Carrying 2x4's - back window?

[kaitlyn2004]

I've yet to use the open rear window to transport things, but need to pick up a bunch of wood.

Apart from laying a blanket to prevent scratching, is there any form of stated weight limit that you can lay through the open window? I'm totally okay to make multiple trips, but also don't want to needlessly under-utilize the truck!

So if they were 2x4x8 for example, how many should I be carrying at a time?


Similarly - if I was carrying sheets of plywood... how exactly would I strap that down safely on my stock oem rails+crossbars? If the wood is both wider and longer than the rack...

It's a short trip to my local home depot, but yeah.

 

[Jetboy]

The only good way I know of to put plywood on the roof is to use rails wider than the plywood. Otherwise it's pretty much impossible to strap down well. You can use a couple 2x4's wider than the plywood sheets that you attach to your OEM rails as make-shift cross bars. I'd also use this method to tie down a lot of 2x4's. Keep the roof load under 150lbs and you should be okay. That will depend on how thick each sheet of plywood is.

Or rent/barrow a trailer.

For 2x4s internally - I usually put a towel over the center console and load them fully inside. I'd stick to something like 15 per trip so you're not putting too much weight on the center console.

 

[the_fornicator]

you can lay as many 2x4s as you want imo. I carried 25 over the summer without issue. Edit. I remembered I cut a piece of 3/4" sheetwood and made it 1" higher than the rear gate trim and just stood it up and against the rear trunk. So the 2x4s entirely rested on the edge of the sheetwood.

Plywood, I slide the plywood such that the front is almost flush with the front of the rack mounts -so it sticks out the back. I used a butt load of twine to tie from the back left mount and looped it back and under the plywood and then threw it over to tie to the front right (cross over from opposite ends). I used a ratchet strap to hold the front down to prevent it from flipping up.

So, the goal is to prevent the plywood from sliding forwards and backwards. Then ratchet the front down to prevent it from flipping up. Wouldn't hurt to ratchet the rear down for good measure (from rear left to rear right)

edit2: I should state that the home depot I went to is less than a 5m drive from my house and I never had to go faster than 50mph. And it's mostly straight -5 turns home. So, my strategy was good enough for that lol

 

[spartacus]

Roof capacity is ahout 120lbs but ive seen roof top tents with two people. If you can put like plastic milk crates etc so you can keep the weight of the rear hatch you can probably carry a couple of hundred pounds. I've carried heavy Ikea furniture hanging out the back window with the weight sitting on a 2x4 structure to keep it off the back hatch and it worked great.

 

[Figure11]

Here's how I carry 2x4's

I definitely recommend you watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPqncDScFIo&feature=emb_title

Also, your limit is the weight your stock roof-rack can carry.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I've owned 3 4Runners and have done this several ways, out the window, inside and up between the seats. If the weather is good I'd prefer to do it out the back window or on my roof rack rather than up between the seats or near my radio/windshield. Just my opinion

 

[BobsTrail]

I have done lumber and pcv pipe out the back with a blanket for a pad but only up to 8 feet. That gives 2 ft out the back. I would not carry sheets on the roof, too likely to have problems with wind on something that large.

I use a U Haul trailer and lately use our Sienna. 4x8s fit flat inside.

 

[tjones2k9]

I’ve carried tons of stuff hanging out the back window. 6-packs of 12 foot, 6” tall baseboards stacked on the center console and resting on the hatch with window down. No issues. I pull them to one side in a tight bunch, then bungee cord them so they don’t slide across the back.

I did the same with eight 12’ 2x6’s for raised garden beds too. I think I folded the rear seats up on that one. So they sat on the folded seat instead of the console, if that makes sense. Not sure if that’s better or worse, but it felt better at the time.

 

[toolguy]

pulled wood many times.
4x 4 x 8 PT , these are heavy..pulled only 3-4 and they were sticking out the rear window. using towels on the tailgate window ledge ..spread out the wood to evenly load balance.

also pulled maybe 8-10 pieces of 2 x 4 x 8 PT...again.. towel and then evenly spread out to evenly load balance..

i was also concerned about weight..

PT will be heavier than standard pine..

use common sense and you will be fine...

i have pulled a few pieces of pvc boards nside the cabin with part of it sticking up towards the front seat/dash only a few times during rain

definitely dont prefer this method.... too many things can go sideways, with this setup..

 

[toolguy]

and regarding plywood 4 x 8..

ive thought about it and like others.. im dont think the roof rack is an option for me to consider..

again..too many things can go sideways ..

when i have thought about pulling plywood.. my plan would be to have HD / Lowes, ripcut the sheets to 4 x 5 or 4 x 4 pieces ...but so far..ive been able to delay that projects..

someone just posted another easy option..rent a trailer..probably super cheap for a short rental and zero thinking involved here...

or just rent a pickup @ lowes .. you can probably pull 4 x 4 x 8 plywood sheets, pitched in their pickup rental bed..

my lowes has $29 rental sticker on their rental pickups..

$40 OTD ..load up all your wood and the sooner you can start ripping wood....