Best way to secure items on roof rack (also, thoughts on mesh)

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DocuDude

DocuDude

Took me 10 years to find this space
10 Year 15 Year
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Alright, I'm on my full-length roof rack hunt.
Looking at racks made specifically for the 80.

The rack makers can add light tabs and other spots for tie downs.
But aren't I mostly just ratchet strap attaching my gear to the roof.
Strap going over the gear and under the rack....tighten, secure flapping strap and done?

Or are you using the tiedowns spots as well? [PICS PLEASE--show off your packing skills to me]

Also, it's a big family camping trip, lots of camping gear, I want my kids to help me load/unload the roof, but don't want them stepping on my roof. Wouldn't I want some sort of mesh for them to walk on? Hell, for me too.

Also, mesh for when I want to lay down on my roof and chill. (not that chill, more like drink a beer and look at the stars chill)
:smokin:
 
If you want to walk on your roof you'll need a rack with mesh. As far as strapping things down ratchet straps work really well. Anecdotally when I load/unload my rack I stand on the rear tire and can reach, but you can get a ladder for the rear hatch.
 
I did just what you're talking about. I had mine built by @reevesci. Without the mesh it's a 70# rack. With the mesh and my jerry can holder modifications it's a #130 rack. I send a kid up top to move things around and handle the straps so that when I toss one up it doesn't come crashing down on the side of the cruiser. I try to standardize the size of things that are up there to make it easy for tie down purposes, but, yeah. Just ratchet straps. I bought 50L drybags from my local outdoor store for $15 each for the kids sleeping bags and overnight stuff plus 3 days of clothes. No tarp, less hassle. @atomicshawn has gear boxes that look really cool and I aspire to.

Family tent (also in a near-dry bag), camp chairs, and cots for mom&dad go at the front, Dry bags go in the middle, Cooler, kitchen box, and 10 gallons of fuel go at the back. "Adventure bags" with food, possibles, and anything they want in the car ride inside with the pillows.

This is probably the best pic I have of it loaded. One kid threw off my groove by bringing his backpack, and the cooler is inside in this case, but you get the idea. I use 4-5 straps, plus the gas cans get a strap each.

https://goo.gl/photos/11fqeih28CuuhN9z9
 
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ARB is one of the few that actually has a mesh floor option. I have had mine for the last 6 years and works great except the fact that it is really heavy. You will need 2 people to put on and off or a pulley system.
 
jtwopark said:
He wants to be able to lay down gazing at the stars and other activities!! Can't do that on the tracks!
Click to expand...
Think of how secure he'll be. Can't roll off!

:hillbilly:
 
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@atomicshawn I dig that setup.
Not sure if I'm ready to get a rack and then spend ANOTHER $600 on Hardigg cases.
Maybe there is a cheaper alternative.
But your packing looks great.
I am jealous. You've figured it out!

Does the mesh help while loading/unloading the gear (to stand on)? Are you glad to have the mesh to secure things?

Also, due to my low garage height situation, I will most likely go flat. Would you do the exact same setup with a flat?
Why did you go basket?
 
MDarius said:
I did just what you're talking about. I had mine built by @reevesci. Without the mesh it's a 70# rack. With the mesh and my jerry can holder modifications it's a #130 rack. I send a kid up top to move things around and handle the straps so that when I toss one up it doesn't come crashing down on the side of the cruiser. I try to standardize the size of things that are up there to make it easy for tie down purposes, but, yeah. Just ratchet straps. I bought 50L drybags from my local outdoor store for $15 each for the kids sleeping bags and overnight stuff plus 3 days of clothes. No tarp, less hassle. @atomicshawn has gear boxes that look really cool and I aspire to.

Family tent (also in a near-dry bag), camp chairs, and cots for mom&dad go at the front, Dry bags go in the middle, Cooler, kitchen box, and 10 gallons of fuel go at the back. "Adventure bags" with food, possibles, and anything they want in the car ride inside with the pillows.

This is probably the best pic I have of it loaded. One kid threw off my groove by bringing his backpack, and the cooler is inside in this case, but you get the idea. I use 4-5 straps, plus the gas cans get a strap each.

https://goo.gl/photos/11fqeih28CuuhN9z9
Click to expand...

Nice Setup. It is like you have a trailer on your roof!
 
I have Gamaviti rack which i love. I use a Front Runner Jerry can holder for my two cans. Also use three Pelican cases with ratchet straps. Use a bolt and wingnut setup for my highlift. Also carry a kayak with padding on the bars and about a half dozen ratchet straps just going around it. Nothing ever moves. The bars are fine for ratchet straps. just use a lot of them. if i think i need two i use 3. I think the kayak would be fine with just two or three straps. But i always use a bunch of extra. I figure if one comes off or breaks i dont want any drama.

PS i use a Gobi ladder to climb up top. I put most of my weight on the bars but can stand on the roof a little. Or i sit on what i am working on. Not really that hard. But i am only 130 pounds so it would be different if you were 250.
 
I love the versatility of the Prinsu rack I have. The t-slot crossbars makes lashing rack items very simple. The rack comes with a few of these.

With two slots on the top and bottom of the crossbars as well as a slot on each side and the ability to slide the tie-down point anywhere makes for endless options.
I purchased a dozen or so more of the tie down so I have at least two per crossbar and can move them around as needed. I'm a big fan.


The rack is maybe 45lbs since it's all aluminum and really strong. I don't have a mesh floor but I walk around on the rack frequently. I guess if I was blind and couldn't see where the crossbars were a mesh floor would be a good addition. :P Kidding. Depending on what you need the rack to do a floor can be really useful. I don't need it and it would limit my ability to move the tie down points so I don't use one.
 
look at the gobi racks. they have the expanded steel floors and have tie down points that you can place anywhere you want. on a side note, the also have sunroof openings that you can put an insert in to make it a full rack. just got mine and its good to go but theyre expensive and take forever to ship out. I guess they make it when you order...
 
I had an old Con-Ferr type rack that I "welded" in some expanded steel mesh. I liked it. Now I have a Baja Rack, and it has a grid pattern for the floor, which makes it a little more versatile as far as having tie-down points for loading it. And you can stand on it, which I also think is important. I also use ratchet straps for the most part, but also bungees or whatever is appropriate for the task.
 
DocuDude said:
@atomicshawn I dig that setup.
Not sure if I'm ready to get a rack and then spend ANOTHER $600 on Hardigg cases.
Maybe there is a cheaper alternative.
But your packing looks great.
I am jealous. You've figured it out!

Does the mesh help while loading/unloading the gear (to stand on)? Are you glad to have the mesh to secure things?

Also, due to my low garage height situation, I will most likely go flat. Would you do the exact same setup with a flat?
Why did you go basket?
Click to expand...

I never considered not going with a basket type, simply because that right angle is a bomb support for gear. (Well I suppose that's not totally true, there was a time I toyed with the idea of an RTT... The flat rack works best, or is maybe even required for a tent on top? I've since moved away from that idea.)

I think without the basket type ARB it would be harder to do the Hardigg, Scepter thing. Simply because, as the name of that thread suggests, the whole thing snaps in place. It's like the basket was made for it. The rubber straps are way easier to place than ratchet straps. Rubber is obviously not as strong as ratchet straps but it doesn't matter because the lateral pressure keeps everything secure.

Its likely possible I could do the same with a flat rack and ratchets, but I don't know if I would. Thats a lot of gear, and you'd have to have a lot of faith in those ratchets. And it would be a pain.

Ive had racks with mesh floor and without. I like with better for the reasons you mentioned.

I gave up on trying to find a perfect set up awhile back. There's no such thing. Pros and cons to everything. Then you get emotions involved, loyalty to brands, etc... What I'm doing works best for me for now. Hope you have fun and luck finding what works for you!
 
DocuDude said:
Alright, I'm on my full-length roof rack hunt.
Looking at racks made specifically for the 80.

The rack makers can add light tabs and other spots for tie downs.
But aren't I mostly just ratchet strap attaching my gear to the roof.
Strap going over the gear and under the rack....tighten, secure flapping strap and done?

Or are you using the tiedowns spots as well? [PICS PLEASE--show off your packing skills to me]

Also, it's a big family camping trip, lots of camping gear, I want my kids to help me load/unload the roof, but don't want them stepping on my roof. Wouldn't I want some sort of mesh for them to walk on? Hell, for me too.

Also, mesh for when I want to lay down on my roof and chill. (not that chill, more like drink a beer and look at the stars chill)
:smokin:
Click to expand...
The Prinsu is light, sleek, extremely strong, easy to install and made for the 80, it also has the best looks. I have pic's somewhere posted on a Roof Rack forum here.

Zona
 
Not sure if it's quite what you're going for but I built a "half rack" and mounted it to Thule load bars. I made a rectangle out of 1/8"x2" flat bar, radiused the corners and welded 1/8"x3/4" flat bar on the bottom every 10 inches and covered it with expanded (mesh) metal. I built it to fit my Hardigg case that I keep my dry goods and cooking gear in. The rest of the rack is for water proof stuff and my Trasharoo then I use the Yakima space case for a tent, sleeping bags, fishing poles, blankets and clothes etc. All light stuff. I doubt I have more than 200 lbs on my roof and with some shopping and patience I spent less than $300 on craigslist for the space case, fairing and 4 load bars. Also, it still fits in my garage with the space case removed.

86.webp


19.webp
 
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