the higher trim levels. For an extra $1K you can get a hard cover to circumvent the weather, plus the rear seats fold up and there is actually a fairly large secure trunk. The first ones hit showrooms in June. I read somewhere that Honda is apparently only building 45K units the first year, my dealer was slated for 7 and they are selling before they arrive and I wanted specific features, so the wait.

The new Ridgeline was designed for the person who wants a semi-luxury car-like ride and occasionally wants to haul some crap, which describes me. Plus, it is the only pickup truck that will let me lay down a 4*8 sheet and will (barely) fit in my garage. Some of the new home builders should be shot for building tiny garages.

I've started looking at them and pointed one out to my wife last night while we were heading to get the kid from volleyball practice. They look bigger than I thought they would--even a bit wide with a bulldog-like, wide shoulder stance similar to a Hummer. I liked it. But....next summer is a new car...the following summer is likely a car for the kid so she can drive her herself to sports practices...so by summer 2019 I can probably get the okay from wifey for a new "truck". However, they are bit spendy in some of the nicer trim packages and not a whole lot of selection IMO for what one is spending.

And we don't have weather here in California...or at least much wet weather. :rolleyes:

[John K Jordan]

When I first read the OP I was thinking pickup too- I have a F350 that fit's a whole bunch of sheet goods with the tailgate closed. I do have to flip the 5th wheel hitch over when I get those though.

Me too, I can't imagine hauling without my truck. (Dodge ram 2500 diesel) Not only does it carry a huge pile of sheet goods in the bed, hook up the 18' gooseneck trailer and carry almost enough to build a building. 24' 2x10s? Hard to carry any other way. An entire bundle of 2x6-10s? No problem. But after reading what others are using for carrying wood a truck like this seems like cheating. :)

JKJ

[Peter Kelly]

I've been thinking about a bike trailer capable of carrying 8 footers (not necessarily plywood) for quite a while. Thanks for the inspiration! Would you happen to know the source?Trailer: http://www.bikesatwork.com/store/bicycle-trailers
Plywood rack: http://www.bikesatwork.com/store/product/plywood-rack

I suspect the one shown in the photo I'd posted is the 96AW model.

[mark mcfarlane]

...so by summer 2019 I can probably get the okay from wifey for a new "truck". However, they are bit spendy in some of the nicer trim packages and not a whole lot of selection IMO for what one is spending.... :rolleyes:

The good thing, by summer 2019 you might find a good deal on used one. I would have preferred to go used and save 10-15K, but 2017 is the first year for this redesigned model. The older Ridgelines (pre-2014 when they stopped making them) weren't very appealing to me. I ran into a 2013 Ridgeline owner in a parking lot and stopped to chat. He gave his first Ridgeline to his son and bought his second. He was planning to give this second one to his daughter and buy the 2017 as his third. They guy couldn't stop smiling as he talked about his truck. Kind of sold me on the spot, but I was already a Honda fan.

[Bob Turkovich]

The new Chrysler Pacifica mini-van can be configured to hold a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood or can be configured to seat 8 people. It is also rated for 28mpg on the highway.

[Warren Lake]

I dont look at new stuff. 92 buick roadmaster. 96 would be better. Rides like a cadillac, works like a pickup. my personal best is 17 feet with the passenger seat removed\, red flag needed, 4 x8 's no problem. Pulls a 16 foot car trailer with load equalizers its like a kite with a tale. Pickup a 3000 lb machine no issues. Best 27 MPG Can gallon, realistic 22 most of the time. No depreciation, no recalls, six years never let me down once. Rear wheel drive you can do donuts in the winter and it excels. Surprising when I do throw it around a bit it handles well for a big car. Then its got wood on it so I can always find it in a parking lot in the sea of the same. Stop at a light and kids will look at it and ask each other what is that? Then they start to laugh so you can even bring joy to other peoples day. Most importantly keeps me out of style.

[Rich Riddle]

I have an F150 that will fit the bill no problem, but when a friend wants to borrow it, I let him use the 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer or the 5x8 tilting trailer. I ruined a station wagon once by using it like a truck. They just aren't built the same.

[Brian W Evans]

This is the homemade rack I use to carry full sheets of plywood with my Subaru Outback. It uses commercial roof racks with a 2x4 grid attached. I use Yakima racks because the crossbars are round, which means you don't need to worry about them being coplanar.

The first step is to attach the three supports that run the length of the car. These are what the plywood actually rests on. The middle support is shorter than the outer two for no real reason. The outer two are about 9 feet long.

342654


These are supported solely by the crossbars by means of holes drilled in the boards - nothing in my rack actually rests on the roof. I made the holes slightly oversized to make sliding them on easier. It is important to make sure that the holes are drilled in the same location on each board so that the boards are coplanar. I clamped my boards together and drilled through all three at once with a spade bit.

The long boards are not actually secured in any way yet - they're just resting on the crossbars.

342653


To keep the long boards in place, crosspieces are attached. The crosspieces rest in notches which I cut by clamping the three boards together, setting the right depth on my circular saw, making several cuts, and chiseling out the waste.

342655


The crosspieces are secured with bolts and wingnuts. Notice that the notches are deep enough to recess the crosspieces and the heads of the bolts. You don't want your expensive plywood getting scratched by bolts!

342656


Keep in mind that the roofs of most cars are not uniformly wide. They are usually narrower at the front and therefore you have to mark for the holes in your crosspieces according to your car's geometry. You can't just make a "square" grid. DAMHIKT. :mad: It helps to make your notches wider than they need to be to accommodate intersections that are not 90 degrees. 3/4" wider than necessary should do it.

This means that your pieces are not interchangeable. I marked mine with "up" arrows to keep all pieces the right way up, and arrows indicating the front of the car, plus I wrote "passenger" or "driver" on the long pieces.

Notice that the crosspieces are significantly longer than appears necessary (they're actually around 5 feet long). You'll see why in the last picture.



342657


Once the grid is attached, you're ready to head to the store. From bare roof to ready-to-go takes me 8-10 minutes. I don't do this that often, so 8-10 minutes is no problem.

After the plywood is laid on top of the grid, I have two more pieces that clamp the plywood to the grid. These are held in place with 9" long bolts and more wingnuts. The pressure from these two clamping boards keeps the sheets very well secured to the grid. The need to drop bolts through the crosspieces from the clamping boards above is why the bottom crosspieces had to be longer than appears necessary.

342658


The number of sheets you can carry depends on your car and your comfort level. Also the length of the bolts holding the clamps, I guess, but if you're carrying that many sheets on a car you need to rethink your life choices. ;) I have carried five sheets of 3/4" ply about 10 miles. For longer distances or highway driving, I have never done more than four sheets.

To make sure the wingnuts don't vibrate loose, I carry a wrench with me and really crank them down. I've never had them loosen.

If you're worried about your plywood getting dinged by the grid or the clamping boards, you could buy a sheet of hardboard to go on the top or bottom. Compared to the price of cabinet-grade ply, the cost is negligible and you'll use it eventually. I've also thought about putting some felt on the grid and clamps but I'm not sure what that would do to the friction that keeps the sheets on the car.

One nice feature of this rack is that it breaks down quickly and stores easily. I keep it on the top level of my wood rack along with some other stuff.

Unfortunately, this rack is not particularly useful for transporting solid wood. For that I usually just use the Yakima racks and some rope.

Before building something like this, keep in mind that your state likely limits the width of your roof racks. In CT, crossbars cannot extend beyond the side mirrors. I think most cars would be wide enough to carry a full sheet, but remember that your crosspieces need to be long enough to accommodate a bolt for the clamping boards. It would be difficult to make your crosspieces shorter than 5 feet and still carry full sheets.

Obviously you need to use your own judgment with something like this. I make no guarantees about the safety or legality of this method. I've only ever done this on my Subaru and I don't know how any other cars would handle something like this. I don't think I'd use this on a car where the commercial roof racks attached to a rain gutter, for example. Regardless, you should exercise an abundance of caution when driving with sheet goods on the roof. I always take the slow lane, and only use the rack in good weather - wind from forward motion or weather could put a lot of strain on the roof of your car.

[Andrew J. Coholic]

Easier to just get one of these. ;)

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/ajcoholic028/image129_zpscudjrega.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/ajcoholic/media/ajcoholic028/image129_zpscudjrega.jpg.html)

[Matt Day]

Brian,
That's a slick setup.
I carried sheet goods on the roof of my Forester for a while but was always nervous about uplift. I've had a mount pop off hauling bikes (almost no uplift) and didn't notice it until I got to my destination. While I had sheet goods up there I could reach up and feel them fluttering from the wind and I'd worry about the whole rack taking flight.
Some roof racks are attached better than my Thule on the Subaru and I'd probably be less concerned but the force of uplift is pretty strong.

[Jim Becker]

The new Chrysler Pacifica mini-van can be configured to hold a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood or can be configured to seat 8 people. It is also rated for 28mpg on the highway.
Yup...and this one replaces the Town & Country going forward, too. The T&C/Caravan platform was discontinued and 2016 was the last model year. The new Pacifica (which bears no resemblance to the old "station wagon" that was discontinued a number of years ago other than the same manufacturer) has the stow-and-go seating that was popular in the T&C/Caravan platform and that helps with cargo hauling. I'm not into min-vans, but I have to admit that the new Pacifica was done pretty nicely.

[Jim Dwight]

I used to carry stuff on top of my vehicles. I put a 14 foot jon boat on a 12 foot long Festiva many times. Looked strange but never gave me a problem. I hauled boxes of vinyl siding on top too. I bought PT boards I screwed to the roof rack and then taped the siding box to the board. I carried them on the interstate at 60+. But I stopped when a sheet of plywood blew off the Suzuki roof rack on my Grand Vitara and damaged another car. I may not have installed it just right but there isn't a lot of margin in roof racks. One strap not quite right and you could loose your load. I wasn't going more than 40mph. Gusts of wind can mess you up even when you have things done right (that may also explain my experience).

I've never owned a pickup but my wife wants one and we will probably get one someday. I don't like the mileage or the length of the vehicle but I'm sure they have advantages too.

But for hauling stuff, especially sheet goods, nothing beats a little utility trailer. I have a Harbor Freight that is more than 10 years old and has required no maintenance. It cost less than $300. I have short sides on it that are spaced out a little so it holds 49x97 sheets of melamine or MDF. I can load sheets off a flat rack at the home center just by sliding them in. I don't need to tie them down for the short trip home. You can't so that with a pickup. You would have to lift the sheets into the truck. But it would be alot easier to back the pickup up to the shop garage door and the bed of the truck would be about the same height as the workbench. But do I really want to haul things in the back of a new pickup? They are terribly pricey - more than my little BMW convertible. I'd rather risk damage to my $300 trailer.

[Martin Wasner]

I've found a forklift to be the easiest way to haul material from the delivery truck to the shop.

[Andrew J. Coholic]

...But for hauling stuff, especially sheet goods, nothing beats a little utility trailer....

Actually, a full size van is probably the most practical vehicle for carrying stuff. Since we've been in business (early 70's) weve never been without a good 3/4 ton van. When you are carrying anything you dont want rain, snow, dirt etc to get onto, an open trailer (as well as an open bed pickup) fails. Plus the floor is pretty low to the ground. Much lower than a full size pickup.

We have several trailers (open and enclosed) two pickups and a van available at work. The van always gets used the most, unless it is too much to put in then the enclosed cargo trailer gets used.

I understand not everyone wants to have a larger vehicle. But if you want to talk practicality... van is #1. I have a 2001 GMC Savana 2500 with their large V6 that gets decent mileage for the size, and can be loaded pretty heavily. Not as much as the Sierra 2500, but its way easier to load for cabinets and the like.

As for damaging a new pickup - with most I see now having heavy sprayed in liners, not going to be an issue. These trucks are made to work, not look pretty.

[Andrew J. Coholic]

I have a regular customer that comes to pick up material (finished and raw stuff like plywoods) and ties it all on top of his Jeep. I shake my head every time - thats fine now, but in a few months when its wet snow and freezing rain season, what does a nice sheet of unfinished hardwood ply look like after that? Tarping everything isnt easy, or efficient either. Plus you need an enclosed area to wrap things up and load up, and the same to unload - which isnt always possible.

[Keith Outten]

If you're going to get a van get one that makes it easy to carry sheet goods in any weather. This one has eleven feet of space from the back of the seats to the rear doors and 53" between the wheel wells. I can carry 12 foot long sheets of solid surface material if I stand it on its edge between the seats. A six cylinder diesel has plenty of torque and gets 24 MPG in town or on the highway loaded or empty. The center of the van is 75" tall inside and both the side and rear doors will accommodate a full size pallet.

In 2011 this one was cheaper then any of the new full size pickup trucks I found at the time.

[Martin Wasner]

I just priced out a Ford Transit van for work. $43,000! Holy crap! For a stripped down, one ton, work van. That's insanity.

[Andrew J. Coholic]

Yes brand new is costly. For a work van look at something a year or two old. Knocks 1/3 or more off the price.

[Greg Hines, MD]

I still have my Avalanche, and with the midgate down, you can fit a stack of plywood in it with the tailgate up.

Doc

[Andrew J. Coholic]

If you're going to get a van get one that makes it easy to carry sheet goods in any weather. This one has eleven feet of space from the back of the seats to the rear doors and 53" between the wheel wells. I can carry 12 foot long sheets of solid surface material if I stand it on its edge between the seats. A six cylinder diesel has plenty of torque and gets 24 MPG in town or on the highway loaded or empty. The center of the van is 75" tall inside and both the side and rear doors will accommodate a full size pallet.

In 2011 this one was cheaper then any of the new full size pickup trucks I found at the time.

Thats the one I want next. For sure, delivering cabinets etc will be so much easier. Up here the new style vans just debuted this year. I'll replace our savana with an extended height/length one in a year or two when they are on the used market.

[David Bassett]

If you're going to get a van get one that makes it easy to carry sheet goods in any weather. This one has eleven feet of space from the back of the seats to the rear doors and 53" between the wheel wells. I can carry 12 foot long sheets of solid surface material if I stand it on its edge between the seats. A six cylinder diesel has plenty of torque and gets 24 MPG in town or on the highway loaded or empty. The center of the van is 75" tall inside and both the side and rear doors will accommodate a full size pallet.

In 2011 this one was cheaper then any of the new full size pickup trucks I found at the time.

I see the badge in front and figure that must be one of the Sprinter Cargo models. Its capacity is attractive, but it seems too big to be garage & parking space friendly. Have you seen the Metris Cargo Van (European Vito) model? Mercedes marketing suggests it has most of the goodness in a much more driving friendly package. (Of course it is too new to the US for used ones to be available. Even too new for new ones to be widespread.) At least on KBB price estimator they (Metris specifically, vans in general) still show up a little cheaper than pickups of similar capacity.

Thanks.

[Keith Outten]

My Sprinter van is the same footprint of any normal full sized van. The height is about nine feet from the ground to the roof so there are places like residential and commercial parking garages that aren't accessible. Other than the height, which I see as an advantage for the most part, the Sprinter 2500 is an asset in performance. Lots of power, pulls a trailer with ease and fits in any standard parking space. It drives like a dream, the exception being high wind situations even though it has a stabilization feature that counteracts lean in a corner. The sail area of the tall sides can be cause for concern when crossing bridges when there is a high cross wind.

The day to day performance is where this one shines. Even though its a cargo van it came with nice features like air conditioning, cruise control, power steering, comfortable seats, etc. The load capacity is 1,850 pounds. Without side windows the side mirrors have to be well designed and the stock mirrors are dual sets on each side (wide angle and standard), both are adjustable. The only change I made to mine was upgrading the stock radio to one that has a built in GPS/Maps and a backup camera.

If you use a truck infrequently you can manage to get just about any job done one way or another but it can be very inconvenient in some cases. Although my van isn't used daily I enjoy the idea that weather isn't going to be a problem when I have to pick up materials or load it down with signs and tools for an install on the other side of the state. I never miss having to crawl on my knees in the back of my pickup truck with a cap on it to get to a box of signs, the box I needed was always in the front end of the bed. Possibly one of the biggest disadvantages of owning a Sprinter is that your friends and family know who to call when they need to move furniture :)

Oh, when you're driving a long distance and in need of a nap a hammock attached to the ceiling works great...

[Scott Cenicola]

The new Chrysler Pacifica mini-van can be configured to hold a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood or can be configured to seat 8 people. It is also rated for 28mpg on the highway.

I haven't bought a brand new car in decades, but..... Somebody's gonna check out the Chrysler dealer tomorrow.

[Mark Blatter]

I can't haul ply in my truck, but I can fit in 11' long hard wood boards in it. I drive a Toyota Corolla and it has carried more lumber than many trucks I have seen. For sheet goods, I use a 97 Suburban. I can fit in ply, mdf and even 5 x 5, though it is a tight fit.