Choosing the best way to transport a paddle board requires you to consider various approaches that suit you best. Once you have the necessary gear, you’ll be ready to leave.
There are plenty of ways for you to get your paddle board to the water. Which method do you prefer?
How to Transport Paddle Board in Truck?
Method 1: Transporting in a trailer
What you need
- Canoe or surfboard trailer
- Tie-down straps
Step 1: You need to ensure you connect the trailer to the vehicle’s hitch before loading on the board. Loading a fully loaded trailer is hard.
Step 2: Make sure the hitch is connected to the vehicle, and the trailer ball is properly attached to the tongue of the trailer.
Step 3: Lift the board into the trailer and slide it onto the slots.
Step 4: Secure with tie-down ropes.
Method 2: Carrying on a roof rack
What you need
- Blanket if carrying two boards
- Roof racks
- Your board
Step 1: Lift your board up and hoist it into the rack.
Step 2: Has something to use as a buffer between the board and vehicle to avoid scratching the board or car.
Step 3: If adding another board, ensure you have a blanket between them for added protection.
Step 4: Tie the board down with a decent rope to secure it
Method 3: Carrying on a truck bed
What you need
- Truck bed
- Your board
- Padding
- Sandbag for longer nosed board
Step 1: Put your board in with the nose first. This is because it is heavier and needs to sit near the cab.
Step 2: Add plenty of padding right round to stop the board jumping around.
Step 3: Add ropes to tie down if the board seems to be too loose. Bungee cords work well wrapped around the board and then hooked onto clasps that are on the side.
Step 4: For the longer boards, add a sandbag on the nose to weigh it down to stop it jerking backward.
Method 4: Truck tailgate pad
What you need
- Tailgate pad
- Your truck and board
- Securing ropes
Step 1: Place one end of the board onto the support rod, then slide the top into the truck bed.
Step 2: Using ropes, tie and secure the load at the middle and the end.
Step 3: You can use a red flag or something similar to stick on the end to warn people of the extra-long load.
Method 5: Mounting a stand-up paddleboard with a roof rack
What you need
- Crossbars
- Cam straps
- Your board
You can place your SUP on top of your vehicle after you install the crossbars, racks, and padding, as well as the straps/lines
Step 1: The deck of the board should be facing you, and the fin should face the front of the car.
Step 2: Take hold of both the handle and the top edge of the SUP with one hand.
Step 3: The hand that is on the handle needs to grab the other edge of the board and lift it onto your knee. Now lift the board onto the rack
Step 4: Put the sup deck down onto the rack
Step 5: Tie down to secure the load.
Things not to do to transport paddleboard in truck
Strapping your paddle craft down to a hard surface
Crack dings can be very serious and they occur when the board is struck by a hard surface. This can happen when the board is tied down to something hard but bounces back against the hard surface when traveling.
Water may enter the foam core as a result of a crack or ding in the fiberglass shell.
Strapping your paddle craft down too tight
Strapping a paddleboard down too tight can cause cracks to develop. This will ruin the board over time.
Tips to tie down your paddleboard
- Keep it simple when tying off to make the process easier and faster.
- Place the widest point of your board between the two cam straps. The board will be prevented from sliding backward and forward as a result.
- You can eliminate annoying strap vibrations by twisting the cam straps when driving.
- Cam straps can be locked with a key so they can only be released when the key is present. You can use these to keep your board safe while driving to the store or going out to a restaurant
- Non-stretch and water-resistant rope can be used as a substitute for ratcheting, bow and stern lines, and cam straps.
- Getting the lines nice and tight starts with knowing how to tie a trucker’s hitch.
- Approximately 15 minutes after driving, stop and tug the SUP to check that it’s still secured. The straps can become loose while driving.
Quick tips to transport paddleboard in truck
- Remember to pack your paddle: you can put it inside if it fits in your vehicle. Consider getting a paddle holder for your roof rack if it doesn’t.
- Whenever you put multiple SUPs on a roof, they will be stacked the same way. The longest SUP should be placed first.
- Protect the SUPs by placing padding between them.
- The nose of longer boards should be marked with a red flag to alert other drivers
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