throwing stuff on TOP of the car...

[Laurabearz]

We dont have the money, nor the storage space for an officcial car top carrier, but really need to put our two large tent duffles on the roof, to allow us to move in the van...

Should we wrap them in a tarp even if no rain on the route (3 hour trip)?? Are Bungees sufficient? We also have rope... do we need straps too??

Any tips or horror stories you feel like sharing would be wonderful!

Thanks

 

[2goofycampers]

DUCT TAPE.

 

[jrandtysmom]

We dont have the money, nor the storage space for an officcial car top carrier, but really need to put our two large tent duffles on the roof, to allow us to move in the van...

Should we wrap them in a tarp even if no rain on the route (3 hour trip)?? Are Bungees sufficient? We also have rope... do we need straps too??

Any tips or horror stories you feel like sharing would be wonderful!

Thanks

I saw a guy with a 12 pack of Miller Lite riding on top of his car yesterday on my way home from work. He didn't seem to need any of the things you listed, his beer seem to be riding just fine on top.

 

[Laurabearz]

DUCT TAPE.

That might work a little bit too good.

I saw a guy with a 12 pack of Miller Lite riding on top of his car yesterday on my way home from work. He didn't seem to need any of the things you listed, his beer seem to be riding just fine on top.

I will let my husband know he has no beer worries now

 

[medic9016]

Do you have some kind of luggage rack on top of the van? What are you going to bungee or tie the rope to.

 

[Laurabearz]

Yes we have a luggage rack things that run along the sides and most likely the front and back too...

 

[medic9016]

I would just tie your tents down with some rope and you should be fine. If it looks like rain, put them in large trash bags.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Do you have some kind of luggage rack on top of the van? What are you going to bungee or tie the rope to.

don't bungies latch themselves to anything close that they can?

 

[disney4dan]

For a long trip, I would recommend not using the bungee cords. Nylon rope or the ratcheting tie down straps would be my suggestion. Beware of using twine or rope, that changes in moisture allow some cords to stretch!

As a kid growing up, I first noticed this with a canoe on the roof, and luckily could see the ropes that went to the front bumper starting to get slack in the rain.

As for horror stories, on a road trip to Chicago a few years back we saw a minivan cruising along in the high speed lane with one of those cargo carriers on the roof. It was the kind that had nylon straps which would connect to the rain gutters on each side of the vehicle. The front two straps had come disconnected from the gutters and the back two straps were doing their best to keep that thing on the roof. It would periodically lift up about a foot at the front and we kept waiting to see if it was going to fly off. The driver had no clue they were about to lose the thing.

 

[ntsammy5]

I have one thing to say --- Nail Gun!

 

[RNmomnFL]

For a long trip, I would recommend not using the bungee cords. Nylon rope or the ratcheting tie down straps would be my suggestion. Beware of using twine or rope, that changes in moisture allow some cords to stretch!

As a kid growing up, I first noticed this with a canoe on the roof, and luckily could see the ropes that went to the front bumper starting to get slack in the rain.

As for horror stories, on a road trip to Chicago a few years back we saw a minivan cruising along in the high speed lane with one of those cargo carriers on the roof. It was the kind that had nylon straps which would connect to the rain gutters on each side of the vehicle. The front two straps had come disconnected from the gutters and the back two straps were doing their best to keep that thing on the roof. It would periodically lift up about a foot at the front and we kept waiting to see if it was going to fly off. The driver had no clue they were about to lose the thing.

We once had a helmet bungeed (is that a word?) onto our motorcycle and somewhere in the dark on a turnpike en route to Sturgis we lost it although we maintained possession of the bungee (no sign of the helmet). Two lessons learned...helmet is for the head and bungees aren't to be relied on.

 

[4mickey2]

We once had a helmet bungeed (is that a word?) onto our motorcycle and somewhere in the dark on a turnpike en route to Sturgis we lost it although we maintained possession of the bungee (no sign of the helmet). Two lessons learned...helmet is for the head and bungees aren't to be relied on.

i think we saw your helmet.. was it black and all scratched up

 

[RNmomnFL]

i think we saw your helmet.. was it black and all scratched up

OMG don't you know it.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

I saw 1 of those roof top turtle things on the side of route 1 today if you want it it's yours just go and pick it up and if you want the clothes you can have them too just be carefull in the fast lane picking them up. It's in the median on us 1 just south of kennett square Pa.