7 Best Surfboard Racks For RV Exterior Mounting That Nomads Swear By
Secure your boards on the go. We review 7 nomad-tested RV exterior surfboard racks, from ladder mounts to custom builds, for safe and easy transport.
You pull up to a perfect, empty break, but your rig is a mess. Wet, sandy boards are leaning against the dinette, dripping on the floor and taking up the only standing room you have. Storing a surfboard inside an RV is a fast track to a cramped, gritty living space. The right exterior rack isn’t a luxury; it’s a critical piece of gear that protects your board, your sanity, and your home on wheels.
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Choosing Your RV Exterior Surfboard Mount
The first decision isn’t which brand to buy, but where on your rig to mount the rack. You have four primary options: the roof, the rear ladder, the side walls, or the trailer hitch. Each location comes with a fundamental set of tradeoffs that will shape your daily experience. A roof rack keeps boards out of the way but can be a challenge to access, especially after a long, tiring session.
Ladder racks are brilliantly simple and accessible, but they only work if you have a sturdy, standard-width ladder and are best suited for smaller boards. Side-mounting is a fantastic option for vans, keeping the roof free for solar, but it requires drilling into your vehicle’s body and adds width. Hitch mounts solve the accessibility problem entirely but add length and can interfere with rear access or departure angles.
Don’t get fixated on a single product until you’ve thought through how you’ll use it. Do you travel solo and need to load a 10-foot longboard by yourself? A roof rack might be a struggle. Are you an off-roader concerned about clearance? A low-slung hitch mount could be a liability. Your RV type, your board size, and your physical ability will point you toward the right mounting style long before a brand name does.
StoreYourBoard Ladder Rack: Simple & Secure
For many RVers, the rear ladder is the most obvious and convenient mounting spot. The StoreYourBoard Ladder Rack leans into this with a design that is brilliantly simple and effective. It’s not trying to be the most high-tech solution; it’s designed to be a durable, no-fuss way to get your board from point A to point B.
The system consists of two heavy-duty aluminum arms covered in thick foam padding to protect your board’s rails. These arms clamp directly onto your ladder’s vertical supports, and you can adjust their width to fit your board perfectly. A set of strong bungee cords loops over the board to hold it securely in the cradle. Installation takes minutes, and it’s just as easy to remove in the off-season.
This rack’s strength is its simplicity, but that’s also its limitation. It’s best for shortboards, fish, or funboards under about 8 feet. A massive longboard will have too much overhang, catching wind on the highway and putting a lot of stress on the rack and your ladder. If you have a standard RV ladder and ride smaller boards, this is one of the most cost-effective and practical solutions available.
FCS D-Ring Double Soft Rack: Universal Fit
What if your RV has no ladder, no crossbars, and no easy place to mount a permanent rack? The FCS D-Ring Double Soft Rack is the answer. This is the universal adapter of the surf rack world, designed to work on almost any vehicle by creating a temporary, padded rack system right on your roof.
The concept is straightforward: two high-density foam blocks sit on your RV’s roof, and heavy-duty straps secure them by passing through the vehicle’s cabin. You simply open a door or a cab-over window, run the webbing through, and cinch it down tight. The D-ring attachment points are incredibly strong and make securing the boards with a second set of straps quick and easy.
This is a fantastic solution for occasional use, rental RVs, or for figuring out your setup before committing to a permanent install. However, it’s not ideal for full-time use. The straps can flap in the wind, and more importantly, they can wick rainwater directly inside your rig. Setting it up and taking it down every time you move can also become a chore. Think of it as an excellent, versatile tool, but not a permanent fixture.
Thule Sup-Taxi XT: The Ultimate Roof Mount
Safely transport your stand-up paddleboard with the Thule SUP Taxi XT. Its exclusive telescoping design fits boards up to 34" wide, while the push-button lock system and heavy-duty webbing ensure secure transport. Tool-free mounting makes installation quick and easy.
When security and build quality are your top priorities, the Thule Sup-Taxi XT is a top contender. This is a premium, purpose-built carrier that locks to both your roof rack and your boards, offering serious peace of mind when you have to leave your gear unattended at a trailhead or in a city. It’s an investment in a system that’s built to last.
The Sup-Taxi’s design is clever and robust. It features a spring-loaded, telescoping width adjustment that provides a snug fit for boards up to 34 inches wide. The real magic is in the Speed-Link mounting hardware that attaches to almost any crossbar style in minutes without tools. The best part? The straps are reinforced with steel cables and lock with a key, making them incredibly difficult for a casual thief to cut through.
Of course, this system isn’t for everyone. You must have a base roof rack with crossbars already installed on your RV, which can be a significant added expense and project. It also adds several inches of height to your rig even when empty, a critical factor for clearance. But if you already have a roof rack and want a secure, easy-to-use carrier for valuable boards, the Thule is hard to beat.
MBB Longboard Rack: Side-Mount Versatility
Roof space on an RV is prime real estate, often covered with solar panels, vent fans, and air conditioning units. The Moved By Bikes (MBB) Longboard Rack offers a brilliant alternative by moving your boards to the side of your vehicle. Originally designed for mounting surfboards to scooters and motorcycles, this rack adapts surprisingly well to van conversions and smaller RVs.
The system consists of two separate U-shaped, padded aluminum racks that you bolt directly to the side of your rig. You mount one toward the front and one toward the back, creating a vertical cradle where you can slide your board in on its rail. This makes loading and unloading incredibly fast and easy—no climbing required. It’s a sleek, low-profile solution that keeps your roof and ladder completely free.
The major consideration here is the installation. You will be drilling holes directly into the side of your RV, which is a significant, permanent modification that must be sealed properly to prevent leaks. It also increases your vehicle’s overall width, requiring extra awareness in tight parking lots or narrow forest roads. For the right build, especially a Class B van, this is a game-changing way to carry your board.
Aluminess Surf Pole: Heavy-Duty Vertical Carry
For the serious adventurer with a rig built for rugged travel, the Aluminess Surf Pole is in a class of its own. This isn’t just a rack; it’s part of a modular, expedition-grade ecosystem. Aluminess is famous for its lightweight, super-strong aluminum bumpers, roof racks, and swing-arm carriers, and this surf pole integrates seamlessly into that system.
The setup involves a vertical aluminum pole that mounts to an Aluminess rear bumper or swing-arm. You then attach horizontal surf rack arms to the pole. This allows you to carry one or more boards vertically at the rear of your vehicle, keeping them completely out of the way of doors, windows, and roof-mounted gear. It’s an incredibly robust and secure way to haul your quiver through demanding terrain.
This is not a budget or bolt-on solution for a standard RV. It’s designed for Sprinter vans, Ford Transits, and truck campers that are already outfitted with Aluminess products. The investment is significant, but the payoff is an integrated, bombproof system that can handle years of hard use. If you’re building an overland-style rig and need the most durable carrying solution, the Aluminess system is the standard.
Yakima SupDawg: Premium Rooftop Board Carrier
The Yakima SupDawg is another top-tier roof mount that goes head-to-head with Thule’s offerings. It’s a versatile and exceptionally user-friendly carrier that shines when you need to transport multiple boards or heavy stand-up paddleboards. Yakima has a reputation for thoughtful design, and the SupDawg is a perfect example.
What sets the SupDawg apart is its ease of use. It comes fully assembled, and the tool-free installation is a breeze. It can hold two SUPs or multiple surfboards, and the straps are padded to prevent dings. Its killer feature, however, is an integrated roller at the back of the rack. This small detail makes a huge difference, allowing you to rest the nose of a heavy board on the roller and easily slide it into place—a lifesaver for solo surfers.
Like the Thule, the SupDawg requires a base rack system with crossbars and comes with a premium price tag. It includes Yakima’s SKS (Same Key System) locks to secure both the rack to the vehicle and the boards to the rack. If you frequently carry a mix of surfboards and heavier SUPs, the convenience of the loading roller and the generous capacity make the SupDawg a truly outstanding choice.
Stowaway Surf & SUP Carrier: Hitch-Mount Hauling
Climbing onto an RV roof is a hassle at best and a safety risk at worst. The Stowaway Surf & SUP Carrier eliminates this problem entirely by utilizing your vehicle’s 2-inch trailer hitch. This approach makes loading and unloading your boards as easy as putting a bike on a bike rack, opening up the sport to people who can’t or don’t want to deal with rooftop systems.
This carrier is typically sold as an add-on to the Stowaway Cargo Carrier frame, a swing-arm system that allows the entire unit—cargo box and surf rack—to pivot away from the back of the RV. This is a critical feature, as it ensures you can still access your rear doors or storage compartments without having to unload everything. The vertical rack holds boards securely on their edge, well away from road grime.
The primary tradeoff is vehicle length. A hitch-mounted system adds several feet to your rig, which can be a concern for parking, ferry travel, and navigating tight turns. It can also reduce your departure angle, making steep driveways or uneven terrain a potential challenge. But for those who prioritize accessibility and ease of use above all else, a hitch-mounted system is an elegant and highly practical solution.
Ultimately, the best surfboard rack is the one that seamlessly integrates with your travel style. Don’t just buy the most popular model; analyze your rig, your boards, and your daily routine. The right choice will fade into the background, a reliable tool that simply works, freeing you up to focus on what really matters: the next wave.
