Ratchet strap and rope bike to roof rack?
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Ratchet strap and rope bike to roof rack?
Hello all,
My wife and I are not extreme bikers, but we use our cheap bikes to get us around town. I do a lot of spinning on the spinner in my basement, and we basically use our bikes for leisure strolls. So now that you know my history, we want to take our bikes on a trip with us. We rarely take trips where we wouldn't have room in the back of my jeep, but this time, with the dog, luggage, and other guests, I won't have room for the bikes in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I'd like to propose this scenario and get some of your expert opinions on it. I'll try a test run and post some pictures tonight to help what I describe below.
We don't have the funds to buy a roof rack that we'll likely only use a couple times. My jeep has the main roof rack that runs front to back and I also have the side bars that run from pass side to driver side. My thinking to put the bikes up there is the following:
Slide one of the sideways bars towards the front, other to the back
Remove the front wheel on both bikes and fit the front wheel inside the vehicle.
Put the bikes upsidedown on the roof with the handlebars resting on the front bar and the tip of the seat wedged under the back bar. I can put the bike on the roof and then slide the bar back so it catches the seat.
I will then tie down the bike with the thousands of ratchet straps I have in the following locations: 1 on left grip, 1 right grip, then 2 under top tube going down to each of the cross bars. I've done a poor illustration below to somewhat describe this.
I'll be traveling about 400 miles averaging around 70mph on highway with no low overpasses.
I've googled the crap out of this and can't seem to find anyone posting about good or bad experiences. I've moved all kinds of stuff on my roof. As an engineer, I'm confident in my tie down abilities along with the understanding of the forces exerted on the bike at those speeds. However, again, I'm not seeing anyone online saying whether this has or hasn't worked for them in the past. So if you please, can someone either praise and say this will work, suggest more tie down locations, or completely debunk that this would ever work on earth? Thanks.
My wife and I are not extreme bikers, but we use our cheap bikes to get us around town. I do a lot of spinning on the spinner in my basement, and we basically use our bikes for leisure strolls. So now that you know my history, we want to take our bikes on a trip with us. We rarely take trips where we wouldn't have room in the back of my jeep, but this time, with the dog, luggage, and other guests, I won't have room for the bikes in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I'd like to propose this scenario and get some of your expert opinions on it. I'll try a test run and post some pictures tonight to help what I describe below.
We don't have the funds to buy a roof rack that we'll likely only use a couple times. My jeep has the main roof rack that runs front to back and I also have the side bars that run from pass side to driver side. My thinking to put the bikes up there is the following:
Slide one of the sideways bars towards the front, other to the back
Remove the front wheel on both bikes and fit the front wheel inside the vehicle.
Put the bikes upsidedown on the roof with the handlebars resting on the front bar and the tip of the seat wedged under the back bar. I can put the bike on the roof and then slide the bar back so it catches the seat.
I will then tie down the bike with the thousands of ratchet straps I have in the following locations: 1 on left grip, 1 right grip, then 2 under top tube going down to each of the cross bars. I've done a poor illustration below to somewhat describe this.
I'll be traveling about 400 miles averaging around 70mph on highway with no low overpasses.
I've googled the crap out of this and can't seem to find anyone posting about good or bad experiences. I've moved all kinds of stuff on my roof. As an engineer, I'm confident in my tie down abilities along with the understanding of the forces exerted on the bike at those speeds. However, again, I'm not seeing anyone online saying whether this has or hasn't worked for them in the past. So if you please, can someone either praise and say this will work, suggest more tie down locations, or completely debunk that this would ever work on earth? Thanks.
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Got a tow hitch? You could rent a bike rack from your LBS (at least one in my town rents them) or even a small Uhaul trailer.
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Unfortunately I don't. I know, Jeep without a hitch, wtf? It's on my birthday list for this year. I think if I had one, we'd take the bikes a lot more, and I'd rather get one of those than have to put the bikes on the roof all the time. The question above is just for this one time.
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Your plans seems solid especially with the bars and seat trapped underneath the cross bars. Perhaps some foam padding to cushion between the handle bars and cross bars (jeep). With this method a good test ride around a parking lot would be in order. The lateral movement would be of most concern.
I was initially thinking that you could lay them down with some appropriate padding (pool noodles?) and then strap them to the rack.
I was initially thinking that you could lay them down with some appropriate padding (pool noodles?) and then strap them to the rack.
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Oooo, I like the pool noodle idea too, however, I think I'd get more top surface scratches of the actual roof of the jeep that way. My illustration doesn't show rope looped all over too. I plan to run a few different tag lines with hitch knots around the back tire, chain stays, down tube, and maybe around the front fork if it doesn't look like I'd be pinching any cables. The ratchet straps are there to hold the bike in place. The rope is there to hold onto the bike until I stop if the ratchets come off, however, I don't expect that. I'll likely take them to work on Thursday before I leave as a longer test run since work is 45 miles away all 70mph highway. Thanks for the input!
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For the lateral movement, I might be able to wrap a ratchet around the down tube, and put each end to each of the driver/pass bars to give it more stability. But I'm hoping that putting individual straps on each handle will prevent any of that lateral movement. And being in a jeep anyways, I don't really take corners like a racecar.
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Did not read all the posts but it looks pretty sketchy to me for a number of reasons which all should be become evident when you put the bike up there and see how it works. For example, the rear strap is pulling the frame downward but the saddle is under the crossbar. This suggests it will be pushing against the roof the vehicle. Also, that strap is not at the point that is the shortest distance between the crossbar and top tube. If it can slide forward down the top tube it will get looser. There is nothing restraining the front or rear of the bike from sliding left or right along the crossbars. The handlebars might be able to drop below the front cross bar without something keeping them on top. etc...
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A friend of mine has transported my trike and his bikes on the top of his SUV many times at speeds up to 85 mph and for distances of several hundred miles. The main way of tying them down is with ratchet straps. He also uses old bike tubes to add a couple extra ties. They will not scratch paint on the SUV. You mighty wrap any metal parts that contact the Jeep with old towels so there is are soft layers of fabric between the bike and the roof. You can tie the towels in place with string or ties cut from old tubes.
Depending upon how you position the tie downs, expect some noise to be generated by the strap vibrating in the wind. Sometimes it isn't very loud but sometimes it can be really annoying - enough to make you stop and move the straps a little. The more straps you use, the more likely you are to have this problem. You can get the same problem using old bike tubes strung together to act as tie downs.
Depending upon how you position the tie downs, expect some noise to be generated by the strap vibrating in the wind. Sometimes it isn't very loud but sometimes it can be really annoying - enough to make you stop and move the straps a little. The more straps you use, the more likely you are to have this problem. You can get the same problem using old bike tubes strung together to act as tie downs.
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I used to use a home-built roof rack method to transport my mountain bike. It consisted of two 2x2s each about 3' long, hinged together at one end. An eye bolt at the other end tie-wrapped to tie-downs in the middle of each side of the rack, and an eye bolt to attach the hinged end to the seat tube (seat tube wrapped where the support hits). Then bungy cords to hold each wheel to the rack crossbars, and a strap around the front wheel/frame to keep the wheel from turning or spinning. Also locked the brakes on with straps around the hand controls. This worked for many miles with no problems.
Your method will likely work fine. I would probably leave on the front wheel and strap it to the frame , and rest the seat on top of the cross rail.
Your method will likely work fine. I would probably leave on the front wheel and strap it to the frame , and rest the seat on top of the cross rail.
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I recently went on a trip to the outer banks, from NY. I was surprised at how many trucks/SUVs I saw with bikes simply strapped to the roof.
I mean, a bike rack is such a common thing in todays day in age.. but.. think of other things you tie to the roof.. they dont have special racks for whatever random large item you feel like buying on the weekend... you just strap it down with ratchet straps and get it nice and secure.
You'll probably be fine, especially with how many tie downs you plan on using.
I mean, a bike rack is such a common thing in todays day in age.. but.. think of other things you tie to the roof.. they dont have special racks for whatever random large item you feel like buying on the weekend... you just strap it down with ratchet straps and get it nice and secure.
You'll probably be fine, especially with how many tie downs you plan on using.