Draw a multi faceted rectangularish object

Thank you all for the great input.  That `Minus front' tool is really nifty

I will mention the instructions from Barbara Ash failed to give a clean result.  I suspect due to my blundering around

when creating the original drawing. Maybe from dinking around with the sizing of the 2x4s repeatedly and not really her

instructions, however the other instructions by Les O, with the extra steps he advocated, leaves a clean result even with

whatever blundering I may have done in original drawing. ... At any rate, following Barbara A's directions leaves the results

shown in the screengrab below:

\

Set up a document grid and draw with the pen tool. It's just a series of clicks.

Not possible with a 2 × 6. You'll have to go with a 2 × 10.

This will give you the general idea.

Delete the text.

Select the 3 wood pieces and Object > Group.

Select everything and Pathfinder > Minus Front.

You end up with this.

If you want to go a step further and add a dimensional look, you can use Effects > 3D > Extrude & Bevel.

First make a copy of everything. Then make the two end 4 x 2's extend outside the green carrier i.e left one drag top left corner diagonally upwards to the left, right one drg top right corner upwards to the right, middle one just drag the top side up a little. Then select all and hit the 'minus front' button in the pathfinder panel (top row second from left)