Unless your jon boat’s docked out on the water somewhere, you’ll likely be transporting it from land to water and back again. And if you don’t have a trailer you’re in a bit of a pickle, so you may find yourself asking whether or not you can put a jon boat on top of a car.
So, can you put a jon boat on top of a car? You can put a jon boat on top of a car as long as your car’s towing capacity is sufficient to handle the weight of a jon boat and you use the necessary equipment to attach it to your car, including tie-down straps and a roof rack.
While there’s certainly an argument to be made for getting a trailer, that’s not always an option for everyone. It’s even better if you have a truck or SUV since they can handle larger towing capacities, but, depending on the car you have, you should be able to put a jon boat on top of a car.
Putting a Jon Boat on Top of a Car
When I first got my jon boat, I didn’t have a trailer so I had to haul it in the bed of my truck. While it can be a lot easier transporting a jon boat in the bed of a truck, that’s not always the case for every jon boater. However, one of the great parts about owning a jon boat is they’re relatively light, so you can put a jon boat on top of a car rather easily.
The very first thing you want to check (and double check) is the weight of your jon boat and the towing capacity of your car. Most jon boats will weigh around 200-500 pounds without any loose objects onboard, which can be easily within the parameters of your car’s towing capacity. If your car is a sedan or coupe, it’s towing capacity will likely be about 1,000-1,500 pounds including everything in the car. See our article on Can You Tow a Jon Boat With a Car for more reading on average towing capacities.
When it comes to towing capacity of your car, you seriously need to check, double check, and triple check the true weight since your car’s engine, transmission, and everything could be overstrained and potentially become damaged if putting too much load on it. Remember, a car isn’t made to carry heavy weight. That’s what trucks and SUVs are for, so be careful not to damage your car unnecessarily.
When loading a jon boat on the top of your car, you want to make sure you don’t incur any damage to your car’s roof. While jon boats are relatively light, the weight can still make a dent in a cartop depending on the durability. On top of that, you run the risk of scratching the roof. That’s why I suggest installing a roof rack, so there’s a separation between your jon boat and your car’s roof.
Keeping things safe, simple, and stable is key when transporting objects on the top of your car and that certainly includes jon boats. When loading your jon boat on top of your car, you want to make sure you do so with it upside down. The reason for this is that it’s more likely to “hug” the roof of your car as opposed to wobble around due to the shape of your hull. It also makes it a lot easier tying it down securely due to an increased surface area between the straps, your jon boat, and your car.
This may seem obvious to some, but I’ve seen people hauling their jon boats on the top of their car with the outboard motor still attached. Under no circumstance should you leave the outboard motor attached to your jon boat while hauling it on your cartop. If for whatever reason it detaches from your jon boat, that’s not only going to be incredibly expensive to replace, it’s also very dangerous for others behind you on the road. Play it safe and put your outboard motor in your car somewhere.
Making sure your jon boat is securely fastened to the top of your car is key, which is why using strong, durable tie-downs is crucial. With the outboard motor removed and your jon boat upside down on the roof of your car sitting on roof racks, you’ll be able to easily put your jon boat on top of your car. When it comes to good tie-downs, consider those that are equipped with retractable transoms and use heavy-duty hooks.
Every so often, I like being able to take my jon boat out by myself to soak in the surrounding nature. However, it can be a headache getting your jon boat on and off the top of a car all alone. That’s why you should have someone help you get it on and off your car. If you plan on going out alone, maybe you can get someone to help you get your jon boat on and off while coming by later to pick you up from wherever you’re taking your jon boat out.
How to Carry a Jon Boat on Your Cartop
If you plan on carrying your jon boat on top of your car, you’ll definitely want to investigate how to go about it. Carrying your jon boat on your cartop isn’t as difficult as you might think, especially if you have someone else to help you out.
There are several action items you need to take into account when putting a jon boat on top of a car:
- Have a roof rack installed on your cartop.
- Center your jon boat.
- Use at least two tie-down straps to secure your jon boat.
- Drive safely and steadily without abrupt changes.
The first thing you need to do is install roof racks on your cartop since these will allow you to place your jon boat on top of your car without damaging it and to attach your jon boat to your car with tie-downs. You want to make sure the length of racks is appropriately chosen for the width of your car and they’re durable enough to handle the weight of your jon boat.
Getting your jon boat nice and center on the top of your car is key. It wouldn’t make sense to have it sitting diagonal or sideways as you’d have less capability to tie it down and you’d be decreasing the aerodynamics when driving causing unnecessary friction. This is another reason for putting your jon boat upside down when putting it on top of your car.
Once you have your jon boat centered on your cartop’s roof racks, you’ll need to securely attach it using tie-downs. I suggest using a minimum of two tie-downs that cross the jon boat’s body and attach to both sides of your roof rack. For extra sturdiness, it’s not a bad idea to use either another tie-down or simply a rope to connect the bow of your boat to the front of your car. Doing this will ensure your jon boat is secure both laterally and longitudinally with respect to your car.
Last but not least, you should drive safely and steadily to your end destination. With the added weight on your car, it becomes more difficult to make abrupt stops or turns, and even if you were able to do those things you run the risk of your jon boat flying off the roof of your car. As long as you securely fastened your jon boat, staying the course by keeping top speed, acceleration, and turns in the conservative realm will increase the chances of you getting to where you want to go with your jon boat on top of your car.
Popular Boat Tie-Down Straps and Roof Racks
Tying down your jon boat securely to the top of your car means using the right equipment for the job, which is why I want to show you some of the more popular choices for boat tie-down straps and roof racks.
Reese Powersports Retractable Transom Tie-Down Straps (2 Pack)
If you’re looking for heavy-duty, marine-ready tie-down straps for your jon boat, look no further than the Reese Powersports Retractable Transom Tie-Down Straps (link to read reviews on Amazon). These straps are specifically designed to ensure your boat gets to the water and back safely without any hassle.
Reese Powersports makes some great equipment, which makes suggesting these tie-down straps so easy. Their retractable transom straps are incredibly easy to use and will make your life a lot easier when loading and unloading your jon boat without the need for any hardware. On top of that, they can handle exceptionally high load capacities, so your jon boat is well within the safety parameters. If you’re in need of tie-down straps for your jon boat, these should be the first on your list.
AA Products Universal Adjustable Heavy-Duty Steel Roof Rack
Being able to attach your jon boat to the top of your car means you need a sturdy roof rack, which is why I’m a huge fan of AA Products Universal Adjustable Heavy-Duty Steel Roof Rack (link to read reviews on Amazon). They’re not only made of high-quality steel, but they can also handle weights up to 350 pounds.
Most roof racks you’ll find can only carry smaller weights around 100-150 pounds (canoes, kayaks, etc.), but these by AA Products are made specifically for heavier loads like jon boats. After mounting these racks on the roof of your car, you’ll have heavy-duty steel support keeping your jon boat safely attached to your car.
