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Can I fit plywood/sheetrock in the cargo bay?

36K views 39 replies 18 participants last post by  fishycomics  
#1 ·
I'm scoping out a hybrid for my next vehicle. In addition, I plan to be doing a significant amount of remodeling over the next several years, so whatever I get needs to be conducive to hauling remodeling and construction supplies. I have a Accord Coupe right now which is absolutely garbage at hauling anything.

I'm a bit bummed that the CRV has no tow rating, otherwise it would be at the top of my list; I could get a small utility trailer and haul the bulkier stuff. Would be neat if this changes for 2021, but I'm not getting my hopes up. The RAV 4 hybrid seems to have the opposite problem in that the rear seats don't fold flat which makes it awkward to haul stuff, but it does have a tow rating. Why can no one make a normal hybrid?

If the CRV could fit plywood and sheetrock in the cargo bay, I could deal with that. I forgot to bring a tape measure when I last scoped one out. Can anyone answer this for me?
 
#2 ·
Hi and welcome.


This thread lists the boot/trunk dimensions for you.

If you are concerned about the towing capability, I would say ditch the pursuit of a Hybrid and go with the 1.5T.
 
#3 ·
Thanks! Looks like a few sheets might could fit in diagonally but it would be pushing it. Unfortunately CRV Hybrid may not be for me. I have a downtown commute in which a hybrid would be incredibly beneficial so that's the most important feature for me right now.
 
#4 ·
Alternatives:

1.Roof rack (stick the ladders and plywood on top)
2 Carry a battery-powered SawZall, to cut the materials to fit. :ROFLMAO:

J/K about number 2...
 
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#5 ·
The CR-V hybrid has been great for infrequent hauling tasks. For example, I installed track-hanging closet organizers and brought the rails and shelves home, but I do not routinely build custom closets. I expect to use the cargo capacity when we next replace the TV, also, but I don’t expect to start a TV-delivery service.

The flexibility is useful, but I don’t think it’s a good choice for frequent hauling — and not at all for towing in the U.S. I think of it as a Costco utility vehicle and not as a construction utility vehicle.
 
#6 ·
Ya any hybrid like this is a grocery commuter nothing more. Could likely tow a little bit with it if you can find a hitch, but not going to tow much


These are hybrids, want a vehicle that is useful, go buy something meant for more than running kids to school, morning commutes. Never get the appeal of hybrids personally. Much more costly over the long term and causes much more dangerous pollution than regular vehicles.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
Because I will be commuting more than I will be constructing. You don't need a truck to do home remodelling. You need something that can pull a 4x8 utility trailer.
The towing requirement disqualifies the CR-V hybrid for U.S. buyers — and as far as I can tell, it would likely disqualify the vehicle for buyers in countries where very light towing is supported by Honda.

This is where Toyota's "hybrids in every shape and size" approach works nicely: the Highlander might fit the requirements, depending on your budget. Towing capacity is listed as 3500 lbs., and you'd still see some of the commuting advantages of a hybrid. (The trade-off here appears to be the same lack of refinement that made us choose the CR-V over the RAV4.)
 
#15 ·
Carbuff2 is correct with his answer #2. No way that a full sheet of plywood will fit inside your V.

The only way I got 8' lumber to fit in our old '08 was to fold the rear seats & stick the lumber over the console between the front seats.

As for tying sheets & ladder to the top, please don't. The folks who are unfortunately stuck behind you will be paying more attention to what may fly off of your vehicle than safely operating theirs.

Depending on where you shop, several of the big box stores have delivery trucks you can rent. If they don't, try Uhaul. No need to damage your vehicle or become dangerous to others by improperly carrying heavy objects.
 
#16 ·
One thing I don't see mentioned here is that, if you are getting your plywood (or lumber) at the Home Depot, they will cut it down to size for you free. Which is a good price. Of course, you'll need to know what dimensions you need before you leave the house. Its what I do, now that I've sold my pickup. Works great! My Home Depot has a 16" RAS in the back of the store, and also a large vertical sheet goods saw, and they are always happy to help.
 
#17 · (Edited)
My suggestion is to do what I did. Buy an old truck for ~$3k and use it to haul whatever.
My CR-V hybrid is for transporting people, dogs, luggage, and daily driver.

Any trip to the Hardware store I go in my 2002 Frontier I bought for less than $3k.
I am a pretty good mechanic and can do most of the repairs to my vehicles myself tho. So I fixed up what the frontier needed myself. It is an option and honestly it is worth the $ to me to be able to just put whatever in it. If I ever wanted to haul stuff I could just put a hitch on it and go. Buying mulch and rock in bulk is SO much cheaper too and I do that several times a year for landscaping around my house.
 
#18 · (Edited)
The RAV4 hybrid does what I want, but you pay the Toyota tax and Toyota's interiors always seem a generation behind everyone else's. A comparable RAV4 is about $4k more than the CR-V, and I hate how they add packages to everything....

I'd love to get a tiny truck but we'd have nowhere to store it. The 4x8 trailer folds up and fits nicely in the garage with two other cars.

I'm gonna push the Honda salesman on this, say I'll go for the CR-V but I want in writing that they (the dealer I buy it from) won't void my warranty if haul a light utility trailer. The trailer is ~250lbs, and even with a generous 500 lbs of supplies that's 750lbs of load... basically nothing. That's 3 robust Americans. Doubt they'll go for it but fingers crossed.
 
#20 ·
Yea the dealer will cop out of responsibility any way they can. I have never met a dealership that would go for something like that or anything even close no matter the brand. They always say that the manufacturer honors the warranty they just submit them and you have to talk to Honda. If you are a fantastic negotiator and are actually able to pull that off let me know and I will give you a resounding round of applause. I have a gravel area for extra parking so I am lucky to have a place to put the truck. You could keep it at the curb of your front yard as long as HOA rules are not a problem. But to each their own.
 
#27 ·
I have a 2018 CR-V. You might (MIGHT!) be able to haul a sheet or two of plywood/sheetrock (4x8' we're talking) if you first remove the tailgate and don't mind tearing up the interior. I needed to carry five 4x8' sheets of 1/4" plywood and five 4x8' sheets of 1" foam insulation and NO JOY. Luckily I was able to use my daughter's 2019 Odyssey - which, with the middle row of seats removed and 3rd row folded down, just BARELY allowed me to shut the tailgate --- it was a complete "shut" because the warning light on the dash came on. I had to slide the front seats almost fully fwd, and my > 6' self had to assume the fetal position to sit in the driver's seat. Good thing the drive was on city streets and the trip was only about 3 miles.

I have carried ten 8 ft 2x4s (with a cardboard box cut in such a way to protect the upholstery on the sides of the two front seats and the surface of the console "lid" in my CR-V...but, had I stopped all of a sudden, the tranny lever would've been shoved into "N" or "R" ... the short trip made it workable...I did that twice. My building project is all finished except for a few final touches, so no more "big" hauling jobs. Next time, I'll find a friend with a pickup truck (if there IS a next time when I'll need to carry 4x8 sheets of stuff!).
 
#29 ·
Yeah, mini-vans are much more versatile. Hauls more people and more "stuff", than even most large SUVs. I love them. I would get one myself, but I am single, so it would mess up the little bit of game I have. LOL. Maybe if I got a bumper sticker that said "Don't let the mini-van fool you. I am single!"
 
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