Snowboards/Surfboards on tall aluminum cap?

I'm trying to figure out a good way to haul my surfboard and snowboards on my tall aluminum cap so that I can keep them on the outside when they're wet since I sleep on the inside. I'm worried the aluminum cap won't be able to handle a lot of weight or force from the boards when I'm driving at any sort of higher speeds. But more importantly I'm not sure the best way to mount them since the top of the shell is real high with the lift I have, and it would be hard to get them up and down when I'm alone. I've been thinking it would be nice to mount them on the side horizontally in front of one of the windows somehow, similar to how some people mount surfboards on the sides of sprinter vans (ie. last photo). I was thinking I could screw in some square aluminum bars into the aluminum frame of the topper and then seal the holes, but then I'm not sure how I would actually attach the boards to that, not to mention whether or not those would be strong enough. I was also thinking it might work to attach two short yakima round bars to the topper since I have some yakima button down racks already. Any ideas?

 

build a sleeping platform in the bed that allows for room under for your boards. they will drip dry inside.

 

I have a sleeping platform built now, see picture, but I'm going to be living out of my truck for most of the summer and I have a longboard that doesn't fit inside, so the surfboards at least would be nice to be on the outside.

 

Simple, put some waterproof rivnuts/nutserts into the frame of the shell then you can mount a set of Surf Hooks or other brand surfboard van rack or make your own. You could mount some sections of Core-Trax for example. I'd put the Yakima bars on top and use them for the snowboards.

Nice looking setup. I'd add some curtains to give yourself some privacy and also let you sleep past the sun coming up- I inevitably seem to park so that the first rays hit me in the face.

 

When I was a kid and first saw a car going down the road with racks and boards on top I thought "There's no way!"

Now that I know from soft racks that it's nearly impossible for a board to fly off if secured and that the weight stays very neutral I imagine some washers over and under the bolt heads and nuts will be fine. I mean really I've seen now some pretty sketchy looking racks that never let go as long as both straps were done.

 

Living out of your truck for the summer ??!!...... dude , you are my hero!!

 

I did it on the TX coast in '84. No A/C all summer I had neck muscles like a body builder from paddling. I think that;s the only natural way to get them.

 

https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/roof-rack