Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

I have read a few threads on canoe tiedowns and still do not have a
highly secure method for ensuring the boat does not fly off the roof.
I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004 with factory installed roof rack and
crossbars. I do not have a hitch behind. I want to tie down the canoe
at the bow and stern - I do not want to take a change with just the
roof rack. The bumpers are part of the body with no gap, so tying the
rope around the bumper is not possible. In the front, I do not wish to
tie to the radiator, or the hood latch because these are not sturdy
enough. In the back, I do not see any suitable anchor.

Where can the rope be tied to the front and back of the Jeep? Any
simple bolts or such which can be purchased to serve as anchor points?
Any other ideas?

Thank you.

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

I bought a cheap kit that came with 4 foam blocks and ropes and hooks
for a canoe.

The hooks are about 1" wide and look something like a piece of angle
iron. These hooks grab the bumper's edge well. They also grab the
gutter or the bottom edge of my hard top well.

On my last trip I used the metal S hook from a rubber bungie cord to
hook into the rear frame rail drain holes to have two ropes coming up to
the tail of the canoe. I rapped the rope under the bumper to the frame
on each side.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Uni Skae wrote:
>
> I have read a few threads on canoe tiedowns and still do not have a
> highly secure method for ensuring the boat does not fly off the roof.
> I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004 with factory installed roof rack and
> crossbars. I do not have a hitch behind. I want to tie down the canoe
> at the bow and stern - I do not want to take a change with just the
> roof rack. The bumpers are part of the body with no gap, so tying the
> rope around the bumper is not possible. In the front, I do not wish to
> tie to the radiator, or the hood latch because these are not sturdy
> enough. In the back, I do not see any suitable anchor.
>
> Where can the rope be tied to the front and back of the Jeep? Any
> simple bolts or such which can be purchased to serve as anchor points?
> Any other ideas?
>
> Thank you.

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

I bought a cheap kit that came with 4 foam blocks and ropes and hooks
for a canoe.

The hooks are about 1" wide and look something like a piece of angle
iron. These hooks grab the bumper's edge well. They also grab the
gutter or the bottom edge of my hard top well.

On my last trip I used the metal S hook from a rubber bungie cord to
hook into the rear frame rail drain holes to have two ropes coming up to
the tail of the canoe. I rapped the rope under the bumper to the frame
on each side.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Uni Skae wrote:
>
> I have read a few threads on canoe tiedowns and still do not have a
> highly secure method for ensuring the boat does not fly off the roof.
> I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004 with factory installed roof rack and
> crossbars. I do not have a hitch behind. I want to tie down the canoe
> at the bow and stern - I do not want to take a change with just the
> roof rack. The bumpers are part of the body with no gap, so tying the
> rope around the bumper is not possible. In the front, I do not wish to
> tie to the radiator, or the hood latch because these are not sturdy
> enough. In the back, I do not see any suitable anchor.
>
> Where can the rope be tied to the front and back of the Jeep? Any
> simple bolts or such which can be purchased to serve as anchor points?
> Any other ideas?
>
> Thank you.

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

I bought a cheap kit that came with 4 foam blocks and ropes and hooks
for a canoe.

The hooks are about 1" wide and look something like a piece of angle
iron. These hooks grab the bumper's edge well. They also grab the
gutter or the bottom edge of my hard top well.

On my last trip I used the metal S hook from a rubber bungie cord to
hook into the rear frame rail drain holes to have two ropes coming up to
the tail of the canoe. I rapped the rope under the bumper to the frame
on each side.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Uni Skae wrote:
>
> I have read a few threads on canoe tiedowns and still do not have a
> highly secure method for ensuring the boat does not fly off the roof.
> I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004 with factory installed roof rack and
> crossbars. I do not have a hitch behind. I want to tie down the canoe
> at the bow and stern - I do not want to take a change with just the
> roof rack. The bumpers are part of the body with no gap, so tying the
> rope around the bumper is not possible. In the front, I do not wish to
> tie to the radiator, or the hood latch because these are not sturdy
> enough. In the back, I do not see any suitable anchor.
>
> Where can the rope be tied to the front and back of the Jeep? Any
> simple bolts or such which can be purchased to serve as anchor points?
> Any other ideas?
>
> Thank you.

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

Hi,

For the front, make up two sturdy nylon straps, about 6" long, each with
a grommet eye on one end and a loop on the other. Open your hood and
look for the foremost fender bolt on each side. Use these bolts to
attach the grommet end of each strap. Loop-ends of the straps are run up
between hood and quater panel when it's time to tie down.

For the rear, get two small stainless steel ubolts from the hardware
store and bolt them through the bumper with a suitable backing plate.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Uni Skae wrote:
> I have read a few threads on canoe tiedowns and still do not have a
> highly secure method for ensuring the boat does not fly off the roof.
> I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004 with factory installed roof rack and
> crossbars. I do not have a hitch behind. I want to tie down the canoe
> at the bow and stern - I do not want to take a change with just the
> roof rack. The bumpers are part of the body with no gap, so tying the
> rope around the bumper is not possible. In the front, I do not wish to
> tie to the radiator, or the hood latch because these are not sturdy
> enough. In the back, I do not see any suitable anchor.
>
> Where can the rope be tied to the front and back of the Jeep? Any
> simple bolts or such which can be purchased to serve as anchor points?
> Any other ideas?
>
> Thank you.

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

Hi,

For the front, make up two sturdy nylon straps, about 6" long, each with
a grommet eye on one end and a loop on the other. Open your hood and
look for the foremost fender bolt on each side. Use these bolts to
attach the grommet end of each strap. Loop-ends of the straps are run up
between hood and quater panel when it's time to tie down.

For the rear, get two small stainless steel ubolts from the hardware
store and bolt them through the bumper with a suitable backing plate.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Uni Skae wrote:
> I have read a few threads on canoe tiedowns and still do not have a
> highly secure method for ensuring the boat does not fly off the roof.
> I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004 with factory installed roof rack and
> crossbars. I do not have a hitch behind. I want to tie down the canoe
> at the bow and stern - I do not want to take a change with just the
> roof rack. The bumpers are part of the body with no gap, so tying the
> rope around the bumper is not possible. In the front, I do not wish to
> tie to the radiator, or the hood latch because these are not sturdy
> enough. In the back, I do not see any suitable anchor.
>
> Where can the rope be tied to the front and back of the Jeep? Any
> simple bolts or such which can be purchased to serve as anchor points?
> Any other ideas?
>
> Thank you.

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

Hi,

For the front, make up two sturdy nylon straps, about 6" long, each with
a grommet eye on one end and a loop on the other. Open your hood and
look for the foremost fender bolt on each side. Use these bolts to
attach the grommet end of each strap. Loop-ends of the straps are run up
between hood and quater panel when it's time to tie down.

For the rear, get two small stainless steel ubolts from the hardware
store and bolt them through the bumper with a suitable backing plate.

Steve
http://xjeep.dyndns.org


Uni Skae wrote:
> I have read a few threads on canoe tiedowns and still do not have a
> highly secure method for ensuring the boat does not fly off the roof.
> I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004 with factory installed roof rack and
> crossbars. I do not have a hitch behind. I want to tie down the canoe
> at the bow and stern - I do not want to take a change with just the
> roof rack. The bumpers are part of the body with no gap, so tying the
> rope around the bumper is not possible. In the front, I do not wish to
> tie to the radiator, or the hood latch because these are not sturdy
> enough. In the back, I do not see any suitable anchor.
>
> Where can the rope be tied to the front and back of the Jeep? Any
> simple bolts or such which can be purchased to serve as anchor points?
> Any other ideas?
>
> Thank you.

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

Install Yakima crossbars, preferably using the ultra-stout gutter
mounts, and buy two pairs of Yakima Gunwale Brackets:
http://www.yakima.com/home.html

They cradle the gunwales tightly and prevent your canoe from shifting
forwards or backwards. The are also teriffic for long loads like
lumber. To load your canoe, loosen and shift one rear gunwale mount
outboard to free up the canoe and then slide the canoe off the roof to
the rear. To load you just slide the canoe forward until it is stopped
by the front mounts, then reposition the rear one. If the canoe is
very light or you are very strong you can elmiminate to mount shifting
step, but it's a little trickier getting the boat positioned.

With the Yakima brackets and two stout ratchet straps across the
bottom of the boat you can get away with only a bow rope to keep the
canoe from launching upwards at highway speeds. The bow rope is _very_
important - I cringe when I see someone carrying a canoe propped up in
the back of their pickup with a little 1/4 nylon rope holding it down
to the side mirrors....

These are way cool - could you mount a pair in the front bumper or is
it totally flimsy plastic? I suspect access to the nuts would be a big
problem.
http://www.bedbolts.net/instruct.htm

OTH I like Steve's suggestion for 2 short nylon straps bolted inside
the engine compartment. Whatever you come up with, it's important that
the rope(s) don't chafe the paint.

What kind of canoe? I had a We-no-nah Jensen 18 for a few years. I
never had it fly off the roof ;)

John

John Davies TLCA 14732
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

Install Yakima crossbars, preferably using the ultra-stout gutter
mounts, and buy two pairs of Yakima Gunwale Brackets:
http://www.yakima.com/home.html

They cradle the gunwales tightly and prevent your canoe from shifting
forwards or backwards. The are also teriffic for long loads like
lumber. To load your canoe, loosen and shift one rear gunwale mount
outboard to free up the canoe and then slide the canoe off the roof to
the rear. To load you just slide the canoe forward until it is stopped
by the front mounts, then reposition the rear one. If the canoe is
very light or you are very strong you can elmiminate to mount shifting
step, but it's a little trickier getting the boat positioned.

With the Yakima brackets and two stout ratchet straps across the
bottom of the boat you can get away with only a bow rope to keep the
canoe from launching upwards at highway speeds. The bow rope is _very_
important - I cringe when I see someone carrying a canoe propped up in
the back of their pickup with a little 1/4 nylon rope holding it down
to the side mirrors....

These are way cool - could you mount a pair in the front bumper or is
it totally flimsy plastic? I suspect access to the nuts would be a big
problem.
http://www.bedbolts.net/instruct.htm

OTH I like Steve's suggestion for 2 short nylon straps bolted inside
the engine compartment. Whatever you come up with, it's important that
the rope(s) don't chafe the paint.

What kind of canoe? I had a We-no-nah Jensen 18 for a few years. I
never had it fly off the roof ;)

John

John Davies TLCA 14732
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA

Re: Canoe tiedown for Grand Cherokee 2004 - ongoing saga
 

Install Yakima crossbars, preferably using the ultra-stout gutter
mounts, and buy two pairs of Yakima Gunwale Brackets:
http://www.yakima.com/home.html

They cradle the gunwales tightly and prevent your canoe from shifting
forwards or backwards. The are also teriffic for long loads like
lumber. To load your canoe, loosen and shift one rear gunwale mount
outboard to free up the canoe and then slide the canoe off the roof to
the rear. To load you just slide the canoe forward until it is stopped
by the front mounts, then reposition the rear one. If the canoe is
very light or you are very strong you can elmiminate to mount shifting
step, but it's a little trickier getting the boat positioned.

With the Yakima brackets and two stout ratchet straps across the
bottom of the boat you can get away with only a bow rope to keep the
canoe from launching upwards at highway speeds. The bow rope is _very_
important - I cringe when I see someone carrying a canoe propped up in
the back of their pickup with a little 1/4 nylon rope holding it down
to the side mirrors....

These are way cool - could you mount a pair in the front bumper or is
it totally flimsy plastic? I suspect access to the nuts would be a big
problem.
http://www.bedbolts.net/instruct.htm

OTH I like Steve's suggestion for 2 short nylon straps bolted inside
the engine compartment. Whatever you come up with, it's important that
the rope(s) don't chafe the paint.

What kind of canoe? I had a We-no-nah Jensen 18 for a few years. I
never had it fly off the roof ;)

John

John Davies TLCA 14732
http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/
'96 Lexus LX450
'00 Audi A4 1.8T quattro
Spokane WA USA