I have a 2017 Dodge Charger, which I often regret getting. I'm tired of borrowing other vehicles for projects, and cutting lumber just to fit it in my car is becoming a hassle. I'm considering getting a universal roof rack to carry longer pieces of wood. My main concern is how secure these racks are when loaded, especially since I live near a Lowe's and tend to drive under 40 mph. Has anyone had experience with this? Will I trust it to hold the lumber down?
3 Answers
I've used a Yakima roof rack on my Sonata to haul lumber a lot, and it worked pretty well even though I probably overloaded it at times. Just make sure you properly strap everything down; I would use alligator jaw straps to bundle smaller pieces together before ratcheting everything to the rack.
I've transported 16-foot boards with different roof racks, but some racks can have weight limits as low as 100 lbs. The one I used felt like it was flexing with just 2-3 boards, and I kept my speed under 30 mph. It’s definitely doable, but maybe not the best idea if you're hauling heavy loads.
The safety of your roof rack really depends on how it's mounted to your car and how you secure the lumber. I own a Subaru Outback with an integrated roof rack system and have used it for sheets and boards before switching to a trailer. Just stick to the weight limits, and you should be fine!
Weight limits are crucial! I've loaded up my Outback but always double-checking the specs helps a lot.