Tying down a big mattress to the roof of an SUV?

[jmcoreymv]

How difficult/safe would it be for me to tie down a queen size box spring and mattress to the roof of a 2-door Ford Explorer if the drive is only ~3 miles and on side streets. Any tips?

 

[iRONic]

At least two ratcheting tie-down straps and keep the speed down.

 

[Rubycon]

Cross tie and you should have no problems.

 

[Rastus]

Don't forget to roll your window down and put your hand on it while you are driving. That's the law.

 

[SVT Cobra]

I just did the same thing last week except it was a car. Just tie it horizontally across to each corner and you will be fine. And kepp the speed under 40 mph.

I once saw a mini van going about 90 on the Turn Pike with a matress on the roof, the top end was flipped up like a sail. :Q

 

[iamwiz82]

If you lived in Detroit you would put your pre-teen on top of it and call it good

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Cross tie and you should have no problems.

Yup. Make doubly sure that the front end of the matress/box spring is tied down so it doesn't get lifted up.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Rastus
Don't forget to roll your window down and put your hand on it while you are driving. That's the law.

isn't it technically the law you're supposed to drive with both hands on the wheel? Damn sounds like OP needs a 3rd hand or he's assed out

 

[pyonir]

Don't forget to open the doors before you tie it down. Otherwise you won't be able to get in after you are done tying.

 

[orion23]

Last year my father and I bought a big matress @ Sam's club and put it on top of his SUV.

@ one point I reached with my hand for the matress and I coudn't touch it...

Damn thing was up in the air while driving. We pulled over, strapped it down again and held it down with my hand for the rest of the trip through RT 80!

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: pyonir
Don't forget to open the doors before you tie it down. Otherwise you won't be able to get in after you are done tying.

NASCAR Style leap through the window FTW!

 

[mobobuff]

Text

Just pretend the car I used has 4 doors.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: pyonir
Don't forget to open the doors before you tie it down. Otherwise you won't be able to get in after you are done tying.

LOL :laugh:

No really that's making us all LOL :Q

 

[jmcoreymv]

Where's a good place to get ratcheting tie downs? Would twine work?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: jmcoreymv
Where's a good place to get ratcheting tie downs? Would twine work?

The lumber guys use this thing:

cumalong

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: jmcoreymv
Where's a good place to get ratcheting tie downs? Would twine work?

Boat shops usually have them, Home Depot probably does too.

 

[imported_Baloo]

You can use rope for this. Ratcheting tie downs? Handy, but hardly needed for a box spring and mattress. Don't buy ratcheting tie dows unless you plan haul stuff frequently on your roof, which is highly unlikely since you are asking here how to secure a mattress and box spring. Put the mattress on the bottom, the box spring on top, and secure it with rope, accross the middle, and near each end - USE GOOD Knots. I like to use square knots for securing cargo. and stay off the highway.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Twine or clothesline rope will do.

Moved a king matress on my daughter's Pathfinder with no trouble.

Two runs front->back tied onto the luggage rack cross members and a couple of diaganol lacings to the corner tiedowns.
Speed was kept under 20 mph on side roads with no problems at all.

 

[Trogdor91]

Twine will definitely work. I worked at a furniture store and tying mattresses to roofs was a daily thing. We used slipknots to snug it down real good. The funnest one was tying a sofa ontop of something like a civic.

 

[amdskip]

Yeah not a problem, I've my queen mattress on my civic several times

 

[0roo0roo]

just make sure air can't get under it.

 

[BoomerD]

I'd definitely run 2 ropes front/back as well as 2 side/side.
You don't want air getting under the front and bending it backwards.
You can ruin the mattress that way.
But, as long as it's only a couple of miles and no freeway driving (and you don't go more than about 30 mph, the 2 side/side ropes should be fine. I think I'd still run at least one front/back just in case you don't tie it down securely...nothing wrong with a bit of extra safety...
Personally, I would use light nylon rope rather than twine, but that's me. Twine is made for tying up packages, not securing mattresses on top of cars...

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: pyonir
Don't forget to open the doors before you tie it down. Otherwise you won't be able to get in after you are done tying.

the practicality/versatility of an SUV... just climb thru the trunk.

 

[mrrman]

Originally posted by: Rastus
Don't forget to roll your window down and put your hand on it while you are driving. That's the law.

thats what I was going to say...just incase that wind gust comes and your arm will be able to secure the mattress so it doesnt blow off

 

[50cent1228]

make sure the rope doesn't break or get loose...u shouldn't have any major problems otherwise...X tie the mattress