Comanche1987

I know I am going to get some flaming haha, but here goes nothing.

I am super poor, I try to save every penny I can, after child support and bills I have about 100 bucks a week for food and gas and everything else you need to survive, yes I am poor!

I found a great deal 120 miles away for a Mattress/box spring tv tv stand vacuum cleaner, dinner table/chairs, all for 200 bucks. I can fit everything inside the xj except the bed of course. I have a few ratchet straps, and I don't have a roof rack, is there any way I can trap it down good enough for 60mph 120 miles? Has anybody else done it? I figured I'd need a tarp to protect the mattress.

extrashaky

This is a Very Bad Idea. Air will go right up under the leading edge. If it doesn't rip right off your roof, the straps will end up tearing up your Jeep. And double that, since you're talking about mattress AND box spring. Those things are like sails when you get them into the wind.

Just bite the bullet and rent a van or a trailer. You have a hitch, right? Trailer rental is cheap.

KrayXJ77

Agreed
$55 plus deposit on a flatbed from uhaul for 24 hours, that's your best bet.

Bustedback

That is a great deal for bed bugs!

btmbass

I've done this on a much smaller scale. I moved a queen sized box spring and mattress about 30 miles on country roads going 60-65mph without and issue. Put the mattress on the bottom and the box spring on top, that will help prevent the mattress from folding over due to the wind. I used 4 ratchets. 2 going the long way over the box spring and mattress to the front and back cross bars of the roof rack. I than did a criss cross with the other two ratchet straps (weaving them in and out of the front and back straps).

The wind noise is terrifying but if you've got good straps and on a journey that long I'd check the straps every 30-40 miles to make sure they haven't shifted or loosened. Also the safer bet is state highways avoid interstates. Will cost you more in gas and time but definitely safer and less likely for an accident if something did happen

drhoward1988

If I had to transport them this way I would do the following. Straps through the cab around the mattress and box spring. Then a long strap from your front bumper over to your rear bumper. I'd run with my hazards on and would not run over about 45... Let's think safety first and foremost.

rmoore1031

My new mattress I got a discount furniture store locally. It was rolled up like a sleeping bag and needed to "decompress" before using it. It fit in the back of my Jeep with no problem.

I've seen mattresses on roof and I avoid driving behind them.

Comanche1987

I've got about 4 10,000lb ratchet straps, I'm going to try it, hazards on and 50mph Maybe my mpg will be better at 50 as well, wish I had cruise control. I'll see if I can avoid the main interstates as much as possible.


And if all else fails...

caged

put a twist or two in the straps to avoid the horrible wind noise.

Rockfrog

I just transported a twin box spring and mattress today.
On the roof.
Although I do have the stock roof rack.

Two straps to the tie downs and one long one through the back door Windows and over the top. If I didn't have the rack, I'd add another through the front doors, and a strap hooked to those going to each bumper. As stated ... Mattress on the bottom, box spring on top. Perfectly safe if strapped right. And remember you are driving a jeep with a bed on top, not a Ferrari, keep the speed down, or rent a trailer.

Not the first time, won't be the last.

XJlimitedx99

Run the straps through the doors. This summer my buddy lost a mattress on the highway because his car's roof racks ripped off the body.

Rockfrog

And that's why I did both the rack and through the rear doors. The one through the door got the most tightening. That way the rack straps merely held it in place.

Comanche1987

Thanks. I have replaced the entire cooling system except for the radiator in my 91 4.0. I just got a new radiator today from advanced auto parts $93 with tax after discount code. I'm installing that tonight/tomorrow before I make the trip and I hope that resolves the long distance slow over heating problem as well, if not I'll be making a few pit stops to let her cool down.

odgreen

Do the "solid sandwich" as an old timer once called it.....
Put the mattress directly on the jeep and then box spring on top of it as a ridged hold down. It will be fine. An old member known as rustie on here made a 1200 mile trip from college home with a mattress and box spring on her roof. She made it.

investinwaffles

Just please be careful. I once had a mattress jettison itself from the car infront of me, and almost kill me when I was on my motorcycle a few years ago.

Guy got the double flick-off but I dont think he even realized how close I came to hitting a nearly stationary mattress doing 75+mph (which I can only assume would hurt like hell).