karrot-x said:
I need to go pickup some drywall tomorrow, I'm trying to figure out how to make everything fit. I think I'm going to get 4'x8' pieces. Will this fit inside the X? Can I find some way to close the rear door with bungee cords? Can I mount them to the top with bungee cords, without breaking the drywall?
If you look at my
Filling up the back of the X thread, you'll see that there is more than 4 feet of width in the X's cargo area, once you are above the wheel wells. However, there isn't 8 feet of length.
Bungee cords are not suitable for attaching anything to the roof of the X (unless it's going to remain stationary!).
If you're going to be doing drywall, then presumably you have some tools, so this is what I'd suggest:
1)
Get a couple of sheets of 4x8 plywood - 1/2" should do.
2)
Get some pieces of 1x3 (e.g. 1-foot long pieces) and screw them along all the edges of both sheets of plywood, so that they stick out 1.5 inches past the edges.
3)
Get some pieces of 2x4 (e.g. 1-foot long pieces) and screw their narrow edge to the parts of the 1x3 that are sticking past the edges of the plywood.
Leave 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch between the edge of the plywood and the 2x4.
Do not attach the 2x4 pieces to one end of one of the pieces of plywood.
4)
Do a 'dry run', placing the piece of plywood without the 2x4s at one end onto your roof rack.
Put the end without the 2x4s at the rear, with it overhanging the liftgate just enough that you can screw up from underneath to attach the 2x4 pieces.
You may want to adjust the positions of the roof rack crossmembers.
You may want to add some pieces of 2x4 blocking underneath the plywood (i.e. screwed from above) to prevent this piece of plywood from moving side-to-side and backwards-forwards on the roof rack.
5)
Once you are ready, put both pieces of plywood on the roof rack, and tie them down.
Use ratchet straps and/or good rope (with good knots), not bungee cords.
Also take the remaining 2x4 pieces, some screws, and a cordless screwgun.
6)
At "the drywall place", remove the top piece of plywood.
From the rear of the X, load the 4x8 drywall sheets into the 4x8 'plywood tray' that is on your roof rack.
When you have loaded all the drywall, attach the remaining 2x4 pieces along the rear edge of the plywood.
Place the other plywood sheet on top of the pile of drywall.
Use ratchet straps and/or rope to tie the 'drywall sandwich' to your roof rack.
The edges of the drywall will be protected from the straps/ropes, especially if you pass them over the places where you attached the 1x3s.
Properly secured, you can drive any distance, and at highway speeds, with that sort of load on the roof, subject of course to the weight involved.
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