Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Will Sabel
A spring bed base, also known as a box spring, is a kind of addition that can provide bracing to the wooden frames of the bed. It helps to support the mattress and elevate it to a certain height. Not to mention its shock-absorbing capability.
Imagine having to transport bed box springs from one house to another. You can call a house shifting service or you can fit the box spring in your car. Yes, box springs can be placed on cars with the help of roof racks.
Today, we will discuss how to tie box spring to roof rack, so that you can carry this essential while you drive.
What Type Of Roof Rack Is Better For Carrying Box Spring?
First, let’s start with what a roof rack is. It is a carrier that is fitted on the top of your car to accommodate items such as luggage, camping gear, bike, box spring, etc. There are two types of roof racks available. One is the strapped version and the other is strapless.
To carry box springs, it’s better to have a roof rack that has no straps. This will certainly avoid any kind of abrasion and scratches on the mattress. Just make sure the box spring is secured on the roof rack frame from one end to the other.
How To Tie Box Spring To Roof Rack
To secure a box spring you might come up with different ideas all over the internet, but the best way to do it is to fasten it properly on the top carrier. Below we will provide a step-by-step guide to help you further.
Step 1: Things You’ll Need
- Roof rack
- Box spring
- Mattress cover/cloth
- Rope/String
- Bolts, washers and nuts
- Ratchet straps
- Cordless drill machine with screw bits
Step 2: Prepare The Rack
Make sure you have a good quality roof rack affixed to your car. Something that can carry heavy weight and is durable. Low-end racks can be disruptive and break too often, so we prefer you to have a solid rack at first.
Step 3: Place The Box Spring On Top
Now put the box spring on top of your car. Simply make sure that all four ends of the box spring are touching the roof rack and that not a single end is toppling over.
After you’ve done this, you want to use the mattress over to wrap the box spring to shield it from scratches and weather hazards. Make sure you use the cloth properly, tighten it and don’t let it loose, because loose ends will catch air and increase the drag when you drive.
Step 4: Use The Ratchet Straps To Secure The Box
Now that the box spring is sitting on the roof rack all covered, you would need to take the ratchets to secure it firmly, so that it doesn’t move at all.
Start from one side, first take one ratchet, place it along the length of the box and attach it to the ends of the frame. Now take another ratchet and secure the opposite end as well.
With two more ratchet straps attach them to the corners that are not fastened. Always make sure to pull the straps to a certain limit where it will lock the box. Ensure that there is a good amount of tension, but nothing too overpowering to box the ends of the box spring.
Secure the fifth ratchet spring to the end that is uncovered. Whatever you do, just make sure that the ratchets are tightly strapped. When done right, you will hear a clicking noise, which indicates that they are locked properly.
Step 5: Place Bungee Cord For Better Load Handling
After the ratchet straps have been locked, you will need to place a bungee cord and secure each end to the strap that was placed first, latching on to the two diagonal edges.
Process the same step on the other side of the box spring. This particular attachment helps to keep the load in a blanched position.
Note that, you must not tighten the straps too hard, because it can warp the box spring. Just have enough tension that allows the box to stay in place and not wobble. Once you’ve achieved what we mentioned, you are good to go.
How To Attach A Large Box To Roof Rack?
The best way to deal with a colossal box spring is to affix it onto the roof racks with bolts and screws.
For that, you will have to use the drill to penetrate four holes on each side of the box spring. Now put the bolts and washers into the hole with the drill machine containing screw bits.
Having many holes in the box will allow the straps to slide from the bottom and come out from the top of another opening. This will ensure a safe and tighter fix altogether.
Some Important Aspects To Maintain
- Always use a second ratchet tie-down strap to tie down the back and front sides of the box spring.
- Try to minimize the number of straps close to your windshield. Too many strappings here can be a distraction to the traffic coming towards you.
- Unstrap the box spring only when you go to your destination. Releasing the straps in the middle of the road will hinder the balancing aspect which you might need to re-adjust from scratch.
- Always use a strap that has a substantial minimum breaking strength. For example, a strap with 5000 lbs breaking strength is ideal.
Final Thoughts
If you ever consider moving your box spring via your car, then you must know how to tie the box spring to a roof rack. It is the safest way of transporting your mattresses while you drive from one place to another.
Follow the step-by-step guide mentioned above to tighten the box spring conveniently. Make sure you don’t over-compress the straps which can lead to bowing boxes and sometimes the straps can break. Always use fastening materials that have superior breaking strength to ensure safety at all times.
For those who have been worrying about transporting their box spring, now you know what to do.
