bonfireraconteur asked:
So basically, I’m planning a surf trip on monday with some friends. Some of us are renting, but some of us need to transport our boards. The only problem is, I’ll be driving my mom’s minivan over, so there isn’t exactly an easy way to strap them on. Anyone have a solution? A cheap one would be good, because we’re kids, and we don’t have a lot of money.
So basically, I’m planning a surf trip on monday with some friends. Some of us are renting, but some of us need to transport our boards. The only problem is, I’ll be driving my mom’s minivan over, so there isn’t exactly an easy way to strap them on. Anyone have a solution? A cheap one would be good, because we’re kids, and we don’t have a lot of money.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:26 am
Just put them inside the car. They also make portable surf racks that they sell at surf shops.
The Surfboard Man
April 5th, 2009 at 6:19 am
You didn’t say what type mini van or what size surfboards. That makes it tough. First, like surfboard man said, just put ‘em inside, if they fit. I can fit all of my boards (even my long board) inside my Suburban, if need be. If you don’t have board bags or socks, use an old blanket to wrap your board. Transportation dings haunt us all. Second, buy a set of “Rak Rolls”, under $50.00 US at mos surf shops. Or, improvise (I’ve done this a few times. Go to Walmart and buy a set of canvass cargo straps (they have at least a dozen different kinds, pick the ones you like). Then go to Loews or Home Depot and buy a length of foam pipe insulation (looks like a styrofoam tube, like a pool noodle, but hollow). Cut the pipe insulation into two equal lengths. Put one have over the front luggage rack crossbar, and the one over rear one. use your cargo straps to bind your boards to the ‘padded’ roof racks, tuck in your ends, and go.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I fit me and my girls boards in a Camaro with clothing for 7 days and went on an 8 hour road trip, so yes.
April 8th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Obviously inside the mini-van is your first option, but it may be cramped depending on the size of the boards, number of boards, and number of people.
Here is an easy option – use a soft rack. I have a car that doesn’t work well with roof racks (such as Yamkima or Thule) and its a two door at that who’s back seats won’t come down (although I can fit Skis through a fold down pannel in the backseat). So I got a single soft rack.
Basically soft racks come in single and double versions. They are a soft pad with straps and latches attached the pad. You look the strap through you car doors then attach them to the latch on the pad on the roof. Then you place you boards on the rack (fins in front with a towel in between boards to keep pressure dings from happening) and run the strap through the second latch. Then tuck the remaining slack inside your car and your ready to go. If you have a four door put one rack on the front doors and the other on the back (which you should for your minivan. If you only have one sliding door on the side you can loop the straps through the window of the other side. Or in the case of a two door put one strap as far in front of the door as possible and the other strap as far behind the door as possible.
Soft racks run around $25-50. The double is much better for a trip because you won’t have to stack as many boards on top of each other. (I wouldn’t stack more than 3, max 6 on double).
The only major issue I have found with soft racks is that they can wick water inside your car when your driving in rain. This is because the strap breaks the seal you car door makes when it is closed. The water will travel inside when the strap soaks up water. So make sure to bring an extra towel or two to have inside the car.
An even cheaper solution is to buy straps from Ace hardware (or another hardware store), but you better be very careful on how you arrange everything on your roof. They are less stable than a rack and you boards can move around. Plus they can put pressure dings in your rails if you pull them too tight.