Last Updated on March 13, 2023
Transporting lumber using a roof rack can be dangerous if not done correctly. Securing lumber to roof rack is a time-consuming and challenging task.
Lumber can be heavy and risky to handle, making it difficult to secure it correctly on the roof of your car for a long drive. Therefore, individuals with a roof rack installed on their vehicle must know how to secure lumber to roof rack.
When transporting lumber, it is essential to ensure that it is appropriately secured to your vehicle’s roof rack. Not doing so can result in the lumber becoming damaged or falling off of the car while driving.
This article will discuss some methods for properly securing lumber to a roof rack. We will also discuss what tools you will need to ensure the lumber and some tips for maximum safety.
How to Secure Lumber to Roof Rack | Convenient Methods
If you have a crossbars roof rack on the top of your vehicle, it’s probably been used to carry various things from time to time. Lumber is heavy and can be dangerous if not properly secured.
By following these easy methods will keep your load safe during transport:
Methode 1. Ratchet Tie-Downs
When transporting lumber or sheet goods, use a set of ratchet tie-downs. This is the best type of strap to use, as they are easy to find and replace if needed. Ensure that the straps do not go under the car door handles or rubber molding on your car.
For using this strap, you will need:
- Ratchet
- Two Snap Hooks
- Two Eye Straps
For utilizing this method properly, you’ll need to follow these steps:
Step 01. Get Out and Inspect Your Vehicle:
Make sure that your vehicle is clean and free from debris. If there are any loose items on top of your car, remove them as well as any valuables. This will prevent the straps from scratching or damaging your items.
Step 02: Get Everything Ready:
Bring all of the materials needed to secure the lumber into your car. By doing so, you will not have to leave your vehicle to find or purchase additional equipment.
Step 02: Find a Good Location:
Pick a spot on your roof rack where you can place the lumber. This should be someplace that is flat and sturdy, with a bit of spare room for movement. To secure the lumber to the crossbars roof rack, you’ll need to find the best place for the lumber.
Step 03: Attach Snap Hooks or Eye Straps:
Once you find the right spot, attach your snap hooks and eye straps to attach them to the lumber. Ensure that they are tight and secure so that the lumber doesn’t become loose during transportation.
Step 04: Secure Snap Hooks:
Attach one snap hook to each end of a strap. Ensure that the hooks are locked into position and not just loosely hanging from the strap. This will prevent them from coming loose during transport, resulting in your load becoming unsafe.
Step 05: Attach Ratchet Strap to Car and Lumber:
Attach one of the clips on your ratchet strap to the vehicle. Ensure that it’s appropriately attached before you secure your load with it. Attach the last clip of the strap onto a section of lumber.
Step 05: Tighten Strap:
Use your ratchet to tighten up each area of your strap until they are securely holding the piece of lumber. This will ensure that it doesn’t become loose throughout your transport and cause any problems.
Method 2. Bungee Cords Straps
When transporting lumber, use a set of bungee cord straps. Bungee cord straps are helpful as they allow easy loading and quick release.
For using these straps, you’ll need:
- A set of strong bungee cord straps.
- Two wood roof rails
- Four mending plates
For proper use of these straps, you will need to follow the following steps:
Step 01. Mount the Wood Rails:
Mount two wood rails to the car roof rack. These will serve as a proper base for attaching the bungee cord straps.
Step 02. Place The Lumber on Top of These Rails:
Before securing the lumber with bungee cord straps, place them on the wooden rails. This way, it will be much easier to attach the cord when securing the lumber.
Step 03. Hook-On Bungee Cord Straps:
Attach the bungee cord straps to the hooks of the mending plate. These hooks are specifically built to make it easier to tighten up the cords with ease.
Step 04. Tighten the Straps:
Now tighten the bungee cord straps. Make sure to use all the available slack in these cords so that they can hold on firmly to your lumber.
Step 05. Attach Hooks for Locking System:
This will allow you to lock down your load with ease, making it nearly impossible for anyone who isn’t aware of this trick to steal your lumber.
Step 06. Secure the Strap Ends:
Now secure the ends of the bungee cord straps around your car or any stable object. This will ensure that no part of the load moves around.
Method 03. Web Strapping
Web strapping is a simple system for securing your load to your lumber rack. To properly secure it, you will need:
- Two wood roof rails
- Three-way buckles
- Three webbing straps at least two inches wide and any feet long
For proper use of these straps, you will need to follow the following steps:
Step 01. Mount the Wood Rails:
Mount two wood rails to the crossbars roof rack. These will serve as a good base for attaching the web strapping.
Step 02. Place Lumber on Top of These Rails:
Before securing the lumber with web strapping, place them on the wooden rails. This way, it will be much easier to attach the straps with your webbing.
Step 03. Attach the Straps:
Once you’ve placed the lumber on top of the wooden rails, you will need to attach three-way buckles to two of them and web strapping to one.
Step 04. Secure Your Load:
Attach the webbing to the buckles with three-way buckles and attach it properly to your cross-bars roof rack.
Step 05. Tighten the Strap:
After securing the lumber, make sure you pull on all of your straps until they are tight enough to prevent them from moving or falling off. If you do not tighten them enough, your lumber may move about on the roof rack and become damaged.
Step 06. Repeat for Other Spans:
Repeat this process until you have secured all of your lumber to the roof rack.
Step 07. Locking System:
Adding a locking system at the end of this process ensures that your load won’t be stolen if attempted tampering with the transport.
What to Do after Securing the Lumber on the Roof Rack?
Once you have properly secured your lumber to the roof rack, it is essential to take a step back and check the load. Ensure that all of the lumber is accounted for and that there are no loose ends or straps. If everything looks good, you’re ready to go!
However, if you notice any problems with the load, do not hesitate to stop and fix them. Driving with improperly secured lumber can be dangerous not only for you and your car but for other drivers on the road as well. So it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Tips for Securing Lumber on the Vehicles Roof Rack
When transporting lumber, it is essential to take the necessary steps to secure it properly to your vehicle’s roof rack system. This will ensure that the lumber remains in place during transit and does not cause any damage to your car or the lumber itself.
To ensure the safety of both your car or truck and the lumber, follow these tips:
01. Use Proper Straps
Make sure to use the right kind of strapping for your long lumber. Never use ropes or other bindings as they can easily snap and damage your car or cause injury to others on the road.
02. Place Beams Properly
Ensure that the beams are placed over the footings and not under them. If you put them under the bases, your roof rhino rack may not support them and collapse.
03. Test Before Driving
It is highly recommended always to test that your load has been securely fastened before putting it in the car or truck and driving off. This should be done both when loading and unloading to ensure everything is safe for transport.
04. Distance
When placing lumber on the roof rack, make sure to leave space in between each piece. This will ensure that everything stays well-balanced and protected while you are driving.
05. Double Check Before Unloading
Never unload lumber from your car or truck until you’ve taken all of the necessary precautions to ensure it’s appropriately stripped down. This is extremely important, especially if you’re unloading by yourself.
06. Tie Down System
You can also use a tie-down system in place of web straps or rope if you like to make sure everything stays secure during transport.
07. Add Locks
If you are transporting expensive or high-value lumber, it is always good to invest in locks for your load. This will help keep thieves from taking off with your goods.
Securing Lumber on Roof Racks: Safety and Precautions
When transporting lumber, it is essential to take the necessary precautions to ensure that the lumber is securely attached to the vehicle and will not move during transit. This can be done by:
- Using the correct length tie-down straps
- Ensure that the lumber is laid out flat and not at an angle.
- Checking that each strap used has a maximum working load limit (WLL) more significant than the weight of lumber being transported.
- Ensuring that straps are not twisted or overlapped during transit, as it could lead to failure under load and result in severe injury or death.
- Use anti-slip pads to prevent the lumber from slipping off the bare roof during transit.
- Checking that each strap has a minimum breaking strength (MBS) greater than the aggregate weight of lumber being transported.
- Place the straps as far away from the ends and across any loose ends as possible.
Final Words
Securing lumber to a roof rack can seem daunting, but following these methods, you’ll be able to do it quickly and easily. Not only will this keep your lumber safe during transport, but it will also prevent any damage from occurring to either your car or the lumber itself.
So, there you have it! No matter what kind of lumber you’re transporting or how long the distance is, this information on how to secure lumber to roof rack will help keep your load safe and secure. Just ensure to take the time to secure your load before hitting the road properly!
