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Hauling 4x8 plywood inside '11 Rav4

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have a 2011. Is it possible to haul a sheet of 4x8 plywood inside the Rav? Will it fit diagonally if necessary?

If not, what do people suggest for straps to tie down the plywood to the roof rack?
 
#2 ·
Even if it would fit diagonal you'd have to leave the rear door open which I definitely wouldn't do.

I'd borrow a truck for the job.

If the roof is the only option make sure you run a rope lengthwise to keep the wind from lifting it and possibly doing major damage to the rack .... and :egad:the vehicles behind you!
 
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#3 ·
Break out a measuring tape and go check. I would never put a big sheet of plywood on the roof like that. You're asking for trouble no matter how you strap it down. Not safe IMO.
 
#5 ·
Dr. Dyno said:
If the roof is the only option make sure you run a rope lengthwise to keep the wind from lifting it and possibly doing major damage to the rack .... and :egad:the vehicles behind you!
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I agree about the long-wise rope or strap. I think it is mainly to stop the load during accelerating and in particular braking. You can control how fast you accelerate, but you can't totally control the need to brake fast.

I like ratchet straps. Don't go crazy tightening the rails together. Instead if you can tie off to the rails, but don't ratchet the rails together. Circling a rail a few times is good. That is not the kind of stress that can damage the rack parts. Do consider adding a through-strap through the front part of the back doors, and close the doors over the straps.

Close side and rear doors over dangling straps to keep them from blowing around with minimum work.

Attach the load well well, and you can go highway speeds. If you don't tie it very well, go slower. If it is 1/4 inch plywood or drywall, go slower still.
 
#6 ·
Carbon said:
I agree about the long-wise rope or strap. I think it is mainly to stop the load during accelerating and in particular braking.
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The end-to-end strap is to hold against the wind which will create a lot of rip-it-off vertical force even at 55 mph as air comes over the hood and up off the windshield. It will easily exceed any accel/decel force. Many people don't give serious consideration to any of the forces while loading in the parking lot.

For any trip more than a few miles at low speeds use another vehicle.
 
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#10 ·
What I do is have them cut the sheet into a couple of pieces that are bigger than what I plan to cut out of it. These can then be easily loaded in the back. You can even do this yourself with a portable circular saw these days if the yard charges and you're tight, or they simply won't agree to do it.

If you do need full sheets though, (sheetrock, etc.) it's better to borrow a friends pickup truck, or rent one for a few hours, or have them deliver the material.

I've done the on the roof trial with a couple of sheets of 4x8 ply and I'll never do it again, the edges get messed up from the ropes rubbing, and it's just too dangerous.
 
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#17 ·
ravenuer said:
Good idea. Also, not sure about Canada, but most US Home Depots will rent you a truck for $19.95 for an hour and a half or so, enough time to get it home and back. Next time:thumbs_up:
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I'm in the same dilemma, I need full sheets of plywood and don't have a trailer. As I was paying for dinner and the waitress said to my brother-in-law, that's awefully nice of him, I made the comment, yeah, well, this is prepayment for hauling some plywood for me next weekend. I didn't think he'd go as far as totaling his truck so he didn't have to haul plywood for me, LOL.

Home Depot? An hour and a half doesn't give me enough time to even get out of the truck at home let alone unload it, LOL. Country living is nice, until you are renting something by the hour and all of that time you pay for is taken up by travel time. I've made it to Lowes (right next to Home Depot) when I broke a toilet half an hour before they closed with an 8 1/2 month pregnant wife standing waiting for me to get the toilet back in, but I don't think I could do that in a Home Depot truck, haha.
 
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#18 ·
You could use the front tow hook as an additional achor point to counter ther wind load. If I had to I would feel comfortable with rigging a 4x8 sheet to the top of the RAV. I have done enough rigging in my day. Would not take it on the highway though.

Though I would probably take my truck. Or my trailer.
 
#19 ·
mrodgers said:
I'm in the same dilemma, I need full sheets of plywood and don't have a trailer. As I was paying for dinner and the waitress said to my brother-in-law, that's awefully nice of him, I made the comment, yeah, well, this is prepayment for hauling some plywood for me next weekend. I didn't think he'd go as far as totaling his truck so he didn't have to haul plywood for me, LOL.

Home Depot? An hour and a half doesn't give me enough time to even get out of the truck at home let alone unload it, LOL. Country living is nice, until you are renting something by the hour and all of that time you pay for is taken up by travel time. I've made it to Lowes (right next to Home Depot) when I broke a toilet half an hour before they closed with an 8 1/2 month pregnant wife standing waiting for me to get the toilet back in, but I don't think I could do that in a Home Depot truck, haha.
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Life seems to be a series of trade-offs sometimes. I live in the suburbs and have nowhere to store a trailer, but I'm reasonably close to Lowes. If I lived in the country, I would invest in a trailer and things to haul with it. :)

But back to the original question, I would be worried that strapping playwood to the roof rack would create a big wing that could possibly rip the roof rack off the car.

Found this on another board:

I saw a lady a couple of years ago pull out of Home Crappo with the following on her roof rack: about 40 2x4x8, 12 sheets of plywood, 6 sheets of drywall, and (this is the funny one) 4 bundles of insulation.

After laughing and wishing I had my camera I went in, picked up what I needed and headed out. The lady had made it about 4 blocks when she lost everything, including the roof rack!

I think those racks are rated for about 100 lbs
​
Find a truck, van or trailer to use.
 
#20 ·
That's why I still have my 96 Grand Caravan. It is the most versatile vehicle I've ever owned. I've hauled 8 people, sheets of plywood and wallboard, a full set of kitchen cabinets, 80 bricks, the two daughters stuff back and forth to college, and on and on. Not going to happen in a my RAV4.
 
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