6 Best Cam Buckle Tie Downs For Kayaks On RV Trailers Nomads Swear By

You’re at a dusty gas station somewhere in Utah, and before you pull back onto the highway, you do the walk-around. You check the RV tires, the trailer hitch, and then you give the kayak strapped to the roof a firm shake. A secure kayak isn’t just about protecting your gear; it’s about road safety and the peace of mind that lets you enjoy the journey.

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Why Cam Buckles Beat Ratchet Straps for Kayaks

The first thing you learn when hauling composite or plastic boats is that more tension isn’t better. It’s actually destructive. This is where the debate between cam buckles and ratchet straps ends for experienced paddlers. Ratchet straps are designed for cranking down heavy, non-compressible cargo like lumber or machinery. They apply immense mechanical force, which is exactly what you don’t want on a kayak hull.

I’ve seen it happen too many times: a well-meaning RVer uses a ratchet strap and literally crushes their boat. The plastic deforms, creating a dent called "oil-canning," which can permanently affect how the kayak tracks in the water. In worst-case scenarios, fiberglass or composite hulls can crack under the pressure. It’s a costly mistake born from using the wrong tool for the job.

Cam buckles, on the other hand, rely on hand strength. You pull the webbing through the buckle until it’s snug, and the cam mechanism locks it in place. This gives you a "feel" for the tension, allowing you to get it perfectly tight without applying dangerous, concentrated force. For a hollow object like a kayak, snug is the goal, not crushed.

The simplicity is also a major win for the nomadic lifestyle. Cam buckles are faster to secure and release, with no mechanical parts to jam with sand or rust. When you’re setting up and tearing down camp frequently, those saved minutes and reduced frustrations add up.

NRS 1" HD Straps: The Paddler’s Gold Standard

If you walk through any river rafting launch or sea kayaking festival, you’ll see NRS straps everywhere. There’s a reason they are the undisputed champions in the paddling world. Their secret is the webbing itself: it’s made from high-tenacity polypropylene that is so tightly woven it barely stretches, even when soaked in a downpour.

This is critical for RV life. A cheap nylon strap might feel tight when you leave a dry climate, but as soon as it gets wet from rain or morning dew, it stretches. Suddenly, your kayak is loose on the trailer, shifting at 65 mph. NRS straps eliminate that variable, giving you consistent tension you can trust.

The buckle is a work of art in its simplicity, featuring two beefy, center-mounted stainless steel springs that provide a bulldog grip on the webbing. They are treated for UV resistance, so leaving them out in the desert sun won’t turn them to dust in a single season. They come in a huge range of lengths, making it easy to get the exact size for your setup without a ton of excess strap flapping in the wind.

Thule Express Straps with Buckle Bumper Guard

Thule knows a thing or two about securing expensive gear to vehicles without damaging either one. Their standout feature is the generous rubber "Buckle Bumper" that encases the metal cam buckle. This small detail is a massive advantage when you’re tossing a strap over your kayak and onto the other side of your RV or trailer.

Without a guard, it’s incredibly easy to accidentally chip your RV’s gel coat or scratch your kayak’s deck. The Thule bumper absorbs that impact, preventing those little "oops" moments that accumulate over years on the road. It shows a deep understanding of the user experience.

Beyond the bumper, the straps themselves are high-quality, weather-resistant webbing that holds up well to the elements. They provide a secure hold and inspire confidence, backed by a brand name synonymous with vehicle racks. For anyone concerned about protecting the finish on their rig and their boat, Thule offers a smart, purpose-built solution.

Yakima Heavy-Duty Straps for Rugged Durability

Yakima is another giant in the rack and cargo world, and their approach to straps is all about robust, heavy-duty construction. Like Thule, their buckles are fully encased in a thick, rubberized coating, offering excellent protection against dings and scratches. The feel is often a bit more rugged and substantial.

Where Yakima often shines is in the webbing’s durability and abrasion resistance. It’s built to handle the grit and grime of life on the move, from dusty backroads to salty coastal air. These straps feel like they were designed for constant, hard use, not just occasional weekend trips.

For the full-time nomad, this translates to longevity. You’re not just using these straps a dozen times a year; you might be using them every few days. Yakima’s build quality ensures they won’t fray or weaken from being dragged over rack components or exposed to the elements day in and day out.

Rhino-Rack Tie Downs: Corrosion-Resistant Choice

If your travels frequently take you to the coast or through humid climates, corrosion becomes a real enemy. Salt spray can seize up a cheap buckle in a matter of weeks. Rhino-Rack addresses this head-on with buckles that feature a tested, corrosion-resistant metal finish.

This focus makes them a top choice for sea kayakers and anyone who spends time near the ocean. The last thing you want is to be wrestling with a rusted buckle when you’re trying to get on or off the water. Rhino-Rack’s cam mechanism is designed to remain smooth and functional even after repeated exposure to salty air.

Many of their kits also come with a rubberized housing for the buckle, similar to Thule and Yakima, protecting your gear and vehicle. They understand that durability isn’t just about strap strength; it’s about ensuring every component withstands the specific environment you’re in. For coastal nomads, this is a key differentiator.

Sea to Summit Bomber Straps for Ultimate Protection

Sea to Summit brings a slightly different philosophy from their background in climbing and overland gear. Their Bomber Straps are, as the name implies, ridiculously overbuilt for their purpose in the best way possible. They often have higher lashing capacity ratings than competitors, giving you an extra margin of safety.

The buckle is heavy-duty, zinc-alloy, and sits in a large neoprene pad. This offers a wider, softer buffer between the metal and your gear than the rubber bumpers on other brands, distributing the pressure more gently. It’s an excellent choice for delicate composite or carbon fiber kayaks.

But the feature nomads truly love is the small, integrated elastic loop. After you’ve tightened the strap, you can neatly roll up the excess tail and secure it with the loop. No more flapping strap ends beating against your RV, no more tying clumsy knots. It’s a small, elegant detail that solves one of the most annoying parts of tying down gear.

Cartman Lashing Straps: A Reliable Value Option

Let’s be practical: not everyone needs a premium, UV-coated, salt-resistant strap that costs a premium. Sometimes, you just need a reliable strap that gets the job done without breaking the bank. That’s where a value-focused brand like Cartman comes in.

These straps offer a fantastic price-to-performance ratio. The buckles are solid, the webbing is strong, and they will absolutely hold your kayak securely. They are a perfect choice if you’re on a tighter budget or if your kayak doesn’t live on your trailer 24/7.

The tradeoff? You might not get the same level of UV resistance, so they may degrade faster if left in the intense sun for years. The buckles are bare metal, so you’ll need to be more careful about preventing scratches. But for their intended purpose and price, they offer tremendous, reliable value that’s hard to beat.

Securing Bow and Stern Lines on Your RV Trailer

Your main cam buckle straps do the primary job of holding the kayak down onto the rack. But they do very little to prevent it from shifting forward and backward or lifting in a strong crosswind. This is why bow and stern lines are not optional; they are a critical safety system.

Imagine a semi-truck blowing past you on the interstate. The wall of wind it creates can generate enough aerodynamic lift to rip a kayak right off its mounts. Bow and stern lines, running from the tips of the kayak down to the trailer frame or vehicle, create a triangle of stability that counteracts these forces. They are your insurance policy against a catastrophic failure.

On an RV trailer, finding solid anchor points is key. Never attach lines to flimsy plastic bumpers or license plate holders. Look for solid parts of the trailer’s steel frame, welded D-rings, or the tongue of the trailer. Use a separate pair of shorter cam buckle straps or a dedicated rope system for this task.

This two-part system—straps over the middle and lines at both ends—is the only way to travel with total confidence. It ensures your kayak is locked in place from all angles, protecting your gear, your rig, and everyone else on the road.

Ultimately, the best tie-down system is the one you use correctly every single time. Choosing a quality cam buckle strap is the first step, but pairing it with bow and stern lines is what transforms your setup from "good enough" to truly road-worthy, letting you focus on the adventure ahead.