Author Topic: Can I do this without a roof rack? (Read 7263 times)

Ex-MA Hole · « **on:** June 30, 2010, 01:57:59 PM »

I have a Thule Escape 2...it's one of those happy little soft cargo bags for your roof.

My new car, a 2010 Honda Fit Sport does not have a roof rack.

Yes, I can spend a couple of hundred and get one, I know...I use this bag once or twice a year.

If I have the screw in tow hooks, one in the front bumper, off to one side, and one in the rear, OPPOSITE side, could I do this:

Take a piece of lumber, like a 2x4, put eye hooks at either end, put the on the bag, one in the front and one in the rear in the "roof rack" slots on the bag, and then strap it to the car that way? The "straight" line tension would be a diagonal across the car, and the other straps to keep it from sliding off the sides?

What say ye?

Tallpine · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2010, 02:01:57 PM »

Given enough rope, you can do most anything.

We used to tie down a canoe on a camper shell without a roof rack.

You have to be careful not to scratch the roof, if that matters.

Jim147 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2010, 02:25:06 PM »

You've never watched rednecks move.

Just tie it down through the windows. Then you can climb in the window like one of them Nascars.

Sounds like your idea will work. As long as you can tie it down tight enough to those roof rack slots.

jim

Kingcreek · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2010, 02:33:35 PM »

I took a 17ft canoe and all my worldly possessions including my 75 pound retriever across 4 midwestern states on top of a Volkswagon Beetle in 1980. Yup, you can haul your bag on a honda but the finish might suffer.

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2010, 02:34:20 PM »

one or more bathtub mats (with suction cups)under bag reduce scratching and bag slippage..... or so i hear

HankB · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2010, 03:28:12 PM »

Quote from: Kingcreek on June 30, 2010, 02:33:35 PM

I took a 17ft canoe and all my worldly possessions including my 75 pound retriever across 4 midwestern states on top of a Volkswagon Beetle in 1980.

Did you have to tie Fido down for his rooftop ride?

lupinus · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2010, 04:56:31 PM »

You clearly underestimate the power that is duct tape

Quote

I took a 17ft canoe and all my worldly possessions including my 75 pound retriever across 4 midwestern states on top of a Volkswagon Beetle in 1980. Yup, you can haul your bag on a honda but the finish might suffer.

Most impressive

KD5NRH · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2010, 10:45:10 PM »

Quote from: Ex-MA Hole on June 30, 2010, 01:57:59 PM

Yes, I can spend a couple of hundred and get one, I know...I use this bag once or twice a year.

How hard is it to get the headliner out intact? Since the dealer's install method likely involves just running some sheet metal screws into the roof, I'd look into buying the rack myself, then mounting it properly with bolts through the roof and backer plates fabricated from 16 gauge or thicker sheets of mild steel. The more surface area the backers have in contact with the roof, the better. At the very least, use bolts and the biggest washers that will fit. I can attest that a single 6" circular-saw-blade-and-fender-washer backer will handle roof mounting a 102" antenna right in the middle of the roof, in spite of low-hanging limbs and highway speeds.

230RN · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2010, 01:15:47 AM »

Be very very aware of aerodynamic lift.

You have no idea how many mattresses on rooftops have been sacrificed to The Great God Bernoulli.

AJ Dual · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2010, 10:30:50 AM »

In before someone posts a picture of that Home Depot car with the broken suspension and 1 ton of plywood tied to it.

Nick1911 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2010, 11:50:42 PM »

AJ Dual · « **Reply #11 on:** July 26, 2010, 12:28:54 AM »

Did you wait a month on purpose?

sanglant · « **Reply #12 on:** July 26, 2010, 12:58:46 AM »

he didn't need plywood then.

seeker_two · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2010, 08:52:09 AM »

Quote from: 230RN on July 01, 2010, 01:15:47 AM

Be very very aware of aerodynamic lift.

You have no idea how many mattresses on rooftops have been sacrificed to The Great God Bernoulli.

What does frozen pasta have to do with flying matresses?....

Ex-MA Hole · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2010, 10:42:44 AM »

Bought the lumber, haven't tried it yet- no time and no need as of yet...

roo_ster · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2010, 12:18:52 PM »

Quote from: cassandra and sara's daddy on June 30, 2010, 02:34:20 PM

one or more bathtub mats (with suction cups)under bag reduce scratching and bag slippage..... or so i hear

Heh.

Quote from: KD5NRH on June 30, 2010, 10:45:10 PM

How hard is it to get the headliner out intact? Since the dealer's install method likely involves just running some sheet metal screws into the roof, I'd look into buying the rack myself, then mounting it properly with bolts through the roof and backer plates fabricated from 16 gauge or thicker sheets of mild steel. The more surface area the backers have in contact with the roof, the better. At the very least, use bolts and the biggest washers that will fit. I can attest that a single 6" circular-saw-blade-and-fender-washer backer will handle roof mounting a 102" antenna right in the middle of the roof, in spite of low-hanging limbs and highway speeds.

Stop reading my mind!

I also think roof racks ought to be more than just decorative, which is what the sheet metal screws make it.

230RN · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2010, 02:33:28 PM »

Don't they make ski racks and bike racks that clamp onto the door jambs?

Adapt that? I'm pretty sure I had a BIC (yes, the cigarette lighter/pen maker) bike rack whould could be un-done in a jiffy.

EDIT: I believe it was around $80 in the late 1980s.

charby · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2010, 01:25:32 PM »

http://www.cargogear.com/OneItemInfo.aspx?partnum=YKHFIT09

sanglant · « **Reply #18 on:** July 27, 2010, 05:57:04 PM »

hmm, on a suv there's a lot of unused space under the floor pan. wonder if you could build a short bed (skip?) that could be lowered and slid out the back for loading. the bottom of the truck being flat should save some fuel to.

KD5NRH · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:34:59 AM »

Quote from: cassandra and sara's daddy on June 30, 2010, 02:34:20 PM

one or more bathtub mats (with suction cups)under bag reduce scratching and bag slippage..... or so i hear

Would've been handy to remember that last week when I hauled the $5 Huffy 10-speed on the roof rack. Metal pedals and paint don't go together well.

Yes, it had to go on the roof because the back of the Blazer was already stuffed with two other $5 rusty-but-restorable bikes.

230RN · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:35:45 PM »

Double post. Dunno why.

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:53:10 PM »

Ex-Ma, does your Honda have a hitch? If so, a simple slip-in accessory tray/carrier might be just the ticket. Handy for other things, too.

Brad

sanglant · « **Reply #22 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:40:29 PM »

if i am remembering right, the hitch shelves are worthless with small cars. your lucky to have a hundred pounds of tongue weight to work with. i wanted one, till i did the math. just not worth messing with i think it was good for 20 pounds or so over the rack's own weight on my car.

a small trailer on the other hand.

Ex-MA Hole · « **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2010, 08:52:16 PM »

No hitch/ small trailer, but I may go that route eventually.

I'm looking for cheap and bought the parts for little money, just haven't tried it yet.

Harold Tuttle · « **Reply #24 on:** July 31, 2010, 07:58:03 AM »

I sheet metall screwed am accessory rack from JCwhipme upon my olde suzuki sidekick.
You might be surprised at how little mechanical fastening there is on a roof rack

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Author Topic: Can I do this without a roof rack? (Read 7263 times)