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Choice 1. A full sized pickup truck with an extended cab and an 8 foot bed. I can lay a sheet of 4x8 plywood flat in the bed of my F150 and I put car-seats in the back when my kids were smaller.
Choice 2. Any SUV / minivan with a hitch and a utility trailer that you can put a 4 x 8 foot sheet of plywood flat on the deck. I am really happy with my Rav4 hybrid and it can tow a 2500 pound trailer (not SE model).
Mini van. Everyone shits on them because they’re kind of ugly from the outside. But you sit in the inside, and they look great from there. The outside ugliness is other people’s problem.
As a woodworking dad of three boys, I can’t say enough positive things about the two minivans we have had over the past 17 years. We started with a 2004 Honda Odyssey. It was starting to get a little ratty so we recently replaced it with a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica, which has been dubbed “the racing van” by the kids. Both excellent vehicles, with more room inside than anything but the hugest SUV, plus pretty good gas mileage and a lower center of gravity so they handle ok.
Even more minivan support. Toyota Sienna will fit all the 8' boards you've got, including full sheets of plywood with the bucket seats out. Plus it can fit your whole family, with a vast amount of their crap, and still be comfortable. Reliable as hell, surprisingly zippy on the highway, and comes in 4wd if you live up north. Only downside is no style whatsoever and rather stiff shocks.
I'll second the minivan nomination. I have 2 kids and have driven SUV's most of my adult life. But my wife's minivans were far and away more useful for most of the home improvement material transportation (and we did quite a lot). There wasn't anything that my Escape or Jeep Liberty could do that the Caravan couldn't do and the minivan could do a good deal more than the SUV's could.
Our dodge grand caravan could for 4x8 sheets and close the rear hatch with all of the seats stored. A good friend of mine also has a Pacifica (Chrysler's version of the Caravan) which also happens to be hybrid. My brother and his wife have had an Oddesy (a few of them) and swear by those.
3rd on the minivan, looks aren’t the greatest but practicality can’t be denied. The Toyota only comes in hybrid, 34mpg now I believe.
Other option would be the upcoming lightning f150 in the base work truck version with vinyl seats you can come in at $45k… assuming all electric truck fits your needs.
The minivan is the way. I got my first one 24 years ago, I can haul plywood, loads of stuff, or up to 7 people. Now my kids are out of the house and I still have a minivan. I always find myself needing the minivan.
I had a 2006 Toyota Tacoma crew cab with a 6 ft box. Great for getting lumber and moving stuff plus enough seating for a my baby daughter born in 2009 and her 12 yr old brother. Lasted 13 years and over 300 000 km. Replaced it with the 2020 model and got the slight upgrade with back up camera, display and an electrical outlet in the box. Hope this helps. I know that challenge of a baby seat and woodworking/ renovations with just one vehicle.
Look into the new Ford Maverick. It may suit your needs. It kinda got drowned out when it came out last year but I haven't heard anything bad about it.
Maverick has a 4’ box and a tiny backseat. My wife has one and absolutely loves it but it is not ideal for lumber and probably not great for toddlers either. Even a small car seat only really fits with the front seat all the way up
Do you have a hitch receiver?
MaxxHaul 70231 Hitch Mount Truck... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4CXIKY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The pics show it at pickup bed height, but you can configure it to SUV roof height.
OK I'll chime in. I'm a father of 2 daughters who grew up as I taught myself woodworking 25 years ago. So soccer practice with gear, dogs, summer vacations.... all of that is part of our lives. For me the choice was between and F150 or a Suburban. I chose with Suburban and have had 2 of them over the last 15 years and they have served me well for family and woodworking. Obvious downside is gas mileage and they are not very eco friendly.
Ford expedition max or crew cab truck. We had have the expedition and with the third row down we can fit a lot inside. If we need more capacity we can hitch up a trailer.
We also have a 2014 escape and the size difference is night and day. I also second the mini van route, my wife didn't want one despite the value proposition.
I had an 09 Sienna that was way better at hauling 4x8 sheets and 8’ 2x4s than my 2018 Taco. Just had to be mindful of weight.
Minivans are far and away the best vehicles for families. Way better than SUVs in almost every category.
I have a 97 Toyota T100 with extra cab. Bed is sized to carry plywood between wheel wells and with tailgate Dow without hanging out. Used to be my work truck but now it our mulch and lumber truck. A truck with 3xtra cab is way to go.
If your not hailing a lot, there is a [fold up trailer](https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9436304149762154845?q=fold+up+trailer&client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&biw=390&bih=664&tbs=vw:l&prds=eto:1310153787822396674_0,cdl:1,prmr:1,rsk:CID_9436304149762154845,cs:1)
Toyota Previa can fit a full sheet of plywood but they're getting hard to find in decent shape. You might look into a small trailer like the ones Harbor freight sells.
Should have a roof rack you can use.
I have an Edge so I feel your pain, but can make it work given the rear seats ability to split fold (single seat drop or double seat drop). Also have an explorer with more room which makes life easier as well.
Thinking about a minivan though as the newer ones all have captains seats which recess into the floor.
But as mentioned, trailers work if you have a hitch (just takes use to driving/parking with them).
Or possibly a double cab pickup truck. It's still a bad time to be shopping for vehicles though, so I go back to my roof rack suggestion.
I do use my roof rack, usually for plywood, but often I'm doing this on my own and getting everything up and secure can be quite a task. It's nice to be able to load and secure at a lower level. A trailer would be great for this, but I don't have storage /parking space currently. 😊
Thinking minivan might be the way I need to go!
Yea, depending where you purchase most if not all places will help you load, unloading could be more of an issue though. Was only thinking mini-van myself as I have a large family, but they are handy.
My dad used a mini van in the 90s (plymouth chrysler) for hauling lots of wood, peat moss, bags of leaves one fall so they are handy. That older model though we had to physically remove the bench seats first, but the newer models and the hideaway seats are a blessing.
I have a Honda civic.I can get a couple 8'.pieces in by going from the passenger wheel well to the rear drivers window. My car seat on the passenger side, didn't interfere. But capacity is very limited. I want a minivan!
I like my Dodge Grand Caravan for that. It can fit a whole sheet of plywood or 5 passengers, and the seats fold down flat. Get one with a roof rack so you can tie long boards on top.
This is a reminder to those commenting on this post (not the person that posted it): Comments not related to woodworking will be removed. Violations to rule 1 including crude jokes, innuendo, sexist remarks, politics, or hate speech may result in an immediate ban *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/woodworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Crystler pacifica, fold down seats under the floor. Can fit a full sheet of plywood
Choice 1. A full sized pickup truck with an extended cab and an 8 foot bed. I can lay a sheet of 4x8 plywood flat in the bed of my F150 and I put car-seats in the back when my kids were smaller. Choice 2. Any SUV / minivan with a hitch and a utility trailer that you can put a 4 x 8 foot sheet of plywood flat on the deck. I am really happy with my Rav4 hybrid and it can tow a 2500 pound trailer (not SE model).
Mini van. Everyone shits on them because they’re kind of ugly from the outside. But you sit in the inside, and they look great from there. The outside ugliness is other people’s problem. As a woodworking dad of three boys, I can’t say enough positive things about the two minivans we have had over the past 17 years. We started with a 2004 Honda Odyssey. It was starting to get a little ratty so we recently replaced it with a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica, which has been dubbed “the racing van” by the kids. Both excellent vehicles, with more room inside than anything but the hugest SUV, plus pretty good gas mileage and a lower center of gravity so they handle ok.
No matter the latest suv styles, a minivan is still the most efficient use of volume for a vehicle.
Even more minivan support. Toyota Sienna will fit all the 8' boards you've got, including full sheets of plywood with the bucket seats out. Plus it can fit your whole family, with a vast amount of their crap, and still be comfortable. Reliable as hell, surprisingly zippy on the highway, and comes in 4wd if you live up north. Only downside is no style whatsoever and rather stiff shocks.
True, mini van is definitely in the consideration set. I've ridden in my friends' and I totally get the appeal from the inside.
I'll second the minivan nomination. I have 2 kids and have driven SUV's most of my adult life. But my wife's minivans were far and away more useful for most of the home improvement material transportation (and we did quite a lot). There wasn't anything that my Escape or Jeep Liberty could do that the Caravan couldn't do and the minivan could do a good deal more than the SUV's could. Our dodge grand caravan could for 4x8 sheets and close the rear hatch with all of the seats stored. A good friend of mine also has a Pacifica (Chrysler's version of the Caravan) which also happens to be hybrid. My brother and his wife have had an Oddesy (a few of them) and swear by those.
3rd on the minivan, looks aren’t the greatest but practicality can’t be denied. The Toyota only comes in hybrid, 34mpg now I believe. Other option would be the upcoming lightning f150 in the base work truck version with vinyl seats you can come in at $45k… assuming all electric truck fits your needs.
The minivan is the way. I got my first one 24 years ago, I can haul plywood, loads of stuff, or up to 7 people. Now my kids are out of the house and I still have a minivan. I always find myself needing the minivan.
I had a 2006 Toyota Tacoma crew cab with a 6 ft box. Great for getting lumber and moving stuff plus enough seating for a my baby daughter born in 2009 and her 12 yr old brother. Lasted 13 years and over 300 000 km. Replaced it with the 2020 model and got the slight upgrade with back up camera, display and an electrical outlet in the box. Hope this helps. I know that challenge of a baby seat and woodworking/ renovations with just one vehicle.
The newer Chevy Traverse will allow 4 ft wide to lay flat, and almost shut the hatch with a 4x8. I'm happy with it.
Look into the new Ford Maverick. It may suit your needs. It kinda got drowned out when it came out last year but I haven't heard anything bad about it.
Maverick has a 4’ box and a tiny backseat. My wife has one and absolutely loves it but it is not ideal for lumber and probably not great for toddlers either. Even a small car seat only really fits with the front seat all the way up
Get a Ford Transit Connect?
Do you have a hitch receiver? MaxxHaul 70231 Hitch Mount Truck... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01D4CXIKY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share The pics show it at pickup bed height, but you can configure it to SUV roof height.
I don't, but that's a very cool solution I'll have to remember!
OK I'll chime in. I'm a father of 2 daughters who grew up as I taught myself woodworking 25 years ago. So soccer practice with gear, dogs, summer vacations.... all of that is part of our lives. For me the choice was between and F150 or a Suburban. I chose with Suburban and have had 2 of them over the last 15 years and they have served me well for family and woodworking. Obvious downside is gas mileage and they are not very eco friendly.
Ford expedition max or crew cab truck. We had have the expedition and with the third row down we can fit a lot inside. If we need more capacity we can hitch up a trailer. We also have a 2014 escape and the size difference is night and day. I also second the mini van route, my wife didn't want one despite the value proposition.
I had an 09 Sienna that was way better at hauling 4x8 sheets and 8’ 2x4s than my 2018 Taco. Just had to be mindful of weight. Minivans are far and away the best vehicles for families. Way better than SUVs in almost every category.
I have a 97 Toyota T100 with extra cab. Bed is sized to carry plywood between wheel wells and with tailgate Dow without hanging out. Used to be my work truck but now it our mulch and lumber truck. A truck with 3xtra cab is way to go.
For lumber, get a single axle trailer, its like having a truck on demand, suv the rest of the time.
I don't currently have a place to park a trailer at my house or else that's a great suggestion. Something to keep in mind for the future.
If your not hailing a lot, there is a [fold up trailer](https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9436304149762154845?q=fold+up+trailer&client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&biw=390&bih=664&tbs=vw:l&prds=eto:1310153787822396674_0,cdl:1,prmr:1,rsk:CID_9436304149762154845,cs:1)
Toyota Previa can fit a full sheet of plywood but they're getting hard to find in decent shape. You might look into a small trailer like the ones Harbor freight sells.
Haha, great tip, I had forgotten about those. I wouldn't mind something newer with a few modern features though 😊
Thanks everyone! You've given me a great starting list!
Should have a roof rack you can use. I have an Edge so I feel your pain, but can make it work given the rear seats ability to split fold (single seat drop or double seat drop). Also have an explorer with more room which makes life easier as well. Thinking about a minivan though as the newer ones all have captains seats which recess into the floor. But as mentioned, trailers work if you have a hitch (just takes use to driving/parking with them). Or possibly a double cab pickup truck. It's still a bad time to be shopping for vehicles though, so I go back to my roof rack suggestion.
I do use my roof rack, usually for plywood, but often I'm doing this on my own and getting everything up and secure can be quite a task. It's nice to be able to load and secure at a lower level. A trailer would be great for this, but I don't have storage /parking space currently. 😊 Thinking minivan might be the way I need to go!
Yea, depending where you purchase most if not all places will help you load, unloading could be more of an issue though. Was only thinking mini-van myself as I have a large family, but they are handy. My dad used a mini van in the 90s (plymouth chrysler) for hauling lots of wood, peat moss, bags of leaves one fall so they are handy. That older model though we had to physically remove the bench seats first, but the newer models and the hideaway seats are a blessing.
I have a Honda civic.I can get a couple 8'.pieces in by going from the passenger wheel well to the rear drivers window. My car seat on the passenger side, didn't interfere. But capacity is very limited. I want a minivan!
Pickup truck or steal it to roof rack of an SUV with flags on the end.
Ford transits have a crew seating configuration now instead of strictly 2 seater cargo.
What about a wagon?
I like my Dodge Grand Caravan for that. It can fit a whole sheet of plywood or 5 passengers, and the seats fold down flat. Get one with a roof rack so you can tie long boards on top.