How-to Tie Down A Car Trunk Using Rope And A Latch Tutorial

Learn how-to tie a trunk shut using the latch and a rope. This technique works for me, perhaps it will work for you as well.
I have a compact hatch back car; my particular model, a Honda Fit Sport 2007, has lots of cargo space. However, it's often difficult to fit long loads into a compact car. Sometimes I have to tie the trunk shut, when I am transporting an oversized load, for example an Ikea furniture box. However, the trunk does not have an obvious tie off point for this purpose. I use this technique to create a tie off point and secure the trunk. The trick is to use the latch as a tie off point.
Remember, it is important to press down on the handle while opening and closing the latch.
Tie a stopper knot in the rope. Make sure that the rope is thin enough to fit through the latch. However, the stopper knot must be bigger than the latch hole, so that the knot does not fit through the hole. That’s the point of the stopper knot. This stopper knot keeps the trunk shut.
Now unlock the car.
Press the handle down. While the handle is pressed down, open the latch. This can usually be accomplished with just the fingers, but sometimes it is necessary to use a key or other metal object to push open the latch. Once the latch is open, insert the rope with the stopper knot. Now close the latch again, using the fingers. Now let go of the handle.
Lock the car. Go back and close the trunk as far as necessary, and then tie off the trunk on the bottom part of the latch. I use three half hitches to perform this task. It's easier to do this if someone else is holding down the trunk for me. If I have to do it alone, I am really careful to hold the trunk door down while tying the knot, so that if the trunk door pops open, it doesn't hit me in the face, and cause an injury. Use appropriate caution and common sense.
Now I get in the car, close the doors, and open the windows. I usually drive with the windows open, because a back draft can sometimes occur when the trunk door is open and the car is driving. This backdraft can sometimes suck carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the interior of the car while driving. If the windows are open, fresh air is constantly blowing into the car, and there’s much less risk of vehicle exhaust causing problems. If it’s a long trip, it’s probably even more important to take this precaution. I keep the windows open, and I’ve never had a problem.
Once I arrive on destination, I unlock the car. Then I press down the handle, and open the latch with my fingers. The trunk is now open.
This is a little bit of a procedure, so it is best to learn it before it is needed. Practice and test the technique at home; then you know it will work for you when you really need it. I like to learn skills before I need them, because this makes things easier.
Have a safe ride home. Have a Great Day!

[@nicazajac5035]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! Within 2 minutes I had a 9ft kayak in my Honda Fit and tied the latch down just as you explained. Much appreciated!

[@digitalfriend7114]

Awesome!!!

[@djamilam]

Thank you so much!!! This video is so quick and you saved me while I stood in the Home Depot parking lot with lumber that wouldn't fit in my little car! :-)

[@iz_no_good]

used to have to travel with the hatch open pretty frequently when i was a kid. a few decades forward, now that i need to do it in my own car, i remember nothing, will try your guide soon!

[@gabyhernandez1790]

Thank you for this! 4 years later and this video was a blessing for me today while moving :)

[@alexg5513]

💜💜💜 OMG, where would I be without you??? Stuck is where 😪

[@mijzelffff]

Thanks for the post! Clear and simple.

[@ld3g381]

Thanks to your video we were able to buy & bring home a 4 burner (+ side burner) BBQ in a 2021 Prius

[@keithlapere7650]

The simplest things go a long way. Considering I bought a new SUV. and there were no attachment hook ups on the inside of my tail gate. Figure I come out here to find an idea before I started drilling holes. Yours is the first one I came across and it is good enough for me. I am going to use it for when putting my yak in the back. Thanks and very much appreciated.

[@aaronmcneil3941]

2022 here, thanks! Stuffed some 12' pine into my civic and your knot worked like a charm :)

[@jme8686]

Absolutely brilliant, worked like a charm! My locking mechanism is a bit different and took a wee bit of fiddling but wasn’t hard to figure out. Thank you!

[@digitalfriend7114]

I'm glad it worked and you were able to adapt the strategy. Thanks for the comment.

[@scuba6797]

Thanks I might use this when I put my Kayak in the back of my SUV.

[@davidhale8034]

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

[@PackOfWolves]

Very clear, thanks so much!

[@digitalfriend7114]

You are welcome.

[@outhouse.wholesaler]

How come you need to lock the car? Will the latch not stay shut unless the car is locked? I would've thought that it would stay closed unless you pressed the handle, regardless of being locked or unlocked? Also how do you get into the car if you lock it when you're on the outside setting up the rope? Sorry this part wasn't very clear to me.

[@FlyWon]

So helpful!

[@soniahale407]

Thank you. You are so helpful.

[@jackiemartinez-kaufman846]

Thank you for your help

[@nandakishoredaggupati9846]

Thanks so much! So helpful :)

[@joshuaerickson2458]

Gonna give it a try on my GK Fit! Very cool

[@DragonclawMakerStudio]

Need to move some 12 foot wood with my durango and will only hold 10 footers with the trunk down...this will help.

[@digitalfriend7114]

Awesome!

[@MrStevem121]

Good idea dude. Cheers

[@babeksaber2702]

Good Man

[@fibingeorge159]

awesome..thanks

[@PartyWolf36790]

I have a problem with a chevy blazer door opening when i start driving, is there anyway i can tie it closed and just dukes of hazzard enter my blazer when i wanna drive? I need advice latch isnt welded properly and door sags.

[@digitalfriend7114]

If the latch technique in this video doesn't work in your situation, here are two other potential ideas. 1. Tie a big loop around both posts of the rack on top of the car, then tighten the rope and tie off somewhere below the bumper, maybe on the trailer hitch. This holds the trunk door in place. 2. If there's no roof rack to tie off on, slightly open both back windows and thread a rope in one window and out the other. Bring the ends of the rope together and make a loop using a figure 8 knot. The idea is to make a loop through the two open windows and then position the knot on the middle of the car roof or somewhere on the trunk door. Take the long end of the rope, tighten the rope and tie off somewhere below the bumper, maybe on the trailer hitch. Add in an old piece of folded clothing between the back hatch door and the load sticking out the back to stop the door from scratching the load (e.g. furniture). Attach loose rope ends to the main line using electrical tape. The lose ends of the rope should not flop in the wind or the knot will work lose over time. I hope it this technique works for you.

[@PartyWolf36790]

@@digitalfriend7114 its for the drivers door, ill figure it out lol 😂 and post a video. Can the roof rack be used to hold the drivers door closed? Drivers door needs re welding and the door pin replaced, drivers door swings open when driving 😂😂 so gonna stick to the less traffic roads for now.... dad bought me a a to b suv....

[@digitalfriend7114]

@@PartyWolf36790 lol Try some electrical tape or duct tape. I bet there's a way to keep the door closed until you can fix it.

[@mlavigne71]

What if the lock is broken…?

[@digitalfriend7114]

If the lock is broken, this technique probably won't work. I've also tried tying off where the rear wiper attaches to the glass, but this is not a particularily strong part of the car. I wouldn't put too much strain on the wiper. I hope that helps.