Anyone use a Gobi or similar rack for sheet lumber?

[spetka]

Hello all,

I really like the looks of the Gobi rack. But I want something that will do well for camping trips and road trips, but also be usable for hauling lumber. Long boards and molding, I just hang out the back window and flag, but for sheet goods, like say 2 or 3 4x8 sheets of plywood, I would like a rack that I could throw the wood on top and easily secure it down without it sliding around, as I am a woodworker by hobby and pickup wood a couple times a week/month. I know some of the other racks that are flat may be better, as it seems most racks that have edges are narrower than a 48" sheet of plywood. Anyone have any experience with this?'

Thanks

 

[5280 TRail-Runner]

Any rack really would work. All you need is a few ratchet straps and you're good to go. I don't think there are many roof racks that are going to be wider than 48" and even then, you would still want to secure them down to the rack.

 

[e60ral]

if this is a common thing i would just make a mount to attach to whatever rack you get that is designed to hold sheet goods. you could make it out of unistrut or angle or even lumber, just something that sticks out wide enough to strap down your sheet goods. shouldn't really matter what rack you use, just make something for it to hold your sheets.

 

[fogcitysurfer]

I just picked up some 4x8 the other day to make my bed platform in the back. The sheet was a little bit wider than the Gobi rack, maybe an inch on either side. I used ratchet straps and didn't have any problems.

 

[spetka]

Any rack really would work. All you need is a few ratchet straps and you're good to go. I don't think there are many roof racks that are going to be wider than 48" and even then, you would still want to secure them down to the rack.

I guess I was curious as my last vehicle(Outback), had an arch to the factory crossbars, and even trying to ratchet the plywood down it never sat flat and kind of wobbled around and slid when making turns etc.

I just picked up some 4x8 the other day to make my bed platform in the back. The sheet was a little bit wider than the Gobi rack, maybe an inch on either side. I used ratchet straps and didn't have any problems.

Thanks! Did you do something like 2 sideways and one or 2 front to back?

if this is a common thing i would just make a mount to attach to whatever rack you get that is designed to hold sheet goods. you could make it out of unistrut or angle or even lumber, just something that sticks out wide enough to strap down your sheet goods. shouldn't really matter what rack you use, just make something for it to hold your sheets.

Yeah I suppose the racks that allow for accessories have various places to bolt on same other brackets or at least have multiple places for tie downs to hook into.

 

[FrenchToasty]

Are you just trying to come up with a good reason to buy one, to tell the wife? Haha
I have hauled 5 or 6 1/2 sheets along with 2/4 underneath that ran the length of the rack so the sheets wouldn't bend, held fine
My only gripe about the gobi is that most rachet straps hooks are to small to go around the rack, so I end up just looping the hook back around onto the strap making a slip knot basically, I don't know if [MENTION=76153]fogcitysurfer[/MENTION] has gotten around this?

 

[Chrisinvermont]

Also a hobby woodworker. I got the Baja flat utility rack for hauling lumber and kayaks. If I'm picking up several sheet goods I bring the trailer as it's easy to damage loading on the roof. If I'm lazy I'll just through a couple of sheets on the rack and strap them down. The panels stick out a couple of inches on each side but they can be secured. The flat rack is awesome for lumber, best mill is about an hour away and I go at least once a year and load up the rack.

 

[fogcitysurfer]

Thanks! Did you do something like 2 sideways and one or 2 front to back?

I did two across. I wasn't going far.

 

[fogcitysurfer]

Are you just trying to come up with a good reason to buy one, to tell the wife? Haha
I have hauled 5 or 6 1/2 sheets along with 2/4 underneath that ran the length of the rack so the sheets wouldn't bend, held fine
My only gripe about the gobi is that most rachet straps hooks are to small to go around the rack, so I end up just looping the hook back around onto the strap making a slip knot basically, I don't know if [MENTION=76153]fogcitysurfer[/MENTION] has gotten around this?

There are ratchet straps that have hooks big enough to fit.

 

[DeepSea88]

I've done ply wood and it went well. Just be smart about it. Load up equally and strap down on all four side. Put chaffing material between ur straps and the wood. Nothing worse than a cut cargo strap and your wood all over the interstate!!!!