Chris "Crunchy Leaf" Salzman

I need to get three sheets of 1/2" plywood home from Home Depot. If I ratchet strap them to the top of my mazda 5 and take it slow (like 30mph tops) will that work?

I really do not want to have to get a truck. it's like 2 miles away from my house

Feb 23 at 4:00pmWeb
Show threadRhymes with TurkeyFeb 23
@csalzman I am once again wishing we shared one of those cheap plastic-bodied pickup trucks
Show threadhypomodernFeb 23
@samfirke @csalzman we need someone to manufacture a kei truck here
Show threadChris "Crunchy Leaf" SalzmanFeb 23
@hypomodern @samfirke yet again this pesky day job prevents me from pursuing an excellent idea like “how hard could it be to manufacture a kei truck in the US?”
Show threadmatthFeb 23
@csalzman @hypomodern @samfirke not the same thing but pretty sure I put $50 down for a Slate
Show threadChris "Crunchy Leaf" SalzmanFeb 23
@matth @hypomodern @samfirke even the slate is too much car!
Show threadErich ZFeb 23

@csalzman @matth @hypomodern @samfirke I cancelled my slate preorder for this reason.

Honestly, a kei truck is affordable enough that a group library style purchase isn't really out of the question

Show threadmatthFeb 24
@Erich @csalzman @hypomodern @samfirke what’s the timeline look like on those being road legal?
Show threadhypomodernFeb 24
@matth @Erich @csalzman @samfirke they are road legal in Michigan as of late 2024, but I don't think freeway-legal?
Show threadmatthFeb 24
@hypomodern @Erich @csalzman @samfirke Oh!!! Like you can get tags for them now? We'd contribute meaningful if someone wants to buy. Maybe I can even be the buyer but I don't know what sourcing looks like.
Show threadhypomodernFeb 24
@matth @Erich @csalzman @samfirke ah, I guess it is just vintage models, alas. _Federal_ law prevents import of new models :(
Show threadErich ZFeb 24
@hypomodern @matth @csalzman @samfirke yes, 25 years and older is legal now. So a 2001 model year
Show threadErich ZFeb 24

@hypomodern @matth @csalzman @samfirke in total you are looking at about $4-6k for a kei truck shipped to Baltimore if you import it. There are quite a few here already though so you may also be able to buy one for a little more locally with some patience

https://carfromjapan.com/tags/kei-trucks-for-sale

Show threadhypomodernFeb 24

@Erich @matth @csalzman @samfirke that is so cheap, holy smokes

Although these are all probably right-hand drive; I wonder how long that would take to get used to on US roads 🤣.

Show threadChris "Crunchy Leaf" SalzmanFeb 24
@hypomodern @Erich @matth @samfirke what I told myself when I was driving the home depot rental was that as soon as I spend 1000 dollars in rental fees with home depot I can explore buying a kei truck instead.
Show threadErich ZFeb 24

@hypomodern @matth @csalzman @samfirke

I used to drive a right hand truck daily, it's relatively easy to get used to. Shifting with the left hand might take a little more practice though

Show threadhypomodernFeb 24
@Erich @matth @csalzman @samfirke I can't drive a manual transmission anyways :)
Show threadmatthFeb 24
@hypomodern @Erich @csalzman @samfirke o yea same :-(
Show threadErich ZFeb 24
@matth @hypomodern @csalzman @samfirke best way to learn is to buy a stick shift vehicle! I'd happily teach anyone
Show threadBlessd are the Chessemakers 🌱Feb 23
Even if you use a blanket there's a very good chance you'll scratch your roof loading or unloading, assuming you don't have a rack. Also if you have multiple sheets make sure they're secured together in addition to being secured to the car (middle one slips out). I am prone to this kind of silliness myself (one carried a giant baby pool across the city via backroads), but I would recommend the truck.
Show threadJim JonesFeb 23
@csalzman I would also attach front and back. We would use paracord ties to toe hooks and frames at the front and back of the car when we had kayaks to counteract any updraft.
Show threadpeter honeymanFeb 23
@csalzman do you have a license to fly?
Show threadEd W8EMV Feb 23

@csalzman plywood rack for a bike trailer?

https://www.bikesatwork.com/store/product/plywood-rack

probably a no-go in windy or winter weather, but it would carry enough plywood to built the finest bike shed

Plywood Rack | Bikes At Work

Sturdy rack makes it easy to carry plywood, sheetrock, doors, and more on a B@W trailer

Show threadBob DivelyFeb 24
@csalzman I would tie them front-to-back also. Or at least front-to-strap. You want to keep them from flexing upward. Drive very slowly.