Kite gear getting too hot in a car-top cargo box

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goofykid
goofykid
4 posts
4 posts
21 Mar 2008 3:01pm
Has anyone had any problems keeping their gear in a car-top cargo box (ie. Yakima or Thule) for extended periods of time? I've been told that the all-black boxes get pretty hot inside in direct sunlight and I'm afraid of the kite bladders melting...

Thanks for any comments,

GK
Charl dv
Charl dv
WA
2485 posts
WA, 2485 posts
21 Mar 2008 3:48pm
it will get hot, the bladders might nt melt but the valves will stretch and leak etc. board would bubble n start delaminating etc.
puppetonastring
puppetonastring
WA
3619 posts
WA, 3619 posts
21 Mar 2008 4:22pm
Yep - anywhere too hot is not a good idea.
My valves all came unstuck from the bladders
kitecrazzzy
kitecrazzzy
WA
2184 posts
WA, 2184 posts
21 Mar 2008 6:39pm
very bad idea, even the car is sometimes to hot for the bladders and water resistant qualities of teh kite
Choady
Choady
NSW
72 posts
NSW, 72 posts
21 Mar 2008 9:11pm
Ive driven from Syd - Bris and back a couple of times over a few days (got young kids) with a Thule roof pod. I had the board strapped to the roof racks, with the kite in the pod.

Each stop for lunch etc I popped the lid to ensure air flow and stop the heat build up. Ive had no problems whatsoever. When driving the air flows through the pods also stopping the heat from building up. They are water proof, but not dust proof (therefore not air tight) and when I stop I always checked the temp inside the pod by feeling the black harness to see if any heat build up occurred. Never a problem.

I reckon leaving your kite in the car would cause more grief than in a pod (as long as you dont leave it in there with it shut if your stopped). By the way, the pod is grey - not black. If your buying a pod for looks (or colour), then your not buying it for the right reasons.
Skid
Skid
QLD
1499 posts
QLD, 1499 posts
22 Mar 2008 12:14pm
Puppet is right, too much heat and the inflation valves will come unstuck from the bladders. I learnt this the hard way, left 4 kites in a car and had 7 valves come unstuck .
Generally it is a good idea to keep the kites cool. On the days I want to kite at a beach near my work and have to leave the kites in the car all day, I rig up a silver tarp over the car (just chuck it over the roof rack and put a bungy cord on each corner). It looks more than a bit kooky but keeps the car cool and the kites intact.
As Choady says, if you are driving, the wind will keep the temperature down. Just be mindful when you stop, maybe think about taking a small tarp or bit of shadecloth to keep the sun off the pod if you can't find a shady spot to park?

Also, consider buying a tube of vinyl repair glue (from pool supply shops) just in case you have a valve let go. Nothing like having 4 kites on the beach, all of them making "ffff..... fffff...." noises cos the valves have let go, and your only tube of glue is at home, 30k's away
goofykid
goofykid
4 posts
4 posts
23 Mar 2008 2:29am
Thanks a lot for all of your input... I did come up with something that apparently works pretty well. Yakima has a line of boxes (Skybox Pro Series) that has a silver metallic finish that does not absorb the heat like standard black ones. I friend of mine leaves his kites and gear in it all summer long with absolutely no worries.

Thanks again,

GK
iainross
iainross
1 posts
1 posts
10 May 2008 1:45pm
Anyone know where to order those Yakima boxes in OZ?

grateful
Rebel
Rebel
NSW
165 posts
NSW, 165 posts
10 May 2008 8:11pm
put a fully sick roof scoop on it.. Fut a hole or oval. then put mesh over it and a waterproofing agent on it
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