Hello All, This hasn't been an issue up until now, but I officially bit the bullet and bought a longboard. In a related story, the convenience of walking out my door and surfing is no longer a reality and I have about 120 miles of interstate to get there now. So that leads me to my current dilemma. I don't want to drop $200-$300 on a roof rack and also don't want to use the cheap ones. The vehicle in question is a 2002 Ford Explorer. It has the racks that run the length of the roof but not the ones that go across (hopefully that makes sense). Obviously I need two padded racks going across and plan to use ratchet straps to secure the board(s). I have a shop full of woodworking tools and access to welding equipment at work. Have any of you built anything like this? If so I'm all ears. Thanks for your suggestions. TM
Maybe go to Home Depot, purchase the cheapest metal ladder you can find on sale. Then have your pops or uncle weld it to the roof of your Ford. Buy a 3-pack of bungees & voila! A roof rack like no other. Caveat: I have not actually done this, and I bear no responsibility when the entire thing flies off & takes out a state trooper's grill.
To add to what Charles suggested, you could use U-bolts to hook around the existing roof top rails to secure the cross rails. Note: I've never done this either, but have created lots of solutions browsing in the local hardware store. You'll come up with something "Cost effective".
i could use a roof rack.last time I bungyed a mattress to the roof it almost fell off every 20ft.it sucks when u have boards u cant ride because they don't fit in the car.i bought a longboard last yr so when the waves are small I can still get a ride,but the board hasn't moved since it doesn't fit.a surfboard flying off at 60mph might kill somebody!!so I guess u can say surfing kills...............the boredom of being a lost parasite in a dysfunctional 21st century paradox lol
thats easy. start with four U-bolts with lock washers, and you can use either lumber or get some square steel bar from Homodepot.
hey man i wouldnt risk it. you should scoop up a set of soft racks. first google search brings up a $35 set. youd rather be safe than sorry. http://www.surfboardsetc.com/morede...r-Bike-Racks&gclid=CI-rsr-1vLkCFYpxOgodIHkAxQ
Another option: steal the metal cross from a church & weld that piece of pot-metal to your Explorer's roof. Bonus points: when pork pulls you over, you just tell 'em that you're on a mission from Hayzeus, and if the porker is a True Believer he lets you walk with another crime committed in the billions committed in the name of gawd.
