Moving My Stuff

I rarely like other people to pick up or move my wood. We woodworkers are like packrats when it comes to what wood we have and it's surprising where we acquire it from or how, what we actually have with regards to wood types and sizes and so on. In the USA, with a family of boys, I owned both a people mover and a truck or two. The vehicles could move wood, deliver projects and function for carrying a family too. With all of the boys gone now, pursuing their own lives as adults,I have no need for a second vehicle and I do not want a gas guzzler of a truck as in the states either. Here in the UK, with small winding narrow roads and streets packed solid both sides most days as car parks, I drive a smallish vehicle called a Citroen C3 Picasso. I also own and tow a 4'x 7' trailer to supplement for my loss of a truck. With these two in tandem I can move almost anything I want to anywhere.

In the car itself it's nothing really special except its block square, the seats fold to make a clear flat surface and the front seat contributes by folding forward in a kneeling position that makes it level with the rear area. This gives me about 8 feet from dash to rear door. With some jigging I can elevate the front above the dash and gain an extra foot or so and in a crunch I have left the tailgate on top of my wood and driven with the side windows open quite safely.

I learned to manoeuvre a trailer early on in my life and have towed one since touring England in 1985 for nine months on the road camping. Needless to say I still love the practicality of trailers. Funnily enough my 16 flat bed four wheeler was easier to manoeuvre that the short one I have now. The trailer means I can readily carry 4 x 8 sheet goods like plywood as well as a goodly load of wood too. Ten foot lengths are always fine and rarely would I need longer.

Tying down

Mostly I rely on narrow band webbing and cranks to tie off. They hook onto the apron skirt of the trailer perfectly. I created a wooden platform covered by a heavy duty marquee tent tarp rather than using the inside of the trailer for 90% of my carrying. I can cinch everything down fine that way as you can see. Inside the car I can carry desk size pieces quite well, and the roof bars lend themselves to boards of a decent length too. I have carried plenty of rough sawn wood overhead and sandwiched plywood between 2x4s quite securely. For rope I use sash knot rope. It's very strong, ties knots readily and the waxed sheathing is cotton so friction  and slippage are not an issue. My OCD tendency plays a role in keeping things orderly and I use hair elastics for keeping the coiled webbings ready for the next tim I use it—no tangles.