What do you use to secure roof rack loads?

[namfreak]

I've purchased the wing profile load carriers for my 17 V90

Primary reason was to carry a roof box, however there will be times when I want to carry a ladder or a few lengths of timber

What do you guys use to secure the load to the roof rails? I'm thinking bungee cords (those ones with the hooks on either end) or possibly just a length or cord / thin rope?

Obviously to avoid an insecure load situation, security of the load is paramount.

[Teilo1979]

Ratchet straps for me,

Bungees just don't provide the security required for the forces put upon
a load while driving, If I was good enough with rope and knots that would be a possibly but I just couldn't trust any done by myself.

If I was carrying a ladder regularly, I would invest in a ladder clamp suitable for the slots in the bars.

Terry

[Rustymusty]

+1 for Ratchet straps!
Bungees a definite no for me tried them once ended in disaster,lesson learned haven’t used them since!

[DaveNP]

Definitely ratchet straps. (or as suggested if you carry a ladder often enough a ladder clamp).
I'm possibly a bit of a zealot on this having been a truck driver for many years, experience has taught me that even the most immovable load will get up and start running around once you get on the road. I can do proper 'dolly knots' but a roofrack doesn't have a suitable anchorage point, bungee cords by definition stretch and they don't stop stretching just because you've decided to drive down the road.
As I try to explain to our loaders at work, it's like when you're standing on a bus and it goes round a corner, even with a tight grip on the handrail you start to move about.

[ITSv40]

Ratchet straps.

A recent case near me: A customer went into our local fencing supplier and bought two interwoven wooden fence panels and some wooden posts - nothing unusual about that. He loaded them all on his roof rack and set off down the road to home. Only about 200 yards from the fencing yard some of the fencing blew off including one of the posts which went through the windscreen of an approaching car and killed the driver.

I don't know how the panels were secured, but presumably the customer thought they were ok when obviously they were not. I don't recall how the driver got dealt with by the courts, but one person ended up dead, presumably his family were also devastated and the owner of the fencing suppliers was severely traumatised.

[green van man]

Ratchet straps plus rope if needed. Just make sure you maintain your Ratchet straps and bin them as soon as they show signs of wear. Keep the buckles lubricated, wd40 or similar,nothing as frustrating as a buckle siezing and not being able to undo it.

I have a couple of 1 ton straps plus a number of 750kg, overkill as the capasity of the roof rails is only something like 100kg but it accounts for shock loading in the event of a collision.

Paul.

[dingov70]

Ratchet straps , fitted at diagonals across front & rear of load to stop any chance of load moving in any direction .

Plod stops you & finds any movement in your load & it's hand in pocket & large donations to some one beer fund for insecure load . It can even get you a prohibition order until load is secured properly .

Also ex lorry driver who can tie dolly knots , Oh and avoid truck straps , too easy to over tighten

[HDAV]

Don’t overlap or cross ratchet straps as they vibrate and can cut through each other. Also don’t need use over size ones and over tighten as you will stress the clamps holding the bars on.....

Can’t beat a ladder clamp for a ladder and use 2 straps one front and one rear not just one long as you have a single point of failure.........

Can buckle type are good https://youtu.be/jCjfqbadYU8

[JonnyA]

or as some likely lads leaving our local builders merchant with 8x4ply sheets had it ... 4 up so each had a hand out of a window, inc driver.

[namfreak]

Ratchet straps it is
Thanks for all the input and for sharing the horror stories / warnings
Having an insecure load that might cause damage or injury is the last thing I want