Is there a cargo rack that attaches surfboard on the side? Surfboard Racks

Peppah · #1 (**permalink**) 08-10-2007, 08:57 PM

Is there any such thing as a cargo roof rack that allows someone to attach their longboard to the side of the cargo rack (i.e. on the edge of the surfboard)? I want to take my board along, but I need all the roof area for storage. Does anything exist that lets me slap the board on the edge of the rack, similar to how axes and shovels are attached to the side? I'm trying to avoid stacking more stuff on top of my board once I strap it down flat. I own a 98 4Runner, with factory racks.

highway2themoon · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 01:39 AM

I use a pair of Steelcore locking straps to carry my 2 surfboards to the side of my cargo basket on my 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Sounds like you want to do the same type of thing. I have the Thule 690 MOAB basket rack attached to the Jeep Grand Cherokee factory roof rack bars, it is moved over to the side as much as it will go too. THis way the 2 surfboards can hang a bit down the Jeep's side while they are secured to the side of the cargo basket with the pair of SteelCore straps. So the surfboards are resting vertically against the side of the roof basket and I do it all the time and never have run into any problems. The Steelcore Straps lock the surfboards to the roof basket too which is very cool. I then have the entire space in the roof basket to carry all my camping gear, luggage and stuff.

Peppah · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 06:25 PM

Okay, I think I follow you, as I looked up steel core and the basket. So the boards hang over the door, right? This would make opening and closing the door a bit rough, though, I think. Unless there is something that allows me to attach the boards higher up, like on the rack itself.

Do you have any problem with the boards bouncing on the side of your Jeep? I'm kind of getting this visual of the boards being attached to the rack, but flapping up and down.

BUT, I gotta say, thanks for the reply....I've been really struggling with this idea, and I'm about a three weeks from camping/surfing, and I need a solution to the question: how can I remove my board from the roof, thereby giving me more space to pack, but still take the board.

Your reply is helping that. Thanks.

rack_boy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 11:00 PM

I'm wondering if maybe the Yakima Kayak Stacker or something would work. Totally not sanctioned but I dont see any reason why the Yakima kayak stacker wouldn't also work for carrying a surfboard. You will also need a set of the Yakima 24H mighty mounts adapters too. The mighty mounts attach to your 98 Toyota 4 Runner roof rack bars and then then Yakima kayak stacker connects to the mighty mounts. I'd also use a pair of crossbar pads under the surfboard too. Worth a try, got an old board you can try out on some back road where there are no other cars....????

Peppah · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 12:08 AM

I'm not adverse to the kayak system, but frankly, that still puts the board ON the roof, and doesn't let me use the whole cargo hold area. And, even if I had an old board and a back road, that would be a lot of money spent on racks just for an experiment. I like the thought, though, b/c it gets me the vertical system I am trying for.

skelterCA · #6 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 12:17 AM

I'd also be very interested to know if you do come up with a set up to carry the surfboard off the side of the roof rack. Can you post some pictures if you do figure out something that you're happy with!!!

Peppah · #7 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 03:25 PM

Skelter: I'd love to have some pictures shown to me from Highway2moon, but so far, I've not really figured it out. I went to a off road/rack store, tried to explain my plight, and the guys just kind of looked at me funny, as though no one has tried to store their boards like that. In re-reading Highway's response, it seems to me that his boards aren't exactly vertical, if he has pushed his MOAB basket far to one side. I think they kind of rest at a slight angle, starting from the basket and moving out over the side of the Jeep.

the Thule MOAB basket comes with cross bars attached, so you can store the board on top of the basket. There is another basket from Yakima, the Load Warrior or the bigger Mega Warrior, that doesn't have cross bars, but a longboard could probably attach at the ends.

See, I've got a lot of camping stuff for my family, and I need to pack as much on the roof as possible, and I would still like to bring a board along on the trip.

Anyone got any thoughts?