How to Tie a Mattress to a Car Roof Rack – Step-by-Step Guide

You may need to tie a mattress on your car’s roof if you are going on a trip. You might need this mattress for this purpose. But the question that arises in everyone’s mind is how to tie a mattress to a car roof rack. You need to go through different methods or materials that can be used to undergo this task. You should keep in mind that you should not tie a mattress directly to your car’s roof. Most people use a rope to tie the mattress to the roof rack of your car.

The people using this method should know that protecting your mattress by running a rope through the doors or windows of your car can result in breaking the door seals. It might also result in damaging the window frames which may be very costly to fix. So, the best method is to use ratchet straps to tie this mattress. This guide provides you with detailed information about the steps that can be used to secure the mattress on the roof rack of your car. Why is it necessary to perform this task?

How to Tie a Mattress to a Car Roof Rack – 4 Easy Steps

If you are concerned to know how to tie a mattress to a car roof rack, you need to follow these steps to perform this task effectively and efficiently:

1. Get Ratchet Straps

The first step is to buy ratchet straps that are needed to tie the mattress on your car’s roof rack. Also, buy plastic for wrapping your mattress. Make sure the size of the plastic is according to that of the mattress so that it could fit in easily. You can also buy a mattress bag for wrapping up the mattress. Use duct tape to secure the mattress.

Make sure you buy high-quality ratchet straps from the market which should be long enough to hold the mattress on your car’s rack. You should also check the strength of the ratchet straps as they must have at least 40 pounds of break strength. You need about three straps to completely secure the mattress. Buying these straps is not useless as you can use them for many other purposes such as tying other items.

2. Secure The Mattress

The next step is to secure your mattress after buying the ratchet straps. For this concern, you might need a mattress vacuum bag for wrapping up the mattress. You should make sure that there is no air left inside the mattress bag because it can cause several problems while driving. So, to enjoy a safe ride, you need to secure the mattress perfectly to avoid any future problems.

It is recommended to cover this bag using duct tape because there might be some air left in it. Using duct tape, you can seal the bag and make it air-free. After wrapping the mattress completely and perfectly, you can move towards the next step.

3. Load It On The Car Roof Rack

After securing the mattress, the next step is to load it on the roof rack of your car. First, you need to check how much load can be borne by your car’s roof rack because all the roof racks do not have the same capacity. For example, if you have a king-sized bed and a narrow car roof, the mattress will not fit in this roof rack.

You need to consider the size and weight of the mattress along with the weight and size capacity of the car’s roof rack before loading the mattress. When all the measurements are done, it is recommended to place the mattress on the center of the car’s rack considering the right and left sides. Make sure you do not cover the windshield.

4. Use the Ratchet Straps

Last but not the least, you need to secure your mattress using the ratchet straps. It is the most important task to perform as it needs a lot of concentration. You should secure it in a way that it does not fall on the road while driving. Plus, you should reach your destination without damaging the mattress. You must be thinking about how to perform this critical task. For your information, it is not that difficult when you are done fitting the mattress in the rack.

After fitting the mattress in the car’s roof rack, you need to fasten the ratchet straps. You can use two or three straps for this purpose. But to get extra security, it would be suitable to get three ratchet straps. You should wrap the mattress and the rack using these straps. Make sure you do not tighten too much because there is a risk of getting the mattress and rack damage.

Things to Consider while Transporting the Mattress

There are different things and factors that are needed to be considered if you want to transport the mattress safely to your destination. Some of them have been enlisted below:

Avoid Busy Roads

It is convenient to avoid a busy road when you are driving with a mattress tied to your car’s roof. It is because anything can happen on the road and if you are on a busy road, it would become difficult for you to stop the car and make necessary adjustments. So, it is recommended to take the less busy routes.

Adjust the Speed

The most important thing to consider is to mind your speed. You should make sure you are not driving your car at a very fast speed because it might result in loosening the straps tied with the mattress. Driving the car superfast increases the flow of wind which might result in throwing your mattress away. You should know that the increase in car velocity also results in increased air pressure. So, it is recommended to drive slowly.

Focus on Your Mattress

You need to keep an eye on your mattress if possible. The reason behind focusing on your mattress is to ensure you are aware of whatever happens quicker. For example, if the mattress is about the fall, you should notice it immediately before letting it fall down on the road or any other vehicle nearby. The falling of the mattress is not only dangerous for other people but it might also damage your mattress and its plastic. So, when something like this happens, you should stop your car and make the necessary adjustment.

Need of Tying a Mattress to a Car Roof Rack

If the size of the mattress is very small, you can also adjust it in the back of your car. But if it is in a large size, it would be best to tie it on the car roof rack. In the US, there is no restriction regarding tying the mattress on the car’s roof. There are different reasons why you need to tie the mattress to your car roof rack securely. Some of them have been enlisted below:

To Clear Your View

You need to tie the mattress to your car’s roof tightly so it does not come into your way i.e. block your view while driving. If you fail to do so, it might be very costly for you. The mattress might hang over the front of your car while driving in turn is very dangerous. You will have to stop the car forcefully and suddenly which can surely be very dangerous.

Stop Transforming the Car into Plane

You need to tie the mattress to your car roof rack securely and tightly so you could stop your car from transforming into the plane. As we know, the wind is considered the major problem while driving with a mattress tied on the car roof. If the wind gets underneath the mattress, it can gift it a minor lift. So, to avoid this situation, tie the mattress securely.

Avoid Accident

You combat the wind when you toe the mattress to the car roof rack. If the wind succeeds, the mattress can blow off the roof which in turn can result in the happening of an accident. So, to avoid any kind of accident, tie the mattress to your car’s roof rack securely and tightly.

Conclusion

Travelers are usually concerned about how to tie a mattress to a car roof rack because they need a mattress with them wherever they go if they cannot afford the rent of a hotel room. You may also need to tie the mattress to the car roof if you have bought a new one for your bed. No matter for what purpose you need to tie it with the car roof, you just need to make sure it is tied tightly.