Ossy
New Member
Bought some roof bars for my 3 door (Mont Blanc for £49.99 from Sparesworld - nice for the price) to carry the occasional kayak (~14 foot) or ladders. It did strike me however when I was looking at things that the fitted roof bars are a long way back on the body. If I'm taking the big double ladders (20 foot each section?) somewhere for work, they'll either have to stick out a long way back or cantilever out over the bonnet and probably flap about in the wind.
This raised two questions in my mind:
1. What are the legalities of this? Can I just tie my hi-vis vest off the end and be done with it? I realise the ladders will be overhanging somehwere whatever I do.
2. What do other people do - keep the centre of gravity between the bars and live with the rear overhang or cantilever out front tying down to the rear very well?
I'm aware that with the kayak, due to it's shape, it'll be impossible to do anythin other than C of G between the bars without the shape of it 'squeezing' it out forwards. The only way around this I guess would be to tie it back to the rear fitted crossbar to prevent it creeping forward, though this wouldn't fill me with confidence.
I suppose I could tie the front of the ladders down bloody tight to the front tow eye, but again, confidence isn't too high as there always seems to be a bit of movement in the tie down arrangements after a few miles.
Can't imagine what a freelander would look like with front posts and a full length roof rack
This raised two questions in my mind:
1. What are the legalities of this? Can I just tie my hi-vis vest off the end and be done with it? I realise the ladders will be overhanging somehwere whatever I do.
2. What do other people do - keep the centre of gravity between the bars and live with the rear overhang or cantilever out front tying down to the rear very well?
I'm aware that with the kayak, due to it's shape, it'll be impossible to do anythin other than C of G between the bars without the shape of it 'squeezing' it out forwards. The only way around this I guess would be to tie it back to the rear fitted crossbar to prevent it creeping forward, though this wouldn't fill me with confidence.
I suppose I could tie the front of the ladders down bloody tight to the front tow eye, but again, confidence isn't too high as there always seems to be a bit of movement in the tie down arrangements after a few miles.
Can't imagine what a freelander would look like with front posts and a full length roof rack