Last Updated on May 21, 2022
Carrying the surfboard with you is a kind of hassle whenever you plan to go on a trip with your friend or family. I understand that you have a lot of stuff to carry and finding space in your car is also an issue you need to face. There are a lot of important things that you can’t leave in your home.
On the other hand, using the surfboard on a trip is always exciting. Obviously, you will not want to miss this enjoyment. In this situation, you can carry your surfboard to the roof rack of your vehicle using a strap.
I found a lot of people asking about how to strap their surfboard to the roof rack in the online forums and they are hardly finding any solutions. That is why I am here.
In this guide, I will explain to you how you can strap your surfboard to the roof rack on your vehicle.
Steps To Strap Your Surfboard To Roof Rack
Step 1: Attaching the roof racks to your vehicle
You should start by attaching the roof racks to your vehicle. You should attach it securely so that it can stand against the wind while driving your vehicle. However, if you already have a roof rack installed on your vehicle, then it is fine.
If the roof rack on your vehicle is a “soft rack”, then you will find there is more than one strap wrapped around your vehicle.
Step 2: Search for the weak or worn spot on the strap
You need to check if there is any weak or worn sign in the strap that you will wrap around the roof rack and your surfboard. The buckles on your strap should not be D-ring style. It should be cam-spring type. Without it, the no-rust zinc buckle is recommended.
Step 3: Placing the surfboard on the rack
Now, you have to place your surfboard on the roof rack of your vehicle. You should place it in a manner so that the fin(s) remain up and forward on the rack. As a result, the “lift” will be reduced and your surfboard fins will be acting as an obstacle to prevent your board from backward sliding off the rack.
Step 4: Wrapping the strap
In this step, you need to wrap the straps around your surfboard. This is the most important part. You should wrap through your roof racks side rail and over your surfboard and again around the side rails on your roof rack’s other side. You need to be careful that the strap buckle is not on your surfboard’s trail. Your strap should cross your surfboard two times. Repeat the process for the other crossbars.
Once you are done wrapping the surfboard, give your surfboard a quick check if it is stable in its position. For this, try to shake your surfboard. If you find the board is not moving from its place, then it is fine. Otherwise, you should make the surfboard stable in its place. However, keep in mind that you should not make the strap over-tighten as it can damage your surfboard.
Step 5: Finishing Up
In the last step, you have nothing much to do. If there is any excess strap after wrapping, you should tie it off. Make sure not to let the strap flap in the air. That’s it.
Safety Precautions
- You should take off the leashes from your surfboard before you place them on the rack.
- If you are carrying more than a surfboard, then you should use a board separator between two surfboards. It will prevent crushing decks, board movement, and wax transfer.
- If you are going to travel a long distance, you should check the tightness of your roof rack before placing the surfboard on it.
