Custom Tie Downs

[CX9 SportOwner]

!

[Bona]

I intend to make them if I put roof racks on. I have a small trailer to carry kayaks on so don't need them yet.

One kayak wasn't that much fun so I got a second for my wife, then two more for my daughters, then a 5th for my father in law. I built a trailer for them. I was poking around to find pictures of them but couldn't find them, what are they posted under?

Are you in Prescott? My brother lives there.

[wontonjon]

how do you make the custom tie downs? was there an original thread where you discussed/gave directions?

[wontonjon]

where at?

just watched a travel channel show on yellowstone and yosemite...there are some nice places where kayakers/canoers get a beautiful and different look at the scenery...wouldn't mind looking into a kayak and possibly a DIY on these tie downs...

[wontonjon]

by the way, are they the ones you're showing in the pictures?

[wontonjon]

Same as the photos, but I've since added 2 inches to the plans to ft shorter objects. If you have any questions about these instructions, ask. I wrote them from memory after the fact. I can also get better photos if something is unclear.

I probably should sell these plans, but oh well.

Kayaking does offer a different view, even at our local lakes.

better yet, just make several sets and sell 'em to people.

i'm not clear on what the rear tie down looks like/where it attaches to...probably b/c i've never owned a SUV/CUV and have therefore, never tied anything down to my bmw coupe before...could you elaborate a bit on the rear portion with a pic perhaps?

thanks!

[wontonjon]

scratch on the pic - i just viewed a different thread of yours with a picture of the rear tie-down...

so it would appear that to use the rear tie down application, one would have to have the tow package in place?

(which i don't - does anyone know how much that would be to get the tow package put on?)

[captainbingo]

Hey CX9 SportOwner, thanks for the great idea and tips on the tie down bars! Also thanks for the recommendation on the Mont Blanc crossbars. They work great and fit perfectly. I needed the longer bars and strength (Mont Blanc vs. factory) to carry 4 kayaks.

For the tie down bars I fabricated my own version using 20mm bolts and nuts (purchased from www.mcmaster.com) and welded some bent square stock to the top of the bolts. I then covered the tie down bars with Plastidip paint.

I also made my own kayak stacker using 1" aluminum square tube, corner braces, and 1/2" carriage bolts, that I milled down and lathed so they would fit the track slot on the Mont Blanc cross bars.

[captainbingo]

Here are some additional tie down pictures.

[captainbingo]

Thanks. They don't seem to flex much at all. The square stock is pretty tough to bend. I also don't wrench down the boats, I just make sure the lines are nice and taught. I like those rope ratchets too, they work nicely. The boats are held very firmly by the tie down straps, and the front/back tie downs are mostly there for additional safety. No whistling or any extra noise from the front bars, but then again, the boats on the roof make enough noise to drown anything else out. When I install the tie down bars, it looks like I'm winding up the car. heh.