What's the best way to transport EMT?

[Capt. RON]

I've got a GOBI full deck roof rack and I'm looking for ideas on how to secure about a dozen 10 foot long pieces of EMT.

The rack has standard 1 1/8 cross bars which will fit YAKIMA mounts

I was thinking of just using rachet cargo straps, but I'm worried about sudden stops and the EMT sliding off the rack.

[Captain Goddammit]

I'd make a loop around each pole with the straps.

[MikeGyver]

If your really worried about them sliding. What you can do is, lay them flat side by side, put a wrap of duct tape around each end of the set then roll it up and tie it to the rack. Simple test is to put the strap around and grab one of the middle poles and if it takes effort to pull out you'll be fine. I'm usually more worried about them coming off the roof as a whole than out of the cluster.

The bigger problem I had last year with I think it was 8 10' poles was at speed they would start to buck and started whacking the windshield (driving a durango). But with a full deck roof rack I don't think you will have any issues with that.

[Martiansky]

I'm going to be bringing several 10' pieces of pvc pipe for a monkeyhut on top of my truck rack and I was thinking of using a plastic sewer pipe big enough to house them in with end caps on it so that they aren't flapping in the wind.
Maybe that would work for your emt?

[ygmir]

makes sure those end caps are screwed or somehow secured, Martiansky. Braking and or acceleration can let the stuff inside bang front to back and could knock one off, if just "press fit" on.

OP:
Patatomoto and CGD give good advice.
I tie stuff on my rack as a matter of work, regularly. the idea is to create friction be compression within the bundle.
in those circumstance, I tie left to right, with a wrap around the bundle. On both ends. If you can get any downwards force, it helps in that you can slightly flex the bundle, which helps keep it tight.
and, stop in the first few minutes of travel (especially if bumpy at all) and check the load. Sometimes, stuff settles a little with vibration. Then check at each stop.

IPBA

[mudpuppy000]

I've transported the carport pipes on my roof rack. It has a solid front to it so that helps in preventing anything from sliding forward during braking. The bad part is that the pipes hang off the back and almost interfere with the tailgate opening. I ratchet everything down tight and then test each pipe to make sure it won't slide out. I wonder if putting a beach towel or something in between them all would help add friction to it too. Duct tape seems like a great option, but would leave a bit of residue.

[CornMan]

If I'm nervous about it, I'll ratchet strap the poles together really tight and then attach that to the rack with more ratchet straps. Or you can do it the other way around. Strap them to you rack like you normally would, and then cinch them together by wrapping them with ratcheting straps.

[BBadger]

Stick bags on the end and bind them up. I used garbage bags on carport tubes, but some heavier duty stuff like burlap would probably be stronger. You can even bind them along the length of the pipes as well to hold them on if you think the bindings around the rim aren't enough.

[CornMan]

Stick bags on the end and bind them up. I used garbage bags on carport tubes, but some heavier duty stuff like burlap would probably be stronger. You can even bind them along the length of the pipes as well to hold them on if you think the bindings around the rim aren't enough.

I was trying to remember who had this idea, but I plonked you a while back because you were being such a ______________. I like your posts now. Capping the ends will show the highway patrol that you are conscientious about your load and will hopefully generate less overall scorn. If anything, capping the ends will prevent painful scrapes and bumps on the head while you're loading and unloading the rest of your gear.

[MikeGyver]

paint cans at the end would work too and you probably have two of those sitting around somewhere.

[BBadger]

I was trying to remember who had this idea, but I plonked you a while back because you were being such a ______________.

Did my signature help with that? I try to make it convenient.

If anything, capping the ends will prevent painful scrapes and bumps on the head while you're loading and unloading the rest of your gear.

If you do it right, it makes it easy to take down and pack up too. For example, you can put straps attached to the end and make it almost like a bag strap for carrying.

[lemur]

[TomServo]

slide duffel bags over both ends and secure open ends toward roof rack

[Savannah]

slide duffel bags over both ends and secure open ends toward roof rack

That is what I would do. Army duffels!

I have traveled with PVC whose ends were not capped, and we had to stop and mess with it. No matter how tight you think things are cinched, stuff can happen. Never again.

[FIGJAM]

I use big hose clamps around the end of the bundles.

[trilobyte]

When I've transported conduit poles on our cargo van's monster roof rack, I make a cap for each end of the pole bundle using a decent weight canvas tarp (if it's lightweight, fold it over a couple times), then use ratchet straps to secure each end tightly. Then I use more ratchet straps to secure the pole bundle to the frame.

I like Tom's idea too, if you don't have a tarp you can use but a spare duffle, use that.

[ygmir]

just sayin, it's all in the tie down:
I've installed miles of underground pipe and conduit, plastic and metal, and driven many leagues with it tied on a rack, with no problem. bumpy, panic stops, whatever.
the key is tension, and friction.
Barring or lessening either of those, the end caps are a good idea, and necessary.

But, a wrap, and a good tight cinch, mid span that actually flexes the bundle, and you have it. Self tensioning and friction.
YMMV

[Capt. RON]

THANK YOU, one and all for your answers, ideas, and techniques.

All of this in less than 24 hours of my original posting!

I've lurked the boards for many years and am sure that I speak for the tens of thousands of other burners that have benefitted from your collective wisdom and sage advice.

Thank you

[TomServo]

just sayin, it's all in the tie down:
I've installed miles of underground pipe and conduit, plastic and metal, and driven many leagues with it tied on a rack, with no problem. bumpy, panic stops, whatever.
the key is tension, and friction.
Barring or lessening either of those, the end caps are a good idea, and necessary.

But, a wrap, and a good tight cinch, mid span that actually flexes the bundle, and you have it. Self tensioning and friction.
YMMV

That's all well and good, but constant vibration is the number 1 enemy of tie downs. Not to mention, potential equipment failure. If the load were just travelling to the next town, I may just consider trusting my ratchet straps..but, not for long hauls, and especially not while hauling potential missiles.

[Drawingablank]

Whenever I need to transport or store pipe I group them in easily carried bundles then wrap the ends of the bundles with pallet wrap. Pretty much does the same thing duct tape would but with no residue.

The stuff is designed to keep heavy loads from shifting in transport.

For those who've never used it, imagine super heavy duty saran / cling wrap. Available in rolls from about 4 inches wide up to about 24 inches. Any place that sells shipping supplies offers them, but the easiest way to get a single roll is at Home despot (moving supplies section). The smaller rolls usually come with a dispenser.

[Oldguy]

Get a boyscout .

[BBadger]

Whenever I need to transport or store pipe I group them in easily carried bundles then wrap the ends of the bundles with pallet wrap. Pretty much does the same thing duct tape would but with no residue.

Now that you mention it, that's what I did last year and it worked pretty well. The year before I used garbage bags and duct tape. Still, I had my pipes separated by size, so they weren't large bundles. I wouldn't trust pallet wrap on larger bundles. The pallet wrap still relies on the friction and binding of the pipes to prevent the middle pipes from slipping, and won't provide any protection if they start to slide.

Maybe a hybrid solution would work: wrap some tape or pallet wrap around each individual pipe at the same location so that they have extra friction at that point. Then tightly bind the bundle together with pallet wrap to give it that elastic binding.

[lemur]

[dubz]

I duct tape mine up into bundles of 5-7, and then wrap all of the bundles in a canvas drop cloth on the roof rack. I use both ratchet straps and paracord to secure the whole thing, and the canvas keeps anything from sliding out the front.