Best way to travel with board on the rooftop of car!

[Bub]

I've been very frustrated and stressed out when travelling on the high speed highways (65+mph and 200 mile trip each way) to get to the beach to surf. I have no other means but to put the board on top of my car (I don't have a truck or van, just a small Mitsubishi SUV and a Toyota Corrolla. I have a very cheap tie-down kit that I bought. 2 foam rings to sit the board on w/ tie down straps that cinch up inside the windows inside the car. Because I'm so paranoid about the board coming loose, I use alot of bungie cords for extra reinforement. I also keep it in the board bag so I can loop the tie downs through the handles of the bag to keep the whole board from slipping backwards due to the headwinds pushing on it for 4 hours. Because of the bag and bungies, I get all kinds of noise up top that drives me (and anyone riding with me) nearly insane and I get very stressed out from the various noises of things flapping in the wind up there. I even try my best to ducktape down anything that might flap, but I always miss something.

I feel too paranoid to travel long distances with the board out of the bag because aside from the board sitting on the foam there is only the straps going over top to keep it from slipping. No matter how tight synch up the straps, I still seem to be able to push the board backwards on the foam and I'm afraid the high winds could push the board backwards. Also I'm afraid of rocks and such dinging the exposed board.

So anyway, does anyone have any advice for me to do this more effectively (a better way to strap it down, or better roof kit) or unless I buy a different vehicle, this is just something I'm stuck with? I seriously am a basket case driving down to the shore with that board up top and all the weird loud noises that even the radio doesn't block out.

[Hang11]

Get some proper roof bars, put foam pads on them, and use webbing straps, and it will be fine.

IMO bungee cords are pointless, because they stretch, so they will never hold a board on the roof properly.

[twerked]

roof rack is the best bet. it's a longboard i assume? shortboards are obviously easily fit into back seats/front seats/trunks. depending on the size of the board (if it is a longboard) i could get an 8'4" longboard inside my old jetta. i had to lay down the front passenger seat, put the nose in first at an angle, then by turning the board, i could then put the tail in at the footwell. if you can lay down the back seats, you may be able to feed it through the trunk, and over the passenger seat (again, super gangster lean back) and onto the dash. if you do go the roof rack course (which i would reccommend), and use cam straps, if you put a twist in the strap, it helps reduce the wind noise. also, thule makes special surfboard carriers, that are super easy to use. but you can only really carry 2 boards with them, but it's nice.

[RJD]

Roof bars + proper ties, it wont go anywhere and it'll be quiet.

[Dr Rev]

I use a Thule rack system, so quick to put on the truck and had no problems with speeds up to 90mph !!

Thule are not cheap , but well worth the investment !!

[Ged]

I put a 7' 6" board inside my VW polo. It goes in quite easily.

[surfmom68]

Have travelled miles with the same kinda roof strap system.... Just put one twist in the strap before threading it through and the noise will mercifully stop. Ive got a Dakin system and you can get extra straps which i use in a Heath Robinson manner if Ive got more than 1 board..

[libby]

I've driven the length of the country with a couple of board ontop of my little Fiat Punto and been fine, check/tighten things whenever i stop for petrol etc but usually things are still completley tight. If i get the annoying vibration noises then i just get out and fiddle with straps, twist them tighten them etc...

[Bub]

Thanks for the input. I'll have to try twisting the straps as I've always previously made sure all of the straps were flat. I would like to get a roof rack someday so I can put multiple boards on the rooftop. But I don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on a roof-rack. I'm saving up to get a decent wetsuit at the moment. That is my higher priority at the moment.

What are your thoughts about strapping the board "naked" on the rooftop vs. putting it in the boardbag and threading the straps through the handle of the bag to prevent it from slipping?

Also, I think you all are correct about how useless the bungie cords are. They take quite a while to loop them all up and really don't add much tightening...they are really just a security to keep the board from flying up into the air incase a strap came loose. I'll bet the bungies add to alot of the noise as well anyway. My greatest fear is for my board to fly up into the air on the freeway and cause a big accident.

[Hang11]

If it was me, I would just find the money for a roof rack. A smashed board is more money than a cheap rack. You don't need to spend the $$ on a Thule one, a cheap one will do the job fine for one or two boards. Dunno where you can get one in the US, but there must be heaps of discount auto shops or wreckers that sell that kind of stuff, or Ebay.

[PapaW]

Best way to travel with board on the rooftop of car!

Most has already been said...
Get yourself a hard rack hands down. If your surfing 1-2 times a week or more then it pays for itslef in no time at all.
ie:
No leaks thru door when it rains,
No faffin about putting on a soft rack its already there! and still just as easy to remove if desired.
Little or no vibration (just put a twist or two in the straps,
Use pipe lagging to cushion your hard rack.. no need to expensive branded ones, just duck tape it on.
Use your hard rack for anything else, not just boards! (also make a bit of cash on the side helpin out mates that neighbours etc as you got a proper roof rack,
Carry as many boards as you like (within reason )

Have fun too! (as illustrated) and yes we did drive around like that often.. :p

[twerked]

Use your hard rack for anything else, not just boards! (also make a bit of cash on the side helpin out mates that neighbours etc as you got a proper roof rack,
Carry as many boards as you like (within reason )

i've carried plenty of odd things on my rack. an air hockey table and some flat pack boxes from ikea for a friend are the most memorable. i've also gotten 8 boards on the top of my rack. kind of sketchy, but it works. and also carrying two 16.5 foot sea kayaks is quite comical looking on a mk2 two door golf

[bromeliadwaves]

I just stumbled on surfboard scrunchies for longboards!! It is great for quick sun protection for your boards. I like it because the socks are really hard to get on your board when they are wet so this invention made my life easier! I like that its woman owned too!!