Can you put an inflatable on a roof rack?

Question

Is the wind from the ride likely to cause problems? How do you strap yours down?

Answer 1

You can transport an inflatable the same way you would a hard board.  I prefer fins forward, and remember the most uplift occurs where the windshield meets the roof. Also keep in mind inflatables don't have a relief valve and the heat from the sun will increase the air pressure in the board.

Answer 2

Of course! my bf and I have inflatables and strap them onto the suburaru

Comments

Do you do this without a roof rack? Is there a particular kind of strap to use? How much do you deflate the board when doing this, or is it fully inflated when you mount it up on the roof?

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You can use soft racks that go through windows on car or hard racks. Inflatables are tough and you can just strap them to cross board. It takes a lot of heat and board sitting in sun all day long to cause an issue, as long as board is good quality just let some air out.

Answer 3

Yes but beware. High speeds might be an issue, also they can be stolen by deflating. Don’t leave them up there for long periods of time and careful with speed and wind. It’s generally not recommended but I’ve seen it done, stacking two might even be better than one. Boards like Red Paddle with the Stiffening strips are better suited for this. Monitor it closely until you know it’s limits, good advice for any roof rack and board mount setup. When it’s shaking and making noise you’re going too fast.

Comments

A student of mine had hers get a pin hole in it and it lost air while driving and folded over on roof rack. Fortunately it didn’t land on a winshield of her car or someone else’s. This can be very dangerous And should be avoided. Your Laziness can endanger the lives of yourself and others. I know it’s done often but no inflatable board or roof rack company says this is ok.  Always double check that a hard board is secure before driving off and at every stop when traveling. Straps can loosen. If your dehydrated or overexposed from sun it’s easier to make mistakes, I know someone who has lost a kayak and a bike while driving , two separate incidents, he does a lot of both activities. I recommend a box truck for him, and I won’t follow him anywhere while driving :)