soft rack on a coupe

[superfish]

just got my license, so im looking at cars. anyway, the cars that i am mostly looking at are later 90s mustangs and camaros. my question is would I be able to use soft racks on them? I would mostly be carrying shortboards. also, do I have to space the racks a certain distance from eachother?

[twerked]

first, have you seen insurance rates for those cars? can you afford that? second, how far will you be driving with the boards on the racks? if it's short distances, it should be fine. but anything involving highway speed/long distance would be sketch. you want them a decent amount apart. it's do-able, just not the best way to do it. remember, fins forward. and also, check if the seats can fold down, because you can always just put it in through the trunk. i do that a lot when it's only one or two shortboards

[Real Pol]

It's difficult when it's a 2 door car. If the door curves at the front that may encourage the rack to slip back towards the rear, so you really need a square door, (does thant make sense?). You really want as much distance as possible especially if you have a board of any great lenght.

I personally will only ever use soft racks on hire cars as the paint work on my last car rubbed and scratched quite badly due to sand and salt getting between the car and the racks.

So if it's a car you love either invest in bars or make sure you take off and wash your racks often!

[Real Pol]

remember, fins forward.

Explain?

[superfish]

if it's short distances, it should be fine. but anything involving highway speed/long distance would be sketch.

I guess I should just look at a small truck or SUV then (my other options) because i've been wanting to take some trips up and down the coast.

[Real Pol]

No no! Get a sports car! Just make sure you can attach a board to the roof or fit it inside. You can get a minimal in most coupes.

[superfish]

No no! Get a sports car! Just make sure you can attach a board to the roof or fit it inside. You can get a minimal in most coupes.

Not sure though, as I have to also have to carry some big stuff (like large guitar amps), and I can't fit my minimal in a hatchback. I was considering the Ford Bronco, a friend of mine has one and its tough, and 4wd. only downside is gas

[twerked]

remember, fins forward.

Explain?

well, i just always put fins forward. i guess the idea is that if the straps start to loosen, the fins will catch the straps, rather than the board just sliding out from underneath...dunno though. just always did it that way.

as for cars, check out the honda element. and the jeep compass. both are kind of ugly, but they are decent gas wise. dunno about your price range though. how big is your amp? you can fit at least 8 dead hookers in the trunk of a mkII jetta

[Real Pol]

See now I'd agree with that as I worry that that straps loosen when I'm driving (even though they never do), but I'd be more worried they slip out when I brake, so fins at the back "might" catch and save the boards from disaster!

[superfish]

as for cars, check out the honda element. and the jeep compass. both are kind of ugly, but they are decent gas wise. dunno about your price range though. how big is your amp? you can fit at least 8 dead hookers in the trunk of a mkII jetta

My amp is a half stack (those who dont know it is four 12" speakers) and my price range is under 5000 so ill probably just get a small suv.

but I'd be more worried they slip out when I brake

you must drive like a frickin maniac!

[twerked]

See now I'd agree with that as I worry that that straps loosen when I'm driving (even though they never do), but I'd be more worried they slip out when I brake, so fins at the back "might" catch and save the boards from disaster!

valid point. but i usually put one of the parts of the strap over between the trailing fin and the two forward ones, if it's a thruster or 2+1. other wise, the strap just goes on opposite sides of the single fin. quad just goes in the car.

i don't know about you, but i'd be looking for something with a relatively low deck high for your car. lifting half cabs into cars n ish is soo annoying. i loved the practise space my band used to have. they had motorised loading docks so we could just wheel stuff in the van. the drummer in my band could fit his whole kit in the back of his compass. it's a 4 piece, with a long bass drum

[Real Pol]

Seriously superfish, everytime you drive by a sports car you'll regret your decisions of getting a "practical box". Sell your amp and get a battery one which attaches to your belt. No problem!

[twerked]

^ or you get the amg g-wagon. or a porsche cayenne turbo. best of both worlds..kind of. but massive price tag

[Real Pol]

or a porsche cayenne turbo.

[simonpegg123]

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When transporting a surfboard on top of your automobile the usage of a primary car rack or surfboard “gentle racks”, position the board upside down (deck of board going through automobile roof) WITH THE FINS POSITIONED TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR!
Why have to the fins be positioned inside the front in preference to the returned? If the board is placed with the fins in the the front, while the board tries to slide go into reverse of the roof racks due to the pressure of the wind pushing the board whilst using, the fins will catch on the front tie down straps with a purpose to stop the board from sliding.
If the fins are in the back, while the board starts sliding again from the pressure of the wind at the same time as riding, there may be not anything to stop the board from sliding all of the manner off of your racks, specifically if you haven’t completed an amazing task strapping the board down tightly on the roof of your vehicle.
DON’T USE BUNGEE CORD TO STRAP YOUR BOARD DOWN ON TOP OF YOUR CAR! Bungee wire has a number of superb uses but strapping a surfboard to the roof of a car isn’t one in every of them. Why? Because bungee wire stretches, and whilst you’re riding down the road at 65+mph the wind is going to be seeking to lift the surfboard off of your car. If you’re the usage of bungee cords as your tie down straps, unavoidably the bungee cords will stretch to the factor where the wind will yank your board off of your car inflicting excessive harm for your board and viable catastrophic damage to the motors around you as shown within the video.
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[SnakePlissken]

Superfish,
Check out the epa's website about fuel economy in older vehicles. You can put in any vehicle by make/model/year and it will spit out a current fuel economy estimation. If you're considering a truck or SUV this will be a lifesaver. I had a late 90's explorer for a while and wish I had done this (pos got like 8mpg)

Depending on your board, it may not even fit in an SUV. My longboard won't fit in my wife's fj. Something to consider. So you may have to tie to the roof anyway. I have a pickup so it's not an issue, but if I didn't I certainly wouldn't cheap out on a board rack, soft or otherwise. Can you imagine having to pay for your board going through some other cars windshield?

Like someone else said, check the insurance rates. I know it sucks the fun out of getting your first car but adulting sucks. And a new driver with a V8 camero, you may end up paying more in insurance than gas.

Finally, YouTube for a song by the dead milkmen; bitchin camero.