Learn how to safely secure items to your car s roof racks.
How to secure things to a roof rack.
On each side of the roof you ll see a rack that runs the length of the roof of the vehicle.
Use a tie down that wraps around the item and the rails.
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.
Times like these having a roof rack really comes in handy.
Knowing how to secure items on a roof rack properly is also vital to the well being of your belongings but more importantly it s a serious safety concern for you and other motorists.
Racv s ernest litera shares some practical tips on roof rack safety loading.
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.
Consider a roof rack.
Tie down the boards lengthwise and widthwise similar to how you d secure a mattress.
When it comes to sporting goods it s worthwhile to invest in custom built roof equipment leanse says like a dedicated rack for bicycles snowboards kayaks or surfboards.
Here are a few things to consider before your next over packed trip.
It also reduces the risk of damaging your vehicle.
Stack items evenly across the roof and in the center of the doors.
Make sure your ro.
A roof rack is ideal as it provides the most secure tie down.
Cover the entire load with a tarp or netting to prevent things from falling out.
If you don t have a roof rack there are still other options out there for you.
Lighter goes lower place heavier items on top of lighter items.
If your vehicle has a roof rack you have one of the best situations for tying down a canoe.
The second option is the side racks.
This means that assuming you ve strapped everything down properly and your load doesn t exceed that weight you should be in the clear to drive as you normally would at highways speeds.
If you have a roof rack the straps ropes can be looped around the side and cross rails.
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.