Custom Tie Downs

[CX9 SportOwner]

Has anyone made the custom tie downs I displayed yet? I'd like to see how they turned out.

[CX9 SportOwner]

I thought these would be a lot more popular.

[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.

[CX9 SportOwner]

Prescott, yes.

I have detailed instructions for them, too.

Have some photos of your tailer? We can carry two, but when my wife gets her own, and we go with others, I will need another way to haul them.

.

[wontonjon]

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

[CX9 SportOwner]

I have them written out in txt.

[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?

[CX9 SportOwner]

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.

[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?)

[CX9 SportOwner]

The rear tie down is just a piece of tubing with the U Bolt installed, and then drilled for a hitch pin. It fits into the factory receiver. The fronts have bolts installed to screw into the Tow Hook locations.

.

[CX9 SportOwner]

Anyone made these yet? Had problems?

I have the factory receiver, but someone with an aftermarket 2" could make one by using 2"OD tubing instead of 1 1/4".

If you have no receiver, the Tow Hook screwed into it's rear location makes a good tie down.

[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.

[CX9 SportOwner]

Nice interpretation of my idea. How much do yours flex when tensioned? Any whistling? I'd also like to see how your welds hold up being stressed laterally. Keep us posted.

Gotta love the Mont Blanc's T channel, huh? Very handy.

I didn't have to worry about kayak stackers. I discovered that the Thule Stacker is actually their wheel fork with the plastic cap added (the tire spin stop on a kayak stacker gave it away)

I drilled the bottom rivets and replaced them with stainless bolts and knobs to remove them for our bike wheels. Two birds.....

You can see the bolts and knobs in the photo, in case anyone else wants to carry bikes and boats.

.

[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.

[CX9 SportOwner]

Very nice. I engineered mine so no welding was required. Very easy for almost anyone to make with basic tools.

Yours were a lot simpler with the means to weld. Looks like we used the same bolts, though. Can't wait to see what someone else comes up with.

I am definitely a fan of the rope pulley ties.