Hauling metal roofing on minivan roof?

[toganet]

I have a some home improvement projects coming up and I'm trying to approach them in as Mustachian a way as possible.  I have available to me around a dozen sections of standing-seam metal roofing, which will work perfectly for a few things -- but I need to transport them about 85 miles first.  I have a minivan (VW Routan) that I use as my "truck" -- but I am trying to decide if it would be a good idea to haul the metal on the roof or not.

My thought is I'd put couple pieces of lumber down first, to allow for ratcheting down front & back, but I'm not sure that's the right approach.  I am also not sure how much each section weighs.  I'm willing to take more than one trip, as these sections are at my rental property and I'm down there just about every week anyway :)

Anyone attempt anything like this in the past? 

[bacchi]

Weight is probably not a problem but how long are the pieces? They'd create lift, which would mean going at a really slow speed.

Could you rent a pickup and put them in the flatbed?

[toganet]

The sections are 12 feet long by 3 feet wide.  Lift is what I'm worried about, as well, since it's such a distance I don't want to have to crawl along.

I could rent or possible borrow a trailer, but I don't have anything to tow with.  Might be time to get the tow package on the van.

[robartsd]

The sections are 12 feet long by 3 feet wide.  Lift is what I'm worried about, as well, since it's such a distance I don't want to have to crawl along.

I could rent or possible borrow a trailer, but I don't have anything to tow with.  Might be time to get the tow package on the van.

I'd be looking onto the tow package for the van. A trailer will help tremendously with the aerodynamics and make material handling much easier as well. A dozen 36 square feet sheets of metal roofing probably weighs about 500 lb. U-haul's 6x12 open utility trailer weighs 1730 lbs. Many minivans can be fitted with a Class II hitch capable of towing 3500 lbs.

[toganet]

The sections are 12 feet long by 3 feet wide.  Lift is what I'm worried about, as well, since it's such a distance I don't want to have to crawl along.

I could rent or possible borrow a trailer, but I don't have anything to tow with.  Might be time to get the tow package on the van.

I'd be looking onto the tow package for the van. A trailer will help tremendously with the aerodynamics and make material handling much easier as well. A dozen 36 square feet sheets of metal roofing probably weighs about 500 lb. U-haul's 6x12 open utility trailer weighs 1730 lbs. Many minivans can be fitted with a Class II hitch capable of towing 3500 lbs.

Thanks, I think this tips me toward getting the tow package.  It opens up some other possibilities as well, and it's not a huge investment.  Thanks for the info!

[TeresaB]

Can you put them in the van, sticking out the back, and secure them?

[toganet]

Can you put them in the van, sticking out the back, and secure them?

They would stick out a little over 4 feet, which is probably doable with the proper flags.  I think I might try that next time and see how I feel once I start loading things up :)

[Syonyk]

Yeah, put some 2x4s under them and make sure they're secured so they don't fall out, but I'd pull all the seats out, put some support under them, and haul them inside.  Or use a trailer.

Though I have access to a pickup and plenty of trailers, I'd just borrow the flatbed and put them on it... I think that trailer weighs almost as much as your van empty, though.  It's not light.