Make sure to watch your speeds. Anytime you strap something to the top of a vehicle you need to be aware the wind can try to grab it. Whenever I am transporting plywood I only take back roads home and take it nice and slow. Be safe!
Been sitting on this idea for a year. Finally tried your approach. Works great! Thanks! Actually had someone complement me on my rack at Lowe’s yesterday. 😁
I have been having Home Depot cut my plywood sheets in thirds to fit inside my Chevy Spark, but this morning had the inspiration to just make/buy a roof rack. Thanks for your video and the links! I'll put one of these together and finally be able to do larger projects at home without having to piece together imprecisely cut pieces of plywood :D
*Hello there, I have requested your DVDs, for simpler and quicker approach to manufacture a shed **Allmy.Tips** I trust the substance are as you guaranteed it will be. Just I'm worried with the substance, it won't be anything but difficult to settle on a decision from the various plans.*
Thanks for the info! You did a great job explaining the engineering part of the roof racks and the lumber rails you created. This is perfect because it's cheaper than running a truck or putting a friend out or a family member to borrow their truck.
Like it , a more permanent version of the the system i use , I normally buy 2 lengths of longer timber at the same time as the ply and strap the lengths on to the rails of roof rack and then strap ply to timber from front to back . Your idear saves time in the car park attaching the timber .
Really nice and simple video, well explained - especially things that have gone wrong - does help a lot. Many thanks for taking the time to do it. And yes I am going to make this. 👍🏻
Nice clear video, and really appreciated your humor throughout. Nice idea also on cutting the corners off the backs of the rails for ease of sliding the sheet goods up. I'm definitely going to do this. Fortunate enough to have racks already on my minivan.
Thanks from the UK, will be starting to do some things with plywood in the future. Need to buy a roof rack first. Then a circulaw saw with those tracks, so it acts like a track saw. Hoping to make shed / Kitchen units, and shelving for home
On my 2013 vw jettta I used 2 2x4 as the base. Tied thenm down real good. And transported 2 sheets of drywall with no problem. I drove approximately 1½ miles with it. And picked a day with low wind.
Highland Brand use to market this identical bar carrier over 10 years ago. At that time the bars came with with slotted flat steel hooks, and simple cinch buckles with black straps attached. The directions: With the buckle facing downward, go over the top of the thin plastic, and return out the bottom. Take a steel hook oriented the way you would hook it to the car body. Pull the strap from under the hook and out the top. Then string the strap in the slot closest to the strap and out the remaining slot. This basically completes the whole system. You finish by mounting the bars. I have used this rack for many years with no problem on my Toyota Corolla. The only minor detail was that I could not use Highland's hook because it was not specifically for the car. I found car specific hooks from Sears when they were open, and nobody makes these hooks anymore. I am still using these bars with absolutely no problems. The bars are set about 31 ½ inches apart with the pads 10 inches from the windshield. The question is how am I able to use the bars - simply DIY the hooks and straps. The end result is that you have a short strap about 4 inches that don't go around the inside of the car which is a much stable and stronger connection. Most important: When securing and item ie door, allow the two straps (ratchet or cinch) to go around the inside of the car. This makes the system bombproof. Material: HD nylon straps www.strapworks.com/ Metal Cam Buckle www.strapworks.com/shop-by-product-type/metal-hardware/cam-buckles Rubber (bicycle inner tube) Speedy Stitcher www.amazon.com/Speedy-Stitcher-Sewing-Awl/dp/B07BMN71QF Flat hook (further explanation)
You listed items used in the video. A few items weren’t there - the braces. I went to Home Depot to find something similar - nope 👎 this would be two items I would trust Amazon with. Thanks for sharing this video though. I’m still gonna get err done.
Hey Mike i wanted to let yu know. i did the similiar set ups for many years utilizing Universal Racks and systems to carry everything on the roof of whatever vehicle i had at that time eventually i bought a small Pickup and had a CustomFiberglass topper made for that truck the shop i used was a Authorized Dealer for the Yakima system and they offered. a special mount for the fiberglass caps but the thing was if the shop installed those mounts it had a Lifetime guarantee for no leaks or cracks on the Cap so i but the Bullet and purchased a complete set up that had bike carriers and locks designed to keep my $1000.00 bike secure from theft isit was. very expensive to purchase the system but the Beauty is i’ve used that same system for over 20 years on multiple vehicles i’ve owned and Driven the original truck and cap has been long gone so in reality the investment was a old and Practical one in the long run i’ve safely carried Bicycles Ski Equipment Furniture and all kinds of building supplies and tools on top of 4 door Sedans ,pickup trucks, Vans and whatever else i had available to use im not sure of all the other competitors in that price range but i can vouch for the quality and available parts for the Yakima system again it’s very expensive but high quality usually is FYI ihave driven both Foreign and Domestic Cars and Trucks over the years and i was in GeneralConstruction for 35 years with many interests at one time going on a vacation to a Lake House using my Chevy 3500 Dually Deisel Pickup truck i hauled 9 boats using that truck the racks and one boat trailer a serious amount of ratchet straps and some ingenuity but everything we wanted on vacation was with us ! i actually had a small BostonWhaler upside down on those Yakima roof racks two boats on top of each other in the bed , a deflated Zodiac in a bag on the back seat , and a small Fiberglass Sailboat inside my Ski Boat on a trailer and it looked nuts but everything rode safely there and back home for a good vacation my family and Children loved going on each year !
Although I have a roof rack, I was thinking the other day how to load a 4 x 8 plywood on top of my small SUV. Your design would solve the problem. It is simple, inexpensive and practical. Adding a cross piece to the front is another good comment from someone below. It will make it more sturdy. In addition to using ratchet strap, I will put 2 C-clamps on the cross piece to secure the front so wind will not lift up the plywood while driving. Thanks very much!!
Great idea! Needing this today. I guess I'll need to make 2 trips to the store - one to get the lumber for the rails, then another day to get the plywood home. Haha. :)
Thanks for the info. I'm looking to do the same for my 4 Runner. I hate the fact that I don't have a pick up truck when I want to pick up oversized lumber at Home Depot or Lowes.
Thank you very much - this helped me out a lot. I followed your video today and I can't wait to go grab a plywood sheet tomorrow. So easy to build, so stoked to have this going forward.
Not a problem. Just be safe and keep those speeds low and those ratchets tight and you'll be fine. It's great not having to worry about how you will get wood home for the next big project
Love it,im fed up of sawmills picking and choosing when they will deliver, and charging to much,plus I want to pick my own timber,not the crap they bring,think what I would do is put pipe insulation around rails?
I need something like this, and I like your design. I'm thinking about adding cross pieces connecting the ends so that I can secure the sheets with spring clamps to avoid the ratchet straps (or, in my case, nylon rope with trucker's hitches).
Thank you very much! It has definitely come in handy on many occasions. Just brought 2 sheets of plywood home last weekend that would have been a major problem getting home without it.
Thanks for video. Do you think the 2x3's you added are necessary for adding stability, or is this just to make your racks easier to take off and put on? If its for stability, the product says 150 pound capacity, which should adequetely handle a single 3/4" 4x8 plywood sheet, maybe even two sheets. I'm wondering if just adding extra rachet straps for security would be enough.
The 2x3s give you much more real estate to secure the plywood to as well as help stop the wood from moving forward during braking and keeps the wood flat. Just using the roof rack will have the plywood bending and hitting the top of your car. I don't carry more than 2 sheets at a time as a full sheet weighs about 60lbs. You could do a third if you are also getting a 1/2" sheet as well.
Thank you for the nice video. Could you tell us where you found the metal brackets (looks like a galvanized metal with holes) for the bolts? Thank you.
@@FirewoodDesigns Found one here. www.garvinindustries.com/hanging-and-support/strut-fittings/flat-plates/sff32?gclid=CjwKCAjw97P5BRBQEiwAGflV6ZvpFAM6WFtKCkBgJvKrDldZhAb2N6wweBmD2i3pxafLJphm8Xq5TBoCFBcQAvD_BwE
How did you decide how far back or forward to place the wooden rack? Should it stick out over the back of the car? Or should it be flush with the farthest back point of the car body?
I kept mine flush with the back of the car. If you go back too far and have a hatchback like mine you won't be able to open it. Plus anything hanging off your car past the rear should have a red flag on it. So unless you want to deal with all that I'd stick with flush
@@FirewoodDesigns Thank you for your advice. I have all the supplies for this project now and will put it together this week. I especially like your idea of sloping the back end of the rails, very thoughtful and detail-oriented.
What are those bolts called? I could not find anything like that at lowes. At least not in the bolt section. I had to use normal bolts which worked but I had to use two hands. Great video.
You are looking for Hex bolts. 3/8" x 4" and of course you will need 3/8" nuts and washers as well. Get stainless if they have it in case they get wet from being outside.
@@FirewoodDesigns that's what I ended up buying but I noticed in your video you weren't holding the top of the bolt with anything. I wasn't sure if you had gotten some type of bolt that you just hammer in and it bites into the wood.
Same setup but you're going to stack them on the rails in between the 2x3 supports. Slide the one over to sandwich them then use your straps to bind them all together
@@FirewoodDesigns I am going to Lowes tomorrow. I looked at Menards today and couldn't find the same kind you used. I may not have looked gard enough. Seriously thank you for your video and reply though. Nicely done
@@ADAMX777 look these up on the Menards site and see if you can fine them in your store National Hardware® Galvanized Corner Brace at Menards www.menards.com/main/p-1444448918704.htm Unistrut Flat 4-Hole Steel Splice Plate at Menards www.menards.com/main/p-1444423999513.htm
I think this is why you had the issue with the tilting during unloading. I just fitted one of these and seems to make more sense for the strap to exit the block nearer the side of the car
Make sure to watch your speeds. Anytime you strap something to the top of a vehicle you need to be aware the wind can try to grab it. Whenever I am transporting plywood I only take back roads home and take it nice and slow. Be safe!
This is awesome. Getting plywood from the store without a truck has always been a struggle for me, but now I'll definitely be copying your solution.
Hope it helps!
Been sitting on this idea for a year. Finally tried your approach. Works great! Thanks! Actually had someone complement me on my rack at Lowe’s yesterday. 😁
Awesome! Glad it worked out. I usually get weird stares
@@FirewoodDesigns Can we carry a plywood By the side of the small SUV.....❓❓ With some invention of the woods and ratchet and nots and bolts
I have been having Home Depot cut my plywood sheets in thirds to fit inside my Chevy Spark, but this morning had the inspiration to just make/buy a roof rack. Thanks for your video and the links! I'll put one of these together and finally be able to do larger projects at home without having to piece together imprecisely cut pieces of plywood :D
Awesome! Glad I could help!
Lowe’s will cut stuff for you
*Hello there, I have requested your DVDs, for simpler and quicker approach to manufacture a shed **Allmy.Tips** I trust the substance are as you guaranteed it will be. Just I'm worried with the substance, it won't be anything but difficult to settle on a decision from the various plans.*
Thanks for the info! You did a great job explaining the engineering part of the roof racks and the lumber rails you created. This is perfect because it's cheaper than running a truck or putting a friend out or a family member to borrow their truck.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the great idea! Save me from buying a gas guzzling truck!
How do you get the boards home to build the roof rack for carrying wood?
Clever idea and design. I've been woodworking for around ten years now and it's obvious that you have many years behind you as well.
Thank you very much!
Like it , a more permanent version of the the system i use , I normally buy 2 lengths of longer timber at the same time as the ply and strap the lengths on to the rails of roof rack and then strap ply to timber from front to back . Your idear saves time in the car park attaching the timber .
That's a good way as well. Does it slide around at all on the way home?
Really nice and simple video, well explained - especially things that have gone wrong - does help a lot. Many thanks for taking the time to do it. And yes I am going to make this. 👍🏻
Thank you very much, hope it helped!
Nice clear video, and really appreciated your humor throughout. Nice idea also on cutting the corners off the backs of the rails for ease of sliding the sheet goods up. I'm definitely going to do this. Fortunate enough to have racks already on my minivan.
Thanks for checking it out!
Thanks from the UK, will be starting to do some things with plywood in the future.
Need to buy a roof rack first.
Then a circulaw saw with those tracks, so it acts like a track saw.
Hoping to make shed / Kitchen units, and shelving for home
Awesome! It’s vids like this that bring me back to youtube. Thank you!
Thanks for checking it out. I appreciate it!
Truly like your simple design. I'm going to modify it some so I can use wood clamps instead of straps to hold my sheets down.
Was clamps strong enough? I hate strapping things down in the summer heat
Would of loved to see how you tie your plywood to the overall project.
thank you so much! this will be super useful for a lot more than just hauling lumber!
On my 2013 vw jettta I used 2 2x4 as the base. Tied thenm down real good. And transported 2 sheets of drywall with no problem. I drove approximately 1½ miles with it. And picked a day with low wind.
Highland Brand use to market this identical bar carrier over 10 years ago. At that time the bars came with with slotted flat steel hooks, and simple cinch buckles with black straps attached. The directions: With the buckle facing downward, go over the top of the thin plastic, and return out the bottom. Take a steel hook oriented the way you would hook it to the car body. Pull the strap from under the hook and out the top. Then string the strap in the slot closest to the strap and out the remaining slot. This basically completes the whole system. You finish by mounting the bars. I have used this rack for many years with no problem on my Toyota Corolla. The only minor detail was that I could not use Highland's hook because it was not specifically for the car. I found car specific hooks from Sears when they were open, and nobody makes these hooks anymore. I am still using these bars with absolutely no problems. The bars are set about 31 ½ inches apart with the pads 10 inches from the windshield. The question is how am I able to use the bars - simply DIY the hooks and straps. The end result is that you have a short strap about 4 inches that don't go around the inside of the car which is a much stable and stronger connection. Most important: When securing and item ie door, allow the two straps (ratchet or cinch) to go around the inside of the car. This makes the system bombproof. Material: HD nylon straps www.strapworks.com/ Metal Cam Buckle www.strapworks.com/shop-by-product-type/metal-hardware/cam-buckles Rubber (bicycle inner tube) Speedy Stitcher www.amazon.com/Speedy-Stitcher-Sewing-Awl/dp/B07BMN71QF Flat hook (further explanation)
Why stack the 2x3 vertical? Wouldnt that just increase drag? Maybe its needed to have enough room the cut the notches out?
Thanks for the idea. I will build this for my 2017 Explorer
You listed items used in the video. A few items weren’t there - the braces. I went to Home Depot to find something similar - nope 👎 this would be two items I would trust Amazon with. Thanks for sharing this video though. I’m still gonna get err done.
Look up a 4 hole galvanized steel splice plate. I got mine at Menards but I'm pretty sure home Depot sells them
when transporting 2.50cm x 1.25cm panels, how long should the bars be? Thank you
Great idea!, even just a single 2x3 or 4 would be good to ratchet boards to, thanks for sharing!
Hey Mike i wanted to let yu know. i did the similiar set ups for many years utilizing Universal Racks and systems to carry everything on the roof of whatever vehicle i had at that time eventually i bought a small Pickup and had a CustomFiberglass topper made for that truck the shop i used was a Authorized Dealer for the Yakima system and they offered. a special mount for the fiberglass caps but the thing was if the shop installed those mounts it had a Lifetime guarantee for no leaks or cracks on the Cap so i but the Bullet and purchased a complete set up that had bike carriers and locks designed to keep my $1000.00 bike secure from theft isit was. very expensive to purchase the system but the Beauty is i’ve used that same system for over 20 years on multiple vehicles i’ve owned and Driven the original truck and cap has been long gone so in reality the investment was a old and Practical one in the long run i’ve safely carried Bicycles Ski Equipment Furniture and all kinds of building supplies and tools on top of 4 door Sedans ,pickup trucks, Vans and whatever else i had available to use im not sure of all the other competitors in that price range but i can vouch for the quality and available parts for the Yakima system again it’s very expensive but high quality usually is FYI ihave driven both Foreign and Domestic Cars and Trucks over the years and i was in GeneralConstruction for 35 years with many interests at one time going on a vacation to a Lake House using my Chevy 3500 Dually Deisel Pickup truck i hauled 9 boats using that truck the racks and one boat trailer a serious amount of ratchet straps and some ingenuity but everything we wanted on vacation was with us ! i actually had a small BostonWhaler upside down on those Yakima roof racks two boats on top of each other in the bed , a deflated Zodiac in a bag on the back seat , and a small Fiberglass Sailboat inside my Ski Boat on a trailer and it looked nuts but everything rode safely there and back home for a good vacation my family and Children loved going on each year !
Although I have a roof rack, I was thinking the other day how to load a 4 x 8 plywood on top of my small SUV. Your design would solve the problem. It is simple, inexpensive and practical. Adding a cross piece to the front is another good comment from someone below. It will make it more sturdy. In addition to using ratchet strap, I will put 2 C-clamps on the cross piece to secure the front so wind will not lift up the plywood while driving. Thanks very much!!
This is even easier with an existing rack. I hope it helps!
Great idea! Needing this today. I guess I'll need to make 2 trips to the store - one to get the lumber for the rails, then another day to get the plywood home. Haha. :)
Glad I could help! Good luck
Thanks for the info. I'm looking to do the same for my 4 Runner. I hate the fact that I don't have a pick up truck when I want to pick up oversized lumber at Home Depot or Lowes.
This will absolutely solve your problem. And with current lumber prices you can't afford to buy a lot at once anyways!
Great video. Made me chuckle. 😆
Thanks Yolanda! I appreciate you checking it out.
Thank you very much - this helped me out a lot. I followed your video today and I can't wait to go grab a plywood sheet tomorrow. So easy to build, so stoked to have this going forward.
Not a problem. Just be safe and keep those speeds low and those ratchets tight and you'll be fine. It's great not having to worry about how you will get wood home for the next big project
Well done ... thanks for taking the time to share! Cheers ...
Thanks Dave!
Hi from England, that's a very useful video thanks for uploading.
Thanks for checking it out and for the feedback!
thanks so much!
Well done! Hope to see more
Thanks for checking it out Dale, I appreciate it!
With the 2x4 on can you open your hatch? looking to do the same and im thinking i might have to push them further forward.
I can but not all the way. It goes up about half. Just enough to get smaller items in the hatch.
Good point, Gabriel! I'm glad I saw your comment.
Thank you! Very simple yet practical idea. Well done!
Thank you very much. I appreciate the comment!
Perfect!! Thanks
Love it,im fed up of sawmills picking and choosing when they will deliver, and charging to much,plus I want to pick my own timber,not the crap they bring,think what I would do is put pipe insulation around rails?
I haven't scratched any of my plywood yet. But if the pool noodles don't work possibly glue some carpet scraps to the tops of the boards?
What is a master carpenter?
Good job and thanks for sharing.
Nice.
Thank you so much
Nice video, big help.
I need something like this, and I like your design. I'm thinking about adding cross pieces connecting the ends so that I can secure the sheets with spring clamps to avoid the ratchet straps (or, in my case, nylon rope with trucker's hitches).
Storage in my house is limited so I made them as compact and storable as possible but adding a few cross braces would be pretty easy
What a brilliant idea 💡
Thank you very much! It has definitely come in handy on many occasions. Just brought 2 sheets of plywood home last weekend that would have been a major problem getting home without it.
Nice job thank you 🙏
I'm thinking of just having Home Depot deliver it.
very helpful toturial very honest teaching througout, appreciate your tips
Thank you very much. I appreciate your feedback!
Thanks for video. Do you think the 2x3's you added are necessary for adding stability, or is this just to make your racks easier to take off and put on? If its for stability, the product says 150 pound capacity, which should adequetely handle a single 3/4" 4x8 plywood sheet, maybe even two sheets. I'm wondering if just adding extra rachet straps for security would be enough.
The 2x3s give you much more real estate to secure the plywood to as well as help stop the wood from moving forward during braking and keeps the wood flat. Just using the roof rack will have the plywood bending and hitting the top of your car. I don't carry more than 2 sheets at a time as a full sheet weighs about 60lbs. You could do a third if you are also getting a 1/2" sheet as well.
There is no stop at the rear of the device. Is this a problem in the wind?
I have not had any issues but I take it slow on back roads and don't transport if it's high winds
I built one a couple years ago and have some rear angle brackets I screw on right at Home Depot after loading.
What length & size bolts did you use? 3/8?
3/8, 4"
Ok, you have saved me $40K for a pickup truck. I will use this idea, but I might use metal instead of wood.
Glad I could help with the vehicle budget
Thank you for the nice video. Could you tell us where you found the metal brackets (looks like a galvanized metal with holes) for the bolts? Thank you.
I picked mine up at Menards but Google 4 hole galvanized steel splice plate
@@FirewoodDesigns Thank you. I will try it.
@@FirewoodDesigns Found one here. www.garvinindustries.com/hanging-and-support/strut-fittings/flat-plates/sff32?gclid=CjwKCAjw97P5BRBQEiwAGflV6ZvpFAM6WFtKCkBgJvKrDldZhAb2N6wweBmD2i3pxafLJphm8Xq5TBoCFBcQAvD_BwE
How did you decide how far back or forward to place the wooden rack? Should it stick out over the back of the car? Or should it be flush with the farthest back point of the car body?
I kept mine flush with the back of the car. If you go back too far and have a hatchback like mine you won't be able to open it. Plus anything hanging off your car past the rear should have a red flag on it. So unless you want to deal with all that I'd stick with flush
@@FirewoodDesigns Thank you for your advice. I have all the supplies for this project now and will put it together this week. I especially like your idea of sloping the back end of the rails, very thoughtful and detail-oriented.
@@sandeepkharkar6277 Thank you for checking it out. Hopefully it is as useful to you as it is for me. Good luck and be safe!
What are those bolts called? I could not find anything like that at lowes. At least not in the bolt section. I had to use normal bolts which worked but I had to use two hands. Great video.
You are looking for Hex bolts. 3/8" x 4" and of course you will need 3/8" nuts and washers as well. Get stainless if they have it in case they get wet from being outside.
@@FirewoodDesigns that's what I ended up buying but I noticed in your video you weren't holding the top of the bolt with anything. I wasn't sure if you had gotten some type of bolt that you just hammer in and it bites into the wood.
@@zerepdivad once you start to tighten the bolt down it pulls itself into the wood enough to stay put
if you painted them black they would look fantastic. as well as being functional.
You know what. You sold me. I think that's exactly what needs to be done. Thanks for the inspiration!
Since the wood are 2x3's, what lenght are the bolts? 4" or 6"?
They are 4"
Any different setup for carrying 2x4x8 lumbers?
Same setup but you're going to stack them on the rails in between the 2x3 supports. Slide the one over to sandwich them then use your straps to bind them all together
@@FirewoodDesigns 👍
Thanks for this video. What store did you buy the steel plates and corner brackets from?
Those came from Menards but should be available at any larger hardware store. Look for them in the deck supplies area
@@FirewoodDesigns I am going to Lowes tomorrow. I looked at Menards today and couldn't find the same kind you used. I may not have looked gard enough. Seriously thank you for your video and reply though. Nicely done
@@ADAMX777 look these up on the Menards site and see if you can fine them in your store
National Hardware® Galvanized Corner Brace at Menards www.menards.com/main/p-1444448918704.htm
Unistrut Flat 4-Hole Steel Splice Plate at Menards www.menards.com/main/p-1444423999513.htm
@@FirewoodDesigns sweet!! Thank you so much Sir!
@@ADAMX777 no problem. If you need anything else feel free to get ahold of me. Hope it helps!
And what size bolts (diameter is fine) are those ?
3/8 x 4" hex bolts
How to you stop the 2X4 from sliding left to right?
The bolt and metal plate hold it in place
Just saw another RUclips video with this idea
Great idea!👍🏻🇬🇧
That you very much. Hope it helps you!
How can I find the flat brackets with 4 holes in HomeDepot? Thanks!
Here ya go!
www.homedepot.com/p/Superstrut-4-Hole-Flat-Straight-Strut-Bracket-Gold-Galvanized-ZX207-10/202077353
@@FirewoodDesigns Thank you!! Saved me a lot of money from buying a trailer!
@@yi-chen Not a problem. Glad I could help
Check the installation of your roof rack. I believe you didn't install the strap through the side of the thing it sits on.
I think this is why you had the issue with the tilting during unloading.
I just fitted one of these and seems to make more sense for the strap to exit the block nearer the side of the car
Yo, Mike.
What's up!
bro why do you keep saying "ruff" instead of "roof"