Thread: Storage of Roof-racks

Dad used to do a similar thing to store the Mirror dinghy over the car wjhen I was a child. As I recall, the system was 4 pulleys screwed to the joists at the right places for the rack. He then had the ropes at the right length so that he had only 2 (maybe even one, I don't recall clearly) ends to deal with, like a venetian blind. A cleat mounted to the garage wall for making fast, & all's good.
So, the 4 ropes hanging from the pulleys were attached to the roof racks, the racks were unhitched, and we hoisted the boat, still attached to the roof racks, into the garage roof space.
Suitable pulleys can be got from any chandler or rigging supplier, cheaper for better quality than Bunnings in the case of my local place, Blue Wave

Hope that helps a bit.

Originally Posted by Ratel10mm

Dad used to do a similar thing to store the Mirror dinghy over the car wjhen I was a child. As I recall, the system was 4 pulleys screwed to the joists at the right places for the rack. He then had the ropes at the right length so that he had only 2 (maybe even one, I don't recall clearly) ends to deal with, like a venetian blind. A cleat mounted to the garage wall for making fast, & all's good.
So, the 4 ropes hanging from the pulleys were attached to the roof racks, the racks were unhitched, and we hoisted the boat, still attached to the roof racks, into the garage roof space.
Suitable pulleys can be got from any chandler or rigging supplier, cheaper for better quality than Bunnings in the case of my local place, Blue Wave

Hope that helps a bit.

Yeah mate, that's the idea but I'm trying to avoid lots of kit and a tie down point.

I've had a really simple idea which I hope will work...will give it a whirl on the weekend.

I can drive the car directly underneath a spare piece of ceiling space. I figure I should mount 4 large eybolts straight into the beams. I have quite a few rachet straps that I use when camping....so.....connect one off each eyebolt. Rachet up to the ceiling and all good.

It's obviously going to be a bit slower, having to alternate corners but that may help when it comes time to refit. Once the racks are back on the car, I can use the rachet straps as normal.

When it's retracted, it should be neat with no cords dangling down or having to be tied off on a wall anchor.

Thanks Ratel10mm, it got me thinking.

Cheers,

Kev.

ratchet straps will ratchet nice and slowly in a controlled manner.....till the spools full......

but they dont unratchet slowly........they just drop when you pull the release......

Eye bolts are a good idea - you don't really need pulleys.
Ratchet straps won't work as already pointed out.

For each end of the rack, use two eye bolts, fixed above the two front (or rear) corners of the rack. Pass the rope through both pulleys and attach a decent hook to each end of each rope.
Attach one end of the rope to the rack using the hook and then pass the other end around a rail of the rack at the other corner, pull the rack (front or rear) up to desired position and then simply attach the hook on the other end of the front or rear rope to another conveniently positioned point on the rack to secure it. Do the same for the other end and there you have it - rack off vehicle, no ropes hanging down, no knots to tie and all is contained at the final resting position of the rack.- easy peesy
Using this method you can also lower each end in stages to assist in aligning the rack to the vehicle.

Only drawback with system is that you may have to use a small step ladder if there is nowhere on the vehicle to stand and reach the rack when attaching the hooks.

I used this for my RTT. You can get them through Whitworths Marine

Originally Posted by Xtreme

Eye bolts are a good idea - you don't really need pulleys.
Ratchet straps won't work as already pointed out.

For each end of the rack, use two eye bolts, fixed above the two front (or rear) corners of the rack. Pass the rope through both pulleys and attach a decent hook to each end of each rope.
Attach one end of the rope to the rack using the hook and then pass the other end around a rail of the rack at the other corner, pull the rack (front or rear) up to desired position and then simply attach the hook on the other end of the front or rear rope to another conveniently positioned point on the rack to secure it. Do the same for the other end and there you have it - rack off vehicle, no ropes hanging down, no knots to tie and all is contained at the final resting position of the rack.- easy peesy
Using this method you can also lower each end in stages to assist in aligning the rack to the vehicle.

Only drawback with system is that you may have to use a small step ladder if there is nowhere on the vehicle to stand and reach the rack when attaching the hooks.

Geez mate, can you send me a photo....LOL???? I think I have the gist of what you are describing.

I had considered the point that you and DEFENDERZOOK made regarding the limitations of using ratchet straps.

There isn't a huge distance to travel from the roof of my D4 to the ceiling of my garage, so was hoping that a strap the right length would avoid getting 'full' so to speak.

Also the fact that the hooks would be holding less than 10KG each corner would mean that I could easily control the rate of fall and then I'd just re-engage the ratchet as required.

Anyway...I have the eye bolts, I have ratchets and I have ropes and hooks, so I'll have a play this weekend and see which method works best for me.

Thanks for the input.

Oh and even with the D4 in access mode, you still need a step ladder to attach or remove the racks comfortably anyway...well I do.

Kev.