Roof rack tie down “system”

[Quickstep192]

Anybody got any favorite tie downs for roof racks?

I just got a Ford Bronco and the roof rack is kind of high, so I’m basically standing on a tire to tie down.

I’m looking for something that’s fast and easy. Ratchet straps seem rather cumbersome; Bungees are easier, but don’t seem as secure as I’d like.

 

[jfleisher]

Cargo net? https://www.backcountry.com/b/thule...KoTZMETlPMMR0wLh0-nAFOWl0niiIhARoCebsQAvD_BwE

 

[Bad Habit]

Roller cam straps. Best that I have found

Rollercam

Rollercam

rollercam.com

 

[JeepYJ]

What are you tying down?

 

[Quickstep192]

What are you tying down?

Earlier this week it was ladders, but going forward it’s most likely to be lumber.

 

[JeepYJ]

For ladders I’d say the cam buckle straps or bungees would be fine. Lumber I’d use a stepstool and ratchet straps. Short distance slow speed driving may be different than long interstate drives.
The roller cam straps posted above look interesting.

 

[Hank11]

Ropes and knots you learn. It’s knot hard.
You can buy import static climbing rope relatively inexpensively. 1/4 - 5/16 (7-8 mm) will take care of most things.
Truckers hitch, perfection loop, and half hitches is about all you need.

 

[mikedodge]

Ratchet straps. If you need the extra height open the doors and stand on the floor and you can easily reach it.

 

[Quickstep192]

Ratchet straps. If you need the extra height open the doors and stand on the floor and you can easily reach it.

You must be taller than me!

When I was trying to tie down the ladders with ratchet straps, I couldn’t hold the strap and operate the ratchet lever at the same time.

Also looking into folding step stool.

 

[The Cobbler]

I couldn’t hold the strap and operate the ratchet lever at the same time.

I don't get why you were having trouble. to me ratchet straps are the way to go in that you can really reef things down tight
if you have them wound right yo hold the strap in one hand and ratchet with the other hand . once it's snug you can reef on the ratchet & get things really snugged

 

[whateg01]

I just ordered some retractable ratchet straps. No more dealing with the tail

 

[Quickstep192]

I just ordered some retractable ratchet straps. No more dealing with the tail

What and where from?

 

[whateg01]

I bought mine off Amazon because black Friday. Don't recall the brand right now. I've not used them before, so I don't know how well I'll like them. I believe you end up with less leverage once the strap is mostly retracted, but I don't know how much of an issue that will be.

 

[Cheep]

I like the speed and ease of camlock tiedowns unless you need to hold something like a car on a trailer, then the ratchet strap.

 

[Skiff Builder]

Ropes and knots you learn. It’s knot hard.
You can buy import static climbing rope relatively inexpensively. 1/4 - 5/16 (7-8 mm) will take care of most things.
Truckers hitch, perfection loop, and half hitches is about all you need.

I keep four 1/2" double braid dock lines on the tie downs in my pickup bed at all times. As you said above- those knots work well. Some of our State Troopers will give you guff on rope use on the road. One saw me tying down lumber on the racks in parking lot - told me I had to use ratchet straps! Asked him if he ever worked the Marine Unit and if he knew the breaking strength of my lines. His reason was people don't know how to tie- fair enough.
I showed him my Merchant Mariners Credentials and was good to go!

 

[CraigStu]

I can see a problem w/ ratchet straps in this use. Usually there is 12-15inches of webbing beyond the ratchet. So in this use the ratchet is 12-15" above the roof rack w/ a tall load or 12-15" across toward the center of the roof. Both dang hard to reach. BTW grab one of these.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-2-Step-250-lb-Capacity-Aluminum-Foldable-Step-Stool/5000211405

or a little taller,

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-3-Step-250-lb-Capacity-Aluminum-Foldable-Step-Stool/5000211407

I have the 3 step and it is very light weight so easy to grab when needed.

 

[mikedodge]

You must be taller than me!

When I was trying to tie down the ladders with ratchet straps, I couldn’t hold the strap and operate the ratchet lever at the same time.

Also looking into folding step stool.

Around 5'9. Ladders are what's up there the most.

You're usually leaning over too much to safely use a step stool plus its one more thing to carry around, that's why I stand on the floor.

 

[mikedodge]

I can see a problem w/ ratchet straps in this use. Usually there is 12-15inches of webbing beyond the ratchet. So in this use the ratchet is 12-15" above the roof rack w/ a tall load or 12-15" across toward the center of the roof. Both dang hard to reach. BTW grab one of these.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-2-Step-250-lb-Capacity-Aluminum-Foldable-Step-Stool/5000211405

or a little taller,

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-3-Step-250-lb-Capacity-Aluminum-Foldable-Step-Stool/5000211407

I have the 3 step and it is very light weight so easy to grab when needed.

You mean the 6" tail or whatever it is that the ratchet part has? Keep it to the nearest side and it's reachable.

 

[Hank11]

Standing on the tire is a little tedious and maybe not so comfortable. They do make “steps” that are suspended by straps that slip over the top of the tire and are more secure in use.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CargoLoc-Tire-Step-32521/306839885

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ropes and knots you learn. It’s knot hard.
You can buy import static climbing rope relatively inexpensively. 1/4 - 5/16 (7-8 mm) will take care of most things.
Truckers hitch, perfection loop, and half hitches is about all you need.

The trucker hitch is the ticket. It takes a minute, but with good, quality rope, you can't beat it !

Regarding "good, quality rope", stay away from ropes made from a combination of nylon and polyester ! The typically have a outside made a braided nylon. The inside is unbraided polyester. Very weak, and it stretches much more than nylon so the nylon is doing all of the work.

Double braided nylon is the best and you will pay for it !

 

[theoldwizard1]

To me ratchet straps are the way to go in that you can really reef things down tight

I use the 1" Harbor Freight straps for most things, like a dozen 2x4 in the bed of my pickup. And yes, THEY ARE CHEAP ! They come in a 4 pack and are 15' long. I cut 2 down to 10'.

The thing people do wrong is the forget they need to make a full loop around a load of multiple items, like a dozen 2x4, so they don't shift around under the strap. Next, pull all of the excess strap THROUGH the take up reel until the strap is snug. Then start ratcheting !

My biggest complaint about those HF straps is it take 2 hands to release them.

 

[Hank11]

Another advantage of ropes and knots is that you can throw the rope over the top of the vehicle and when it falls against the far side, it doesn’t knock a dent or scratch off the paint like a buckle would.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I keep four 1/2" double braid dock lines on the tie downs in my pickup bed at all times.

Few people are familiar with double braided dock line ! Short of some of those "exotic" synthetic ropes, this stuff is AWESOME.

You can find it on eBay for "reasonable" price in 15' and 25', typically with an eye spile in one end !

 

[egdede]

I love NRS roller cam style:

https://www.amazon.com/NRS-Vehicle-Trailer-Breaking-Strength/dp/B082MVGL1T/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And I am short so I use one of these:

Amazon.com: LGDWINGS Foldable Car Door Step, Installs on Door Latch, Dual,Foot Standing Pedal.The Car Door Step for Car Roof Access, Universal Fit for Car SUV Truck, 400 lbs Max Load (Black) : Automotive

Buy LGDWINGS Foldable Car Door Step, Installs on Door Latch, Dual,Foot Standing Pedal.The Car Door Step for Car Roof Access, Universal Fit for Car SUV Truck, 400 lbs Max Load (Black): Step Rails - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Hank11]

Biggest/clumsiest load I ever tied on a vehicle was eleven white-water kayaks (and one canoe) on a full sized chevy van and then drove half way across the country and back. All ropes, maybe a few straps.

 

[LopezBart]

I have four of these on our F250: https://ratchetstrap.com/products/c...1-7-8-inch-o-d-round-pipe-color-metal-options

These have been on the truck for decades; an occasional shot of good quality lube spray is all they've needed.

They work well, but as the strap doesn't stretch much at all, I will sometimes back them up w/ regular ratchet ties; I use this when carrying multiple sticks of square tubing as the loose ratchet straps tie the separate pieces into a bundle that the fixed straps can retain.
The two at the rear of the racks are easily reached from the tailgate. The two towards the front are best accessed via the rear passenger doors (crew cab).

You can see them in this shot (I'd slid the truck into a muddy ditch).

 

[Rst277]

I keep four 1/2" double braid dock lines on the tie downs in my pickup bed at all times. As you said above- those knots work well. Some of our State Troopers will give you guff on rope use on the road. One saw me tying down lumber on the racks in parking lot - told me I had to use ratchet straps! Asked him if he ever worked the Marine Unit and if he knew the breaking strength of my lines. His reason was people don't know how to tie- fair enough.
I showed him my Merchant Mariners Credentials and was good to go!

Ropes are illegal up here to use to secure loads on vehicles. Either drill holes for the far side hook or replace the hook with a good carabiner, then it won't fall off / out. The cam buckle type straps are quick but you need to knot them to keep them from slipping. I use two of them to pull the tarp tight on the back of the trailer but you have to know them or they'll come off. I have a carabiner instead of a hook on the one end so if they do come off, I won't lose it on the road.

 

[whateg01]

I bought mine off Amazon because black Friday. Don't recall the brand right now. I've not used them before, so I don't know how well I'll like them. I believe you end up with less leverage once the strap is mostly retracted, but I don't know how much of an issue that will be.

Just got these today. I was mistaken about how they work. The ratcheting mechanism looks like any other ratchet strap. The magic is in the takeup reel behind it that retracts the excess strap. So no leverage is lost because of it. I think I'm going to like these.

 

[Crashlandy]

Ropes and knots you learn. It’s knot hard.
You can buy import static climbing rope relatively inexpensively. 1/4 - 5/16 (7-8 mm) will take care of most things.
Truckers hitch, perfection loop, and half hitches is about all you need.

Rope work on everything. If you can't tie knots, tie lots.

 

[niget2002]

You must be taller than me!

When I was trying to tie down the ladders with ratchet straps, I couldn’t hold the strap and operate the ratchet lever at the same time.

Also looking into folding step stool.

They make auto-ratchet ratchet straps. You hook the two ends and push a button. Their limited in length due to the way they roll up, but for what you're talking about they'd be fine.