2008 Escape XLT. I've measured the door frame and it looks like a sheet of plywood will fit...but only about halfway up. Bottom is too narrow.

But if a bar was put across where the window-shade thingy mounts, it looks like it would slide right in.

Can anyone confirm this before I spend $45 for a sheet of plywood I can't get home???

 

Roof rack.. I don't have a 2008 so I can't confirm, just give suggestions.

 

I've always considered a roof rack rather decorations than useful and have never seen one with sheets of plywood strapped to them. I removed the crossbars years ago as all they did was hinder snow removal after I had snow slide after melting slide forward after a sudden stop(ABS engaged), cover my entire windshield blocking my view.

I've always needed sheets to be cut and so big box stores will cut for free, I've been lucky.

 

I also live in a snow area and have had my Xterra windshield suddenly blocked by snow from the roof. But the Xterra has a wide rear hatch and plywood slides right in.

I want to buy a sheet to cut and cover the cargo area of the Escape. I haul dogs, usually contained in the back, and the plywood protects the floor area.

My present dog [Weimaraner "Bonnie Blue"] has a habit of eating seat belts, retaining straps, exposed wiring, etc, so she needs to be tied. Either that or put her in a Dogloo/Furrari etc for trips to vet, park, or just ride around. But then she can't hang her head out the window.

Anyway, the roof rack on the Escape is not designed for C-clamps which is how I contain sheets of plywood on roofs.

I suppose for the one short trip I could put a sheet in kitty-corner...

 

I cobbled together a 'field expedient solution' for the one-sheet plywood transport. I made a pole to fit in the cargo shade sockets, where it is just over 4 foot wide [~halfway up], and put two laundry buckets in the front. Also loaded up a box of rubber tie-downs and C-clamps. I couldn't figure out a way to hold the rear hatch closed, so I just trundled along at 30mph for the trip home.

I tried to find a 52 inch piece of 1/4" pipe instead of the pole but nobody had that small of a pipe. Too bad, as 1/4 inch pipe was a good fit.