All the stuff I've loaded into my Prime's cargo area

Thanks for the tip. When I bought PRIME, I thought about adding roof rack, but the high cost and also some people having noise issue on highway made me rethink. Even if I do install a roof rack onto my PRIME, it will be very difficult if not plain impossible to secure 4x8 plywood in a way not to be blown away while driving, and certainly I can not put 16 loose bails of straws on top of the car. I am in search of a second car (truck or van or suv) with a large cargo.

 

Can't help you with the loose bails, but I have secured 4x8 sheets to the top of a roof rack on my previous car (Honda Civic Hybrid). The key is to use lots of twine/straps and a roof rack shield to direct air up and above the sheet (something larger than this, but you get the idea):

 

Thanks, but no thanks. I once hauled 6 feet tall stockade fence panel on top of my minivan roof rack. It was heavy enough I did not think it would fly off of the roof, but even at 30 mph, the thing was shaking a lot and almost blown off in the middle of a busy intersection. Luckily, it didn't and I got home safe. Never again I would try putting something bigger than the car itself on top of the roof. Fortunately, I don't need to carry 4x8 or larger piece of material often. Renting a cargo van from Home Depot is much safer and cheap at only $19.99.

 

what tonneau cover is that, does it only come with the advance??
mine is a premium and has like a cloth diaper that stretches from the hatch to the body of the trunk...

 

Advanced only as standard equipment.
J

 

Interesting. According to the brochure I'm looking at for the 2018 brochure, the Premium normally comes with the same cheapo cover as the Plus. It's called a "Cargo area lightweight tonneau cover." Advanced gets a "Cargo area heavyweight tonneau cover." The Advanced version is what's in your picture.

Edit to add, now that I've had this for a couple weeks, I think I might like the lightweight cover better. It does take longer to remove and install, but it's way easier to use once it's installed.

 

I don't use tonneau cover anymore for I have both of rear seats folded down most of the times. But for utility, the light flexible tonneau cover when in use allows putting some cargo that is higher than the tonneau cover level. It will stretch to accommodate the oversize. Prime deck being so high this characteristic makes the light tonneau more useful. That said, having a light blanket or large beach towel to coverup the cargo works just as good IMOH.

 

Absolutely prefer the fabric tonneau cover, as it easily conforms to hide otherwise too tall cargo loads.

One of our first accessory purchases was a Weather Tech cargo liner with bumper protector bib to replace the carpeted cargo mat. Soooo much easier to contain and clean messes while helping stave off bumper damage. We also keep a small movers blanket in the trunk to cover the folded down seats for those unplanned times when a humongous item needs to hitch a ride home.

 

I have one, too. Comes in handy sometimes.

 

Well, it's official that I no longer have to haul cargo in PRIME. We just drove new to us 2014 Pathfinder Hybrid 300+ miles to home. It's not as huge as our old Sienna minivan which took 8'x4' plywood flat, but it will take a large amount of cargo that would never fit inside of PRIME.

 

Congratulations! Looks like you're still enjoying some nice piles of snow up there.

 

Thanks. Yap, this was at a dealer 300+ miles south of us. Our backyard is still completely covered with thick snow.

 

Such a beautiful quilt!

 

Cheap store bought bedspread used for kids beds when they were young. Probably, 20+ years old.

 

Yes but you still can't haul 4x8 sheets because they are bigger than the vehicle

With regard to that and roof racks on the car, I got racks for the Gen II and two 2x4x12 pine boards. I modified the boards so they could be tightly attached to the racks to carry larger items (specifically 16' cattle panels) that could be tied down fore and aft. Wouldn't want to take it on the interstate though. Only needed occasionally, I wouldn't leave any racks on the car other than for those limited trips.

 

Actually, the Sienna minivan 200″ L x 78″ W x 69-71″ H and Pathfinder midsize SUV 199″ L x 77″ W x 70″ H are virtually the same size vehicle externally. Due to the difference in wheelbase Sienna 119.3" vs Pathfinder 114.2", SUV has smaller internal size. But if my measurement is correct, in a pinch, I can still put 8'x4' sheet of plywood in Pathfinder. Just not laying flat. It has to be on angle and the tailgate has to remain open. Better still, the car came equipped with a roof rack with cross bars and hitch receiver standard. If I have to haul a large amount of cargo or anything else for a long distance, there are those options as well. It has a 3500lb towing capacity.

 

For the record... none of us are enjoying it. SNOW, GO AWAY

 

I was able to fit this bad boy in there. Not much room to spare after this. Had some pretty surprised people when it was all said in done.

 

Impressive!