Aerodynamics---?????

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Gary Max

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Question about Aerodynamics. I just installed two ladder racks on the van. They have about a 5 foot spread between them so I can haul 6 six foot tables.
My plan is to use a rachet strap on each of the racks to hold the tables down. Do I need to be worried about them shifting towards the rear of the van???? I had thought about covering the whole thing with a cargo net but I don't know if that would be of any help.
I need the tables to arrive when we do and I don't what to watch them take off like a kite either.
Any thoughts???????????
 
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I used to deliver garage doors and interior doors when I was in college. We would stack them 4 garage door sections tall and tree across onto a truck rack and tie them down like you would with a ratchet strap, never had a problem. We also would stack about twenty pre-hung doors on the back of a small truck, two per layer and drive them to a ski area nearby. Same tie down method, never had a problem. The key: tight straps! Thinking about it reminds me how much stronger I was in those days!
 
I tend to over do tieing down stuff, the reason being is I don't want to worry about it after I tie it down. Some can lay them tables on the roof and take off and get there with no problem, I on the other hand have lost stuff going down the interstate (lucky no one was behind) and have had straps break. and pull threw(tear up metal) the pocket holes in the truck.
I tie tables in the back of my truck over a load all the time I usually do three straps incase one breaks. and run the extra line on my strap back across the top table in and around the legs and tie it off. Thats 5 tables I am talking about.
You did bolt the roof rack on instead of using screws right.
 
I got lucky finding my rack----it's a Knaack. It monuts to the drip edge and I used a air gun to install it with nylon cord nuts, it's not coming loose. I just bought a couple DOT approved 1 1/2 rachet straps. I guess we can stop and check them a couple times the first trip just to make sure.
 
Gary Max said:
Question about Aerodynamics. I just installed two ladder racks on the van. They have about a 5 foot spread between them so I can haul 6 six foot tables.
My plan is to use a rachet strap on each of the racks to hold the tables down. Do I need to be worried about them shifting towards the rear of the van???? I had thought about covering the whole thing with a cargo net but I don't know if that would be of any help.
I need the tables to arrive when we do and I don't what to watch them take off like a kite either.
Any thoughts???????????
Click to expand...
L/D =0 for this configuration.
 
I used to haul leather goods and craft fair equipment(tables, etc. on the top of my step van and only used racheting tie downs and never had a problem with movement or loss. I did put one strip vertically and the rest horizontally and that kept them from shifting.
 
Having a class A CDL license and hauling lots of stuff in my days and alot of it being 12-14 feet wide with pilot cars and CHP escorts. My rule of thumb when tyeing loads down is "if" it comes off the truck would I want that to go through my families windshield??? So that said if you can tie it down in 4 places, figure out how to tie it in 5. Also anything that is in bundles or stacked I gut wrap them.
 
Another thing to look at is the angle of the load front to rear. If the front is higher then the rear you will be creating lift = more stress on the tie downs. If the front is lower it will Do the opposite. Remember flying your hand out the car window as a kid? Same principals.
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmm it would not take much to add a little pitch to the load. That makes a whole bunch of sense. Even if I just raised the back up a inch that would be enough.
 
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