Went out an bought a windsurfer for the kids (me) on Friday evening, in the knowledge that I would need a way to transport down to the seaside! Not bad, board a bit old and scuffed, but brand new sail worth lots! Getting it home from the vendor was fun, its a 3.3 metre board, so the stern and the skeg were sticking out of the tailgate, with the bow touching the windscreen. everything else easily slotted in to the car.

There is nothing on the tailgate itself to "hook" onto, so I ran a bungie from the rear wiper down to the towbar, to hold things together for the short trip home.

But something better was needed to go windsurfing, @ 50 miles away, but I am a cheapskate and wasn't going to shell out £££'s for roof rails and cross bars etc. What did I have in the garage?

Hang on, I have a rack already from my P38A, el cheapo Paddy Hopkirk thing, purchased when the kids wanted a kayak (really the kids this time), but no way was this thing going to latch on to the roof fixings, but I could use the roof bars.

I found some M8 threaded bolt, you know, the stuff you cut up to the length you want, some S/S domed nuts, and some nuts and washers. Using an allen key, undid the four fixing screws in the roof rail fitment. Had a think and a measure and decided that 100mm (10 cm) length would be needed. So hacksaw out and ready to go.

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Crafty plan. However I wouldnt want to use it long term, the bolts are meant for clamping the roof bars down rather than to stop the load moving forwards/backwards/left/right.

I picked up a set of roof bars very cheaply on ebay, and, no offence, they look better. It is a Range Rover after all!  

Once i get a replacement key from the dealer i will be selling some OEM landrover cross bars with roof rails

dan_uk_1984 wrote:

Crafty plan. However I wouldnt want to use it long term, the bolts are meant for clamping the roof bars down rather than to stop the load moving forwards/backwards/left/right.

I picked up a set of roof bars very cheaply on ebay, and, no offence, they look better. It is a Range Rover after all!

Yep, I'll be tying things on off the front and back bumpers to help take the strain - this was a "need something now job"

I'll be watching out for your pm discocuzzy !! .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

The dealer gave me a quote for the system i have...approx £700.00 plus vat

For future reference on a way of getting impulse purchases home, the rear hatch can be secured by clicking the hook part of the bungee into the locking mech of the tailgate and then passed down to the towing eye. Not sure you should be reading this bit.

Discocuzzy wrote:

The dealer gave me a quote for the system i have...approx £700.00 plus vat

And there in lies my problem!  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

GKP wrote:

For future reference on a way of getting impulse purchases home, the rear hatch can be secured by clicking the hook part of the bungee into the locking mech of the tailgate and then passed down to the towing eye.

Yes, I always worry about fiddling with the locks when door is open. I seem to be able to "lock" the things and then never able to get them back into starting position so that the door closes again  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

It may do the job , but it looks a bit odd...

Joe90 wrote:

It's not pretty

I would!

Jonny Fresh wrote:

Joe90 wrote:

It's not pretty

You got that right!

What a mean thing to do to a range rover, you wouldn't use the mona lisa as a tea tray would you?

It's got to earn its keep. Shift, Carry, Tow, go anywhere, transport, and then the ultimate pleasure and pride of running one of the best cars on the planet  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Bloody good show I say old man. Roof racks are way over priced. I've pondered many a time how to coble something together for the odd trip or haul. Admittedly I'd want feet on the rack to make sure it sits right.

Dilema comes in so much as if owt actually breaks and ends up killing / injuring someone. May sound unlikely but we had the pleasure of driving over tent / fold up chairs and god knows what else a couple of days back because some loon forgot to lock the roof box. Thankfully no damage / injury.



Necessity is the mother of invention as they say.

Get a Thule 1, much much cheaper.

And just to prove it did work, here's a photo of the windsurfer on board. had to pad the back stretcher up a bit due to the mast mounting on the board. Didn't move an inch on its way to its final home at the seaside



Now removed from RR, awaiting next emergency  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999