hand made on roof racks query

General Discussion
1

Hi all, I’m changing cars soon. I need some advise. I’m looking into getting a van(Volkswagon Transporter Style) to fit all our boards inside. We have a 20 min journey to nearest break- 15 to 20 times a year we travel 4,1/2 hours each way to treat our selves. The waves we like are 2-3 ft. I’ll go out in bigger but the wee ones like the smaller ones. Whats the point for offering all this info? Well its to give ye as much possible info on the stressers on the boards form  being transported on the roof and the impact on the wave size. So he we go- if I go for a smaller vehicle the boards(4And 1 will be a long board) will need to be stacked on roof racks and if i go for a van, the boards will easily loaded inside free of any stress. So as I write I can see the van is the way to go but is there a bad stress on the boards on the roof rack? Right now loading the boards in Honda CRV isn’t an option when we all go, there isn’t enough space for us and boards.

Van or smaller vehicle?

Thank you in advance.

Scott.

2

Roof racks or not you’re probably more likely to damage the boards getting them to and into or on the vehicle.

3

Scott unless you get a much bigger Van for those long trips you will not be able to get Boards and bodies in the van. The top of the vW is not that tall and I assume you would have a couple of kids in the back seat so fitting a longboard and a couple of shorties won’t work on the inside. Now one of the new taller Vans like the sprinter would work with a 2nd row of seats you would have lots of room for boards gear and with some custom touches make your own surf club house on wheels. The other option is transport you Boards on the roof in Board Bags . However I have traveled more miles with my boards riding naked from NJ to San Diego and back from San Diego to the end of Baja and 1000s of mile further south without any damage Get a good set of yakama racks or something like them. There are systems that can lock your boards down on the rack. Stuff the grooms in the back seat and take them on a family surf trip.

4

artz,

Thanks very much. Yeah I’m leaning towards my other option, gettig a car and use my wifes’ people carrier when the lot of us head out.

Thanks again,

SW 

5

mako224, 

you are right there. thanks mate.

sw

6

This is the way my family rolls.  We have 2 little guys in car seat / booster, so boards inside are not an option.  The racks have never hurt the boards yet.

640×640 33.7 KB

7

crazyeddy, Thanks for that, very nice.

SW

8

My “Surf Mobile”.

Block Surf racks with “lifter” blocks to get them off the roof a little higher.

Still looking for some old, all metal Aloha racks.

9

Thanks Barry, Racks & straps I have, thats no problem. My concern was the wind while traveling at speed. If aerodynamics and velocity have an effect on certain points on the boards.

10

The best racks made are by Thule.  But you will pay to own a pair.  They make them to fit anything.  Put on properly;  they do not blow off.  You can buy locks for them so they can’t be stolen.  I prefer the flat bar of the Thule to the round or pipe bar of Yakima racks.  When I travel I carry a pair of simple pull thru e ratchet straps.  I put a towel down on the roof of my rental car and run the straps thru the car.  No way are boards gonna blow off,  even in stiff trades at Maalaea.

11

McDing, cheers mate. I have the THUL(flatbar) with pipe insulation foamtube with NorthCore covers on. Bought them over 10 years ago. Great investment. Sometimes ya do get what ya pay for.