Your Guide to Choosing the Right Roof Rack Straps

Whether you plan to prepare the luggage for your weekend camping, transport your bike to the scenic trail, or take the kayak to the nearest river, the qualified roof rack straps can help you to secure these items on the top of your vehicle.

In the world of outdoor activities, the roof rack tie down straps are always be overlooked, but they are very important. In this blog, we will discover the things you need to consider when selecting the right car roof straps.

What are Roof Rack Straps?

Roof rack straps are the heavy duty and adjustable straps that are designed for secure cargo on the roof of the vehicle. They are typically made from polyester webbing with cam buckles or ratchets to tighten the strap to ensure they hold the items firmly in place. They are especially useful when you want to transport bulky cargo, and you don’t have enough space inside your vehicle.

Common Uses and Types of Gear Secured with Roof Rack Straps

Roof rack tie down straps are versatile and can be used to secure various items, the most common of which are:

• Bikes: People who like to ride bicycles often transport their bikes on the roof racks and secure them with the straps to prevent shifts or falls during transportation.
• Kayaks and Canoes: For the water sports enthusiasts, they always secure the kayaks or canoes with strong straps on the top of the vehicle when they want to go for sports on the water.
• Luggage: When you drive your car for a long road trip, you may carry more luggage than on a short trip. You can use the roof rack tie downs to secure the extra luggage and bags.
• Skis and Snowboards: The roof rack straps are also a great choice for winter sports enthusiasts, they can use the straps to fix these items on the car roof rack.

Key Features to Consider When Selecting the Roof Rack Tie Down Straps

When selecting the car straps for the roof, you need to consider the key features that will impact the performance and safety. Below are the essential points you need to know:

Webbing Material

Nylon and polyester are the two main materials used to make the strap. Let’s take a look at their features:

• Nylon: This material is well known for its strength and flexibility. For tie down purpose, the strength is a very important factor, but the nylon stretching rate is higher than that of polyester under heavy load, this is not a good factor to keep the cargo in place during transportation.
• Polyester: Polyester webbing is known for its strength and resistance to extreme weather. Tie down the cargo on your car roof always in outdoor conditions, and you may face various weather conditions, so a resistant to extreme weather feature makes this material a good choice used for outdoors. Also, the polyester stretches less than nylon, which is also better for you to maintain the cargo stable.

So, for tie down needs, polyester webbing must be better than nylon webbing.

Width and Length

• Width: The width of the car roof straps will affect the strap strength. The size used for securing cargo on the car roof is always 1 inch or 2 inches in width. The wider the strap, the stronger it is.
• Length: The length of the roof rack tie down straps is typically decided by the size of the cargo you need to secure. The common length is from 6 to 20 feet, it can be customized according to your specific requirements.

Load Capacity

The loading capacity means the maximum weight that the roof rack tie down can hold. So, you need to know the total weight you need to secure, then select the strap according to this parameter.

Buckle Type

The buckle is used to tighten the strap to a proper tightness. Below are the main buckles used to make the roof rack tie downs.

• Cam Buckles: The cam buckle is used to secure light to medium-weight cargo on the roof rack. This mechanism is easy to use, allows for quick tightening and release.
• Ratchet Buckles: Ratchet buckles can provide more tension and safety to the loads than cam buckle, so this mechanism is suitable for tie down heavy loads.
• Quick-Release Buckles: This is the alternative choice for cam buckle, also suitable for lightweight cargo, and easy to use.

How to Secure Loads on Roof Rack?

FAQs about Car Roof Straps

Q: Are car roof straps compatible with various roof racks?

A: Yes, most roof straps are compatible with different types of roof racks. The type of straps used for car roof rack are mainly: J hook ratchet straps, S hook ratchet straps, S hook cam buckle straps, and endless loop cam buckle straps.

Q: How many tie downs do I need to secure my loads?

A: There is no fixed answer to this question, the quantity depends on the size and weight of your loads. We typically suggest using at least four tie downs, if the loads are not too small.

Considering the essential factors that will affect the performance of the strap is very important before making the choice. Webslingness has been producing various types of roof rack straps for over 17 years. We can also provide customized service to meet your specific needs. Contact us today to get the wholesale price!