Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Ratchet strap and rope bike to roof rack?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Ratchet strap and rope bike to roof rack?

Old 08-11-14, 12:57 PM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.

Attached Images
File Type: jpg
TH7502-TH7502_1000.jpg (87.9 KB, 47 views)
bjlasota is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 01:33 PM
  #2  
Thunder Whisperer
 
no1mad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,847

Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 2 Posts
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.
__________________
Community guidelines
no1mad is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 01:38 PM
  #3  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.
bjlasota is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 01:45 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Tewksbury, MA
Posts: 76

Bikes: Giant TCR, 03 Haro V3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.
jefft72 is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 01:49 PM
  #5  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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!
bjlasota is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 01:51 PM
  #6  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.
bjlasota is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 02:20 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Looigi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times in 12 Posts
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...
Looigi is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 03:49 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,881

Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 522 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 227 Times in 179 Posts
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.
VegasTriker is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 04:05 PM
  #9  
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mass. Metrowest
Posts: 35

Bikes: Rans Dynamik

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times in 8 Posts
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.
Manster is offline  
Old 08-11-14, 05:14 PM
  #10  
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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.
JmanEspresso is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cyclist2000
General Cycling Discussion
8
09-06-16 08:35 AM
new biker girl
Recreational & Family
3
02-16-15 09:46 AM
mzeffex
Road Cycling
4
05-26-11 11:20 AM
ekolve
General Cycling Discussion
3
01-11-11 02:12 PM
indyjanie
General Cycling Discussion
8
10-06-10 06:04 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.