I want to get a roof rack for my car (putting boards inside eliminates 2-3 seats and I can’t carry longboards) but there’s no place to attach a rack on the roof of my car - it’s bare. I don’t know exactly what it’s called, (I think it’s called a gutterless roof), and I don’t want to confuse anybody so here’s a picture of the model Volvo I have.
Are there any racks manufactured that can permanently attach to a roof like that? I don’t want to mess around with straps that wrap around my car. Does anyone have experience with racks like this, or know who makes them?
Any input or advice about which rack to get would be appreciated. I’m looking to hold at least 2 boards, probably 4 at the most.
pretty much everyone who makes racks has a gutterless system that hooks inside the doorjamb, just look around you will see gutterless it will work fine.
FCS has them Block surf has them Even for hardracks you can get them.
That Volvo (early 90’s 240 GL) has gutters. It’s the silver metal stripe that runs from the base of the windsheild to the base of the rear window; on the side of the car; it’s visible in the picture. Thule racks fit them well.
Try http://www.rackattack.com/index.asp for an idea of what’s available, model numbers and how much. They claim they’ll beat anybody else’s price by 5%.
The Thules are pricy, but they’ll carry an amazing amount of stuff. If you switch cars, you buy a different kit for that car and keep the rest of the attachments. I’ve carried sailboats or several hundred pounds of wood on mine.
I got my Thule’s on Ebay for about 1/3 of the cost. They are so simple and built so well that used ones shouldn’t be an issue. I got the bars, clamps and a new surboard holder for about 100 bucks total I think, maybe 130 tops.
The only draw back is that you can’t fit two long boards side by side, however, you could always put softrack pads over the bars and stack the boards high.
Thule’s also offer the flexibility to get a bunch of other rack attachments.
The only problem Thules seem to have is some of them have their screw threads and similar coated with Zinc Chromate plating and similar, which means they corrode together kinda hard. A little grease or vaseline on the threads and in the threaded fittings is good preventative maintainance.
Not a bad item to look for in yard sales. Lots of non-rain-gutter leg versions that can be ‘adapted’ to work for your needs.
I went to the Thule site and the setup for my needs would be about $315. I was looking to spend $150 at the most. Are there reliable hard racks you guys have tried or should I try ebay and look for a used Thule?
Don’t forget Yakama racks. They are round and hold two boards side by side, and you can stack boards on top of each other and get 4 board on them very easly. I don’t know where you are at but I have pick up 3 sets of Yakama racks for under $50 each. My wife is a shoping fool and finds them for me and my friends. Good luck.
Also, check rental shops of all kinds. They may have something that looks a little beat that they’ll part with for a reasonable price. If you were up this way, I’d say check with a ski shop, they would be having end-of season deals and trade-ins and lots of ski guys use Thules or other higher end racks. If you have a buddy that’s into snow-skiing or such, might ask him to look around for you.
Hey Sean- We have the same car, a 1991 volvo 240- I bought the block surf racks for gutters for $65 six years ago and have totally happy. You can find 'em at most any surf shop- if you are in Santa Cruz area, I know they are in stock at Arrow on Mission St. Aloha Racks from a yard sale would do the trick too. On my gutterless toyota van I use the block surf snubbers- also about $65-70. Good luck and periodically check that the racks have stayed tightly affixed to your car.
God those are great cars. I had a 85 240 was my 2nd car. I’m so sorry that I got rid of it many years ago. I’m totaly looking at buying a 90’s 240 wagon and fixing it ip for a surf tripper.
Hey Sean, that Volvo looks like it does have gutters.
My favorites were always the Quick N Easy gutter clamps. Favorites of kayakers and the RV crowd.
Made of alloy, and you can get a piece of 3/4" electrical conduit 10’ for peanuts. Cut it in half, drill the holes and mount them up. Pads and end caps and they work great. Here is a link for reference, you can probably find them cheaper, so what have you got invested? maybe $59.00 with piece parts. I’ve also seen some cool crossbars made of all types of wood, bamboo, UniStrut material etc.
I’m in a similiar predicament. I’m driving a truck to California and have 4 boards - an 8’6" longboard, 6’0" fish, 7’0" gun and a 7’2" funshape coming with me. Everything else is staying here or will be shipped later.
The only thing there is that I have no idea how he keeps the PVC pipe down in the bed of the truck. Looks cool as hell though.
Would FCS double straps (or another brand) do the trick? Just the normal soft straps? OI’m not spending the amount of money or time drilling holes in my truck for thule.
My main worry with the soft straps is that with the three longer boards - 7’0" + - there might not be enough room on my cab to stabalize the boards properly. I know I had a hell of a time using the single FCS straps on my old car - and one ended up popping on me transporting a longboard. (me and my friend ended up driving for an hour or so holding the thing with our hands outside the window - hazards all the way home )
But yeah, any advice on this? No gutters on the S10 btw
While there are no gutters on an S-10, as I recall there are those cute little punchouts at each corner, on the sides? If ya got a bedliner they might be hidden under it, but…And if not, you can fake it with a bit of metal or some bolts.
Use wood to make a rack, just like us construction types have been doing forever.
The detail down at the bottom right of the JPG is the shoulder tenon that ya stick in the square/rectangular hole. You could probably make the whole thing up, good enough to get boards around on, out of 3 or 4 2x4s and eight carriage bolts.
If it doesn’t have those square holes in the bed sides as shown, bolt 'em straight to the sides, on the inside, butt ends of the uprights resting on the bed itself, and put diagonal bracing between 'em front to back.
Or, search you local want ads and junkyards for a set of contractor’s racks, the steel ones used for ladders and lumber and such. Get 'em cheap, throw on a little pipe insulation and it’s a done deal.
I built a PVC set up in my truck - and I got the pads down for the boards to lay on. how do I strap them in, and with what? Any ideas, rain em on me. Thanks
Remember this set up needs to go 3000 miles and I dont want my boards sliding off.
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