Transporting a mattress on a vehicle roof requires careful preparation and execution to ensure the load remains stable and secure throughout the journey. Improperly secured items can shift, leading to dangerous road conditions for the driver and others, as well as potential damage to the mattress and the vehicle itself. Following a methodical process minimizes the risk of the mattress detaching due to aerodynamic forces or vehicle movement. Using the correct securing methods makes this task manageable and safe.
Gathering Materials and Preparing the Car
Ratchet straps are preferred over simple rope. Securing the mattress requires at least two robust straps, each rated for several hundred pounds of working load limit. A protective layer, such as a tarp or large blanket, should be placed on the vehicle roof first to prevent scratches on the paint finish from friction and movement.
Before placing the load, the roof surface should be wiped clean to ensure maximum friction between the protective layer and the car paint. The vehicle doors must be opened to allow the securing straps to be passed through the cabin, which is the standard procedure when a dedicated roof rack is unavailable. This configuration uses the car’s frame as the anchor point, providing significantly more stability than attaching straps to window frames alone. The mattress should be placed flat on the roof, ensuring it is centered laterally and longitudinally to distribute the load evenly and minimize drag.
Step-by-Step Securing Techniques
Place the mattress flat on the protective blanket, ensuring the largest surface area is in contact with the roof for maximum stability. The first strap should run horizontally across the mattress near the front, passing through the front doors of the vehicle. Once inside, keep the strap clear of airbags, seatbelts, and other safety mechanisms before buckling and lightly tightening it.
The straps running through the cabin must be positioned high up, close to the roofline, to maximize the downward force vector applied to the mattress. Anchoring the load this way leverages the structural integrity of the car’s body, distributing the load forces across the frame. When using a roof rack, the straps should wrap around the crossbars, not just the side rails, ensuring the load is secured to the most robust part of the rack system.
As the straps run over the mattress, they should be intentionally twisted several times before securing the loose ends. Twisting the webbing helps disrupt the air flow and mitigates the harmonic vibrations, often called “singing,” that occur at higher speeds. This vibration reduction prevents the straps from loosening and reduces distracting noise inside the cabin.
The second strap should be secured using a crisscross or “X” pattern over the mattress for maximum lateral and longitudinal stability. This diagonal orientation counters the shifting forces caused by acceleration, braking, and turning. The crisscross pattern effectively locks the load down from four different directions, preventing movement along the roof surface.
Tightening the straps must be done incrementally and evenly, alternating between the front and rear straps to maintain balanced compression. Use the ratchet mechanism to remove all slack until the straps are flush and slightly compressed into the mattress material. The goal is to achieve a deflection of about one inch when pressing firmly down on the mattress surface, indicating adequate tension without causing structural damage.
After the initial tightening, secure the loose ends of the webbing by tying them off or tucking them firmly into the ratchet mechanism. Any unsecured strap ends can flap violently in the wind, which can cause damage to the car’s paint or distract the driver. Inspect the webbing and the ratchet mechanism for any cuts, fraying, or signs of wear before use, as a damaged strap can fail catastrophically under load.
Road Safety Checks and Driving Rules
Immediately after tightening, perform the “tug test” by firmly pushing and pulling on the mattress from several angles to confirm the load does not exhibit any noticeable movement or sliding. Before entering the vehicle, confirm that the doors still close securely over the straps without causing undue stress on the door seals. Check that the mattress does not obstruct the driver’s forward view or the view in the side mirrors, which is often a legal requirement.
Once underway, the maximum speed should be reduced significantly to mitigate the effects of increased aerodynamic drag and lift acting upon the large surface area of the mattress. A speed limit of approximately 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour) is recommended to keep the load stable and within safe operating parameters. Avoid sudden maneuvers, including rapid acceleration, hard braking, or sharp turns, as these introduce forces that can overcome the straps’ holding capacity.
Plan the shortest possible route and avoid driving in high winds or inclement weather, which can dramatically increase the forces acting on the mattress. After traveling just a few miles, pull over safely to re-check the tension of the straps. The mattress material may compress slightly under vibration and load, causing the straps to loosen and requiring a final adjustment before continuing the journey.