How To Tie A Box To A Roof Rack

There s the scenario where there s absolutely nothing on the top of your roof.

How to tie a box to a roof rack.

The basic steps to properly and safely secure cargo to the roof of your vehicle are the same whether you re securing your cargo to roof cross bars side rails ladder racks or baskets. It s important to use the right tie downs and place the item correctly on the roof rack if you want to avoid damaging your cargo or causing an accident. Aside from being dangerous this is illegal in most states. Weave rope through the windows and around the mattress at least four times twice in front and and twice in back including the length wise rope already in place.

Tying a mattress to a car roof falls in a grey area of legality. Remove your rack when not in use to avoid the added weight drag and noise. It s also crucial to secure your load to guard against movement on all axes front to back side to side and up and down. Improper tie down practices are all too common and many accidents and injuries happen because someone didn t take their time loading cargo on the roof of the car.

Nylon rope also works but be prepared to tie some trucker s knots. Use ratchet or cam straps to tie the roof rack through the doors not the windows. Tie the rope that you placed the mattress on in place. Is tying a mattress to a car legal.

On a related note never tie anything across the roof that exceeds the width of the vehicle beyond either side mirror. Movement and tie downs. When you own a car at some point or another you re going to want to put things on your roof. For a video and step by step instructions on how to tie down a kayak please see our article on how to tie down a kayak to a vehicle.

It s the best way to carry oddly shaped unwieldy and extra items that might not fit in the car but. Wood said most roof rack systems for cars have a dynamic roof load of about 165. The only downside of putting you bike on top of a car s roof rack is if you forget it s there and go to a drive through you may smash your bike if you forget. Assess your rack situation.

Roof racks have been known to fail at high speeds with lots of updraft so take the extra precaution of tying the roof rack down to the roof of the vehicle as well.