High and Mighty: How to Pack Your Roof Rack Like a Pro

July 19, 2023July 13, 2023 Darian A 0 Comments Cargo Management, Cargo Solutions, NFAB, Roof Rack, Rooftop Storage

Wondering how you’ll fit all your gear for this summer’s road trip into your vehicle’s small cargo area? A roof rack is an excellent solution to expand your storage space, but properly packing one requires a little finesse. Do it wrong, and you can damage your cargo – or even jeopardize the vehicle’s stability.

Follow these tips on how to pack your roof rack, and enjoy maximized storage capacity along with a safe and stress-free journey.

The Perils of Improper Packing

Properly packing your roof rack is extremely important. First and foremost, it ensures the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other road users.

A packed roof rack raises a vehicle’s center of gravity, which means stability and balance can be compromised. Overloading and poor weight distribution, in particular, can lead to dangerous handling issues, especially when driving at higher speeds on a highway, taking turns, or making sudden maneuvers.

Additionally, if your roof rack is not properly packed, it can cause a load shift. Basically, if the weight shifts too far to the front, you run the risk of your vehicle diving forward every time you brake; and if the weight shifts too far to the back it can make the steering feel loose and awkward.

Shifting cargo is also just one step away from being falling cargo. Do you really want to explain to the police, your insurance agent, and a very unhappy fellow motorist how that fancy, new overlanding cooler ended up causing so much chaos? Even at low speeds, flying cargo can do some serious damage.

It’s also worth noting that heavy and poorly distributed top-side loads create more wind resistance, resulting in lower gas mileage and a noisier trip.

What to Know Before You Go

Despite the dangers of improperly packing, roof racks are still safe and convenient methods for transporting extra cargo. Like any other car part or accessory though, you need to know how to use it correctly.

Weight Limits

Before you even leave the house, you need to know both the roof rack’s weight limit and your vehicle’s weight limit.

If you have lots to pack, consider making a list of the items and their approximate weights. This way, you ensure you don’t wind up over the limit after going through the hassle of gathering all your stuff.

As for your vehicle, that has a weight limit as well – and there are more factors contributing to it than you might think. The vehicle itself, along with a full tank of gas, any aftermarket equipment, your cargo, and any passengers you plan to bring along all add up to a Gross Vehicle Weight. If this number exceeds your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (a number set by the manufacturer that determines the most your vehicle can weigh and still be operable), then your vacation is over before it even started.

Weight Distribution

Once you know your weights are within the limit and you’ve thought through what you’re bringing, the best way to pack the roof rack is to spread out the load so the weight and size of your packed items are evenly distributed.

When you pack your roof rack, make sure to pack the heaviest items on the bottom of the rack. And remember – very heavy items should be packed in the back of your vehicle, not on your roof rack. Specifically, they should be pushed far into the cargo area or truck bed, closer to the vehicle’s axles. This will help prevent handling issues.

Something else to consider is that what goes up must come down. Eventually, you’ll need to unload whatever items you’ve hoisted up on the vehicle’s roof. Avoid hassles by relegating easy-to-retrieve items to the roof rack, like duffels, or items that simply cannot fit into the vehicle, like bikes or kayaks. Keep the necessities inside the vehicle.

Low Clearance Areas

When driving with your roof rack, remember to be aware of the added height to your vehicle. You may be used to ignoring low overhang warnings in things like drive-thrus and parking garages, but with a roof rack on, you’ll need to be aware.

When packing, keep in mind the additional height added to your roof rack by the items you’re carrying. And, when driving, be sure to stay cognizant of signs for pass-throughs with low overhangs. (It might mean taking an alternate route.) You may even consider a visual reminder on the dashboard, like a sticky note.

Local Laws

Another thing to be aware of is load laws in any state you plan to travel through. Some states have laws on improperly secured loads, and penalties if things drop from your vehicle. Avoid the ticket and familiarize yourself with any secure load laws in states you plan to visit or travel through.

The Importance of Proper Tie-Downs

Once you have your cargo arranged, you need to securely fasten it. Straps, bungees, and ropes are all great options – just be sure to select ones with appropriate load capacity and length for the cargo in question.

Load Capacity. Load capacity simply refers to the maximum weight that the tie-down can safely secure. (You don’t want to use a pipsqueak bungee on a kayak, for example.) Exceeding this capacity can lead to tie-down failure and some serious safety issues, so check the manufacturer’s specs and ensure the straps or ropes in question can handle the weight you’re planning to carry.

Length. Tie-down length is pretty obvious, but just as a reminder, you’ll want to choose something that is long enough to adequately secure your cargo, but short enough to provide sufficient tension. A too-long tie-down might leave too much slack, leading to movement and instability.

For an extra line of defense, you can also use a cargo net to help secure items on your roof rack. They’re great for irregular and oddly-shaped items, or gear that can easily become loose like sports or camping equipment. Like the tie-downs it’s reinforcing, make sure the cargo net is snug-fitting and securely anchored.

If weather-resistance is a concern, consider adding a roof box to your setup. Roof boxes work in conjunction with a roof rack to provide an enclosed space for cargo. A roof box also offers the added benefit of being more aerodynamic than simply stacking cargo, resulting in better fuel economy and money saved.

During-the-Trip Tips

During your trip, stop periodically to check straps and cargo condition, adjusting them as necessary. Every time you stop for a bathroom break or gas up, just take a minute to tug on the straps and ensure nothing has come loose or shifted during the drive. If it has, take the time to reposition and re-tighten the straps. (A couple of minutes longer at your stop is a lot shorter than a blowout on the road.)

Additionally, take extra care when driving – especially when maneuvering turns or braking at lights and intersections. Keep an eye out for those low overhangs we mentioned, and consider using a lower gear when going uphill to reduce the strain on your engine.