Marv

I keep looking at the roof rack rails on my 06 and wonder how robust these things really are.

I need to fetch some 4" X 4" X 10' pressure treated posts and I was thinking of strapping some 2 X 4s across the rails and then strapping four or so posts to the 2 X 4s.

I only need to go about 2 or 3 miles in town (max speed limit is 45mph), but I am concerned about the rails and how robust they really are. Don't want them tearing off the roof!

Weight load isn't the issue (4 posts are less than 150 lbs), but the length of the posts concerns me. I can strap two 2 X 4s on the rails, but realistically, they are only 36 inches apart (roof rails are pretty short). That means a 10' post would hang 42" beyond each cross post. I am worried about the rotational torque applied to the rails from the mass hanging past the horizontal cross members.

The alternative is to shove them into the cargo area, strap the gate down, and let nearly 50% of the posts hang out the tail. That makes me nervous, too, as nearly half the mass of the posts are free hanging out the tail and the internal strap rings probably aren't up to snuff.

oldskewel

I'd put them inside as you describe. Use a blanket to protect the interior. They won't want to go anywhere. Much safer than on the roof, if the roof is not done carefully.

Petza914

I'd buy them from Home Depot and spend the $25 to use their flat bed rental truck for an hour to drive them home and return the truck. Used to do this in my younger days when I only had one car and before I had a Pick-up.