With no end in site for high gas prices, my wife just informed me that we will be trading in the Jeep Cherokee (my wood hauler) for an even smaller gas sipper. Now what in the heck am I going to haul my lumber with. How are you folks dealing with the gas prices. Any innovative ideas on a sturdy after-market rack for a compact car to haul 10 – 20 bf? I’m thinking of a removable type so it looks good for just roaming around town.
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Replies
How about a small trailer, they come in handy for many things.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Hi Hammer. From a counselling perspective your motto could well be a description of many marriages. Are you Thor's hammer Miollnir? Watch for Loki, a crafty cousin of Hermes, and foe of Thor.
The Sky Walker returned me from the hand of Thrym, I still tease Thor about the drag costume. Loki's son Jormungand will, someday, feel my touch on the plain of Vigrid.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Perhaps an answer to fuel problems lies in Odin's Sleipnir, where the "extra legs" are in the trailer.
d00d wtfMy goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Just a little off topic, Norse mythology, John.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
:)My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Keep the Jeep, unless you absolutely must use it as a trade in, and just use it when you need the capacity, driving the gas sipper for ordinary errands. If you can't do that, then consider a hatch back.
John W.
Have you calculate how much you will save in total vehicle operating cost, considering any of the following costs that will apply to you -new or additional vehicle monthly payment, increased insurance costs, state,and local taxes including reistration fees,etc. Unless you drive a lot of miles it may take several years before the new better MPG vehicle saves you money in total vehicle cost.
Also, I would expect a lot of new types of vehicles will be available to buyers in the next few years, maybe wait a couple of years for more competetion. Right now would expect to pay premium price for high MPG vehicle.
Consider diesels, certain GM older diesels vehicales can get around 20 MPG. If interested e-mail me. For example our new 1 ton dually crew cab pick-up ( 7000 lbs) gets 20+ MPG on the highway and 17 to 18 in town.
Good luck in your discussions!
20 MPG? That's appaling. I've just retired a 15y-o Peugeot estate that could take 8' boards at a pinch and returned over double that figure, allowing fot the US/UK gallon difference. Who designs your engines? Exxon?
My Integra hatchback's been great; 125k miles and usually over 30mpg. With the rear seats down, I can fit 8' boards inside (but not very many).My next step's a trailer. You can get a 4x8 utility trailer (the kind that's just a bare metal frame and wheels) for $200-300, and it probably only weighs 200 pounds or so. The towing capacity on most small cars is 1000 lb. So if you're just buying some wood or plywood for weekend woodworking, this is more than enough capacity.Best of all, small cars like this are fast and have excellent handling, something you'll never find in a truck.Trucks are great if you need to haul a LOT of stuff at once, or really big stuff (like a refrigerator), on a regular basis. SUVs seem to be the worst of all worlds: crappy fuel economy, crappy handling, not nearly as much people capacity as a van or minivan, and nowhere near the cargo capacity of a truck. The only reason most people buy them is because minivans aren't "manly" enough for them.If I needed something with better cargo capacity than my hatchback, however, I'd get a small pickup like a Tacoma. These can haul plenty of stuff, but still get respectable fuel economy.
20mpg! (I splutter). Are you all very rich?
I have a diesel saloon car that will do 60mpg and usually does. It nevertheless has 160 bph available should one feel boyish enough to press the accelerator pedal hard. (I can't stand the gurgling of the fuel gauge though).
You can fit a ball and socket to pull a very beefy trailer or caravan, as the build quality of the chasis and body are tough enough and the power is sufficient, even if you can no longer do 0 - 60 in 8 seconds (and why would you want to unless you're still 16).
This car is a Seat Leon but comes in 3 other guises - Audi, Volkswagon and Skoda models. All are now marques owned by the Volkswagon group and have similar technology but varying prices, based on label cache and trim. Other European and Japanese diesel cars are availble with similar performance specs. They cost between £12 - 20,000.
Even if the economy of one of these powerful sippers drops to 40mpg when trailer pulling, it still compares rather well with them gas guzzlers of yorn.
Of course, fuel is £3 a litre here, which must be about $10 a gallon, is it? The European car makers had to get real about fuel economy.
But these cars all look a bit girly, compared to those muscle machines you all like - more Italian Riveria than Oklahoma. You can always get a red one.
Lataxe
3 pounds a litre in the UK sounds a bit steep. When I moved form the UK to Canada I switched from a reasonably efficient car paying high gas prices to a Hemi powered truck and cheap gas, with 11 mpg now it works out at much the same for me.
Lataxe, if you are paying £3 a litre even in Galgate then that is not diesel you are putting in your tank. I might just pay that for the stuff I drink and even then untreated meths is cheaper.
Mufti,
You're right, I am a confused old fool. Its £1 a litre.
Perhaps I was thinking of the cheap whisky that Uncle Cornelius drinks, if we don't buy him the good stuff, to stop him going blind. :-)
It is 60 mpg though.
Lataxe
Don't count on finding a roof rack for a compact car. In the old days, racks could be clamped to the car's rain gutters but rain gutters are long gone.
Depending on how often you haul lumber (and how much you buy each time), you may be able to:
If you're in business, you'll also need to deal with deliveries. My best customer lives over 50 miles from me and my last bid to him included a markup to cover $3.30/gallon gas. Luckily, my next two projects are for customers within a mile of me. - lol
$3.30/gallon gas (even given the smaller US gallon) is chickenfeed. Here in france, gas is 1.20 euro a litre, diesel a bit less, and in the UK the prices are higher. I appreciate you guys have longer journeys, but fuel economy isn't just a case of personal expenditure. I get road-rage when I see people driving around cities in 4x4s.
<!----><!----><!---->France<!----><!---->? Now there’s a great example of how to run a country and keep a strong economy…..
which has what, exactly, to do with the topic at hand? Or is it you just can't pass a chance to insult French people however tenuous the connection?
Ooooo, bummer.
John's idea of a hatchback is good. Also, some of the small stationwagons have "split back seats" where you can lay one down, but not the other, and may have a front seat that will tilt all the way forward to give you a nice long path for lumber.
Don't know what kind of mileage the mini-vans get, but they are nice and spacious. Yeah, I know, not a manly thing to drive. One of the better ideas I've seen was an old VW bus, but unfortunately, they are death traps in an accident.
An aside: saving money isn't the only reason to drive a higher-mileage car. If there weren't so many folk driving over-sized SUVs and Hummers in this country (people who really don't need them) we wouldn't be paying $3++ for gas. The chickens are home to roost, for sure!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I'm with Hammer1... A trailer is the way to go.
I have a Jeep Liberty as my 'weekend' car. Even with that I find I'm limited in hauling capacity. Sheet goods, 'construction lumber' and landscaping materials are a no-go. I just borrow the neighbours 4x8 trailer when I need to haul those.
I've also been known to rent a truck when I need to do alot of hauling. $50 Cdn for the weekend. About the same as what delivery is from the big box stores. The only issue is you really got to watch for damage. Recently I worked out a deal with a friend. I built him some cabinets for his garage, and get to borrow his truck when I need it.
Have a Tahoe and still need the trailer. Its an 8 footer and works great. By the way the Tahoe just loves to stop at gas stations, but I'm keepin' it anyway....Jimmy
How do I deal with high gasoline prices? I set back and watch my energy stocks and royalty holdings appreciate in value. Of course, Uncle Sam has the last laugh there.
Suggestion - get a small trailer that will pull behind the gas sipper.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
How about informing the wife you AREN'T trading in the Jeep??
yeah, the jeep will make a nice bed for the next week too.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
I remind myself that gas prices today are still less, as a portion of income, than they were when Jimmy Carter was pres.
Remember gas lines - double digit inflation, 19% home mortgages? Some of you are way to young to remember 25 cent gas. What a shock when it quadrupled in price in a few very short years. Do you remember gas stations selling by the litre because their pumps could not go above 99.9 cents?
Things only look bad, but gas has stayed behind inflation for many years. Compared to milk gas should be $4 a gallon or more.
Buck up and decide what's important to you, then find a way to achieve it. I don't know what I'd do with out my Dodge Ram Woodhauler.
Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.
Frank Lloyd Wright
I remember when if they were having a gas war, the price was known to get down to 14 cents1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
You and I must share a birth decade! I remember my three buddies each kicking in $.50 and we could ride all night in my mom's Catalina.Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
Trading that Jeep will cost you in the long run. The payback on the higher mileage replacement will take YEARS, even at $4.00/gal. Most people never look at the total cost of ownership of a vehicle and make emotional choices. Right now, a used full sized truck will be quite cheap, you can buy a lot of fuel with the savings.
Based on my energy stocks, I'm liking high fuel prices!
Go to your local bicycle or outdoor shop (REI, EMS, Trek dealer) and buy a Yakima roof rack system. They make towers and clips that will attach to virtually any make of vehicle, and for around $200 you can have everything you need to haul lumber and sheet goods using cargo straps.
Plus, if you ever get into boat or canoe building you will have a way to get it to the water. You can also buy attachments for bikes, skis, and large cargo boxes. I couldn't survive without mine.... :-)
JM
second this. I did this on a Dodge Colt and was able to haul reasonable quantities of things. Professional installation helps as they'll use rivnuts to attach it through the roof which I'd guess is stronger than clipping to the rain gutters.
FYI: these newer type racks actually use clips that attach inside the door jamb; the weight capacity that the company recommends ranges from 150-200# depending on the vehicle. I can attest that this capacity can be safely exceeded, but use good judgement.
Greg,
Be aware of the new vehicle's towing and roof rack weight capacity. As an example: a Honda Accord does not have the capacity to haul one of those 4x8 trailers see outside Home Depot (a neighbor was going to attempt it, but wisely thought to call the mfg. first.)
Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
I rented a flatbed at Home Depot a few weeks ago -- $19.95 for the first 90 minutes and you fill the gas. They didn't really care if I bought something there or not. For longer periods, look at daily rentals. For example, Enterprise rents cargo vans that will haul a lot.
Convert to being Amish ??
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Here in Australia trailers are very popular, you can get almost anything on them. It's important to keep them covered to prevent rust. Rust would probably be a problem from salt on the roads(I used to live near Niagara Falls and it was a real problem).
I have a Honda "mini-van" and with the back seat folded down and the two middle seats removed I can hall a 4x8 sheet of plywood. The newer ones are supposed to get 28mpg on the highway, my 99 gets about 25 mpg on the highway and about 18mpg in the city. Anyway if you don't need 4 wheel drive they are a great van. Good luck
Troy
Rent a trailer?
Greg, I bought a Hyundai Elantra over the weekend. The sticker had 24 city to 32 highway. With the back seat down, I could close the trunk with 58" length, If I tied the trunk lid down, 8' should not be a problem.
I am keeping my GMC Suburban for work pulling trailers and boats, but it hurts to pull up to the pump and put $100 worth of diesel in the tank.
What ever you look at and are tempted to buy. "RENT/BORROW" for a few days of driving the way you would use it and then you will get a fair idea of the true mpg. I went back to a sebring from a PT GT cruiser because I could not get past the poor MPG from day one with the PT GT. Just for info PT GT 19 mpg (lots of go) Sebring convertible with 2.7 V6 24+ (enought go).
A trailer is a great call on a number of levels. Even a modest one has comparable capacity (volume maybe not weight)of a full size pickup. Just make sure that it is large enough to hold a full sheet of ply flat. You will be surprised at the uses that you can find and the friends that will come out of the woodwork when it comes times to move something. Finally, do you really want to be riding down the interstate with lumber lashed to the top of your hatchback holding on to it with one hand out of the window. That is how all of those mattresses got there.
Dave
Greg, Keep in mind that there are limitations to what you can carry on top of a car. Sometimes people fail to use common sense:
Roy
yeah. don't do this to your car. and don't overload your ####.
Sounds like it's time to trade in the wife to me.
Tell her not to worry about the gas, you've got it handled.
Sorry for the late contribution. I was on a long trip burning gasoline in my Ramwagon woodhauler/camper similar to Rennie's. The reason for the wagon is that most lumber available to me is 10 to 14 feet long & 50 miles away. It is too long for a reasonable trailer (which I tried) & I don't want to haul it unprotected through a gully washer which is so common where I live. I don't see how you get by with a Jeep for wood hauling, but I'll take your word on it. The way I deal with gas prices is to drive less. That always meant buying in larger quantities to minimize travel. Buying oil stock could have been an option had I realized that option in November 2000.
While paying $3.29 for gasoline while on this trip, I had a thought that I could probably get by with a Scion xb straight shift now. I have had the van for 5 years. I may have to carry a chain saw to the mill if I trade. But when I consider all expenses, continuing to drive the van - just less - is the least expensive option. LOL!
Cadiddlehopper
If you think your gas prices are high in Melbourne Australia we are paying $3.50 Aus per Litre which is $10.00 per US gallon and believe me this hurts.Thats in Au dollars with current exchange rate that is about $7.50 US
HI Bolts,
I assume that you meant $1.50 per litre - it's $1.30-$1.40/litre here in NSW.
In Europe it's at least twice that if not more - One US gallon = 3.55L from memory, making our price about AUD5.00/US Gallon (USD3.75/gal)
I don't know how much it costs now in Europe - Last time I was in Britain, petrol there cost about AUD$3- per litre, while it cost about AUD0.70 per litre here (that was a while ago)
How much do they pay in EUrope now, I wonder?
Cheers,
eddie
Edited 5/22/2006 4:08 pm by eddiefromAustralia
thanks eddie I got the numbers wrong it has been as high as $1,49 its now around $1.30-40 Au Dollars
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