Roof rack. Bungees or Straps?

[tree4]

Gonna need to use a roof rack to transport board on wife's Micra. I have some new bungees which I use for storing board up against roof rafters of garage. Are they any good for tying boards to roof racks or ratchet straps better (remember I'm tight and don't want to buy anything if I don't need it).

Any horror stories or warning I need to be aware of?

[Hang11]

Don't use bungees - they stretch.

And as for horror stories - a neighbour of mine lost his eye putting bungees on a roof rack - pinged back into his face.

[Real Pol]

Never use bungees! Unless you want your board to be at a 45 degree angle the whole way!

[phillwilson]

me and the ex missus used to bomb all over the country in a micra with a softrack ontop and two boards

only word of caution would be to make sure you thread them inide the phnumatic hinges cos they tend to ping off the door frame as you pull them together to tighten.

also put a few twists in them or else they hum like a box of bees.

so...where you planning on going?

Phill

[tree4]

Hi Phil.
Will be using a pucker Aluminium roof rack. Just using the straps for the daily run from the camp site to the beach on 2 week holiday. Surf permitting.
Guess I'm going to have to let the moths out again and the Queen to blink.

[Lutefisk]

Friend of mine had three boards strapped to a roof rack for an Ireland trip at half term - lost the lot doing 70 mph about 10 miles from his destination. The entire rack came off and the boards landed in the road. Some tail damage, but repairable luckily - he says it was because he used a Curve Overstayer travel bag which saved the boards. I wouldn't use bungees, because of the lifting. Curve also do a padded soft rack called the Lockdown which is brilliant and very easy to use (he wishes he had used this instead), or a set of travel racks which do the same job but dont have the padding. You might want to check them out. Better safe than sorry!

[Bub]

Definitely use ratchet straps instead of bungees. I've used both and ratchet straps are like night and day better over bungies. Bungies take alot longer to fasten down (not what you want to be bothered with after a long surf session) and you get alot of vibration noise on the rooftop which will make you crazy on a long drive. I bought some rachet straps from Home Depot for around $15 US and they can hold down 1200lbs so no worries about the board coming loose on the express-way and blowing up into the air and killing the driver behind me.

[RJD]

Rachet straps wont be expensive, dont use bungee.

[Sillysausage]

can get perfect ones for surfboards from halfords for 7 quid

[tree4]

can get perfect ones for surfboards from halfords for 7 quid

looked on Halfords , wasn't sure which ones to get . .can you send a link or product code?

[Sillysausage]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65760#dtab

pretty sure these are the ones i've got mate, hold down the boards fine on the motorway for 6 hours back and fourth from cardiff to newcastle at 80-90mph.

[essex sucks]

yep there the ones we use well same thing. they work fine

[sinistapenguin]

I bought a pack of 4 roofrack straps for £2 from Wilkinsons! Bargains are there to be had!!

[tree4]

bought straps from B&q in the end 4 straps each 4.5m x 25mm with camlocks £9.98