How To Secure A Load On Roof Racks

First place smaller items together in a tub or suitcase.

How to secure a load on roof racks. Then you can begin organizing the cargo on the roof of your car. First loop the strap under the roof rack s crossbar and drape the loose ends over your oblong load i e. Start by loading dimensional lumber onto the rack with the narrow edges resting on the crossbars. With the third option crossbars with side rails you can secure an item to the side rails and run tie downs from front to back securing them to the crossbars.

The second option is the side racks. Carry bulky gear that won t fit in your vehicle. Use a tie down that wraps around the item and the rails. Step by step instructions step 1 packing step 2 secure everything well.

Place heavier items on top of lighter items to keep them in place and all items should stay centered between the doors. Rope is ok but you have to master several fancy knots for it to be safe. On each side of the roof you ll see a rack that runs the length of the roof of the vehicle. Use proper cam straps to secure your load.

That prevents the bundle from sliding forward backward or side to side. Then secure the front and back ends of each lumber bundle with ratchet straps to prevent movement photo 1. Next secure the load to the rack using ratchet straps photo 2. Two equally spaced straps running front to back and two side to side across the load will do the trick for most standard shaped items.

Ratchet straps are a cheap and easy way to ensure the highest level of safety when deciding how to secure items on a roof rack. After packing the cargo on top of the car use your tie down materials to secure the load. Carry dirty gear like. Wood said most roof rack systems for cars have a dynamic roof load of about 165 pounds.