Californiafisherman Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 Hey Users. So I've been searching for a nice fishing kayak. I think I'm going with the wilderness ride 115. Now the next step is figuring out how to car top it.. I have a Buick Enclave with the vertical bars on it and a Chevy Silverado with a 6- 6 1/2ft bed. How can I car top it on my enclave? Hopefully something under $100. Thanks! Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted June 15, 2015 Super User Posted June 15, 2015 You can put foam on the factory cross bars, and car top it with the top side facing down. You can also buy things that attach to your cross bars. I bought ones called 'Sparehands' kayak cradles. Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted June 15, 2015 Super User Posted June 15, 2015 If you have a Silverado, I don't understand the question. That's exactly what I have. 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted June 15, 2015 Super User Posted June 15, 2015 just put it on top and strap it down with cam buckle straps. I did it that way for a few years on my subaru factory racks. you can get a bunch of other stuff like cradles but they don't do anything other than make the kayak sit up higher and create more wind resistance. I had the J cradle type and used it for a little while but i wasn't to fond of having a sail on top of my vehicle. Quote
MikeinFresno Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 with the pickup you can just slide it in and or get a bed extender at harbor Freight for cheap. The car you will need to get bars that go across the top from side to side to put the yak on upside down. There are also some inflatable heavy duty bags for this purpose, but most guys do not like them. Quote
Super User buzzed bait Posted June 15, 2015 Super User Posted June 15, 2015 i put my ride 135 in the back of my nissan frontier.... shorter bed than yours and have had zero issues with it. 1 Quote
Californiafisherman Posted June 15, 2015 Author Posted June 15, 2015 Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyone 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted June 15, 2015 Super User Posted June 15, 2015 it will be secure but you will still have to strap it down. I know that is obvious but i have learned to point that out sometimes lol Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted June 15, 2015 Super User Posted June 15, 2015 I cheat: my Tundra's ladder rack... Quote
Super User Darren. Posted June 15, 2015 Super User Posted June 15, 2015 Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyone Yes, you can strap to your handle. Just enough to keep it tight, not to pull the handle out of the yak. That would be too tight. Quote
Californiafisherman Posted June 16, 2015 Author Posted June 16, 2015 Can you please post a link to the Sparehand kayak cradles? I still want to learn how I can mount on top of the enclave. Are the horizontal bars and cradles that you add to the top of car even necessary? I have cam buckle straps but will this work for long trips? 1-2hour drives Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyone With the tailgate dowwn, you have about 8.5'. That's more than half a kayak. I sometimes tow one to a local place and I'll only put one strap thru the carry handles across the rear of the bed. If I carry two, I'll run a strap thru the front and one at the back thru the middle carry handles of both kayaks. Nowhere they can go. It's a whole lot easier loading/unloading from the truck bed. You might want to tie something red on the end for a flag, but my kayak is red. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 http://www.amazon.com/Stoneman-VR-851-Sparehand-Mounted-Vehicle/dp/B00711LBLI Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 I apologize upfront. But that looks like the most "jump straight out of the pages of LL Bean" setup that I have ever seen. 2 Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 I apologize upfront. But that looks like the most "jump straight out of the pages of LL Bean" setup that I have ever seen. I'm failing to follow you. I've never seen a single page out of LL Bean. A Subaru Outback with a kayak on the roof? They do have an LL bean edition Outback. I know that much about them haha Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 I'm failing to follow you. I've never seen a single page out of LL Bean. A Subaru Outback with a kayak on the roof? They do have an LL bean edition Outback. I know that much about them haha Sorry, I'm just a redneck from Oklahoma. I used to trout fish an area in southern OK and the guys from Dallas would show up in their Volvos and BMW's and look like they were models for LL Bean, therefore we always called them the LL Bean guys. 1 Quote
Californiafisherman Posted June 16, 2015 Author Posted June 16, 2015 Thanks for posting link "Rippin Lips".. So it looks like the sole purpose of them is to get the kayak a couple inches off the roof of your vehicle. Kind of like "FlyFisher" said. Quote
Californiafisherman Posted June 16, 2015 Author Posted June 16, 2015 Well, I guess the grip on them can also help stabilize the kayak when driving. Stops it from swaying or moving when driving across bumps Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 Sorry, I'm just a redneck from Oklahoma. I used to trout fish an area in southern OK and the guys from Dallas would show up in their Volvos and BMW's and look like they were models for LL Bean, therefore we always called them the LL Bean guys. No need to be sorry. I got a laugh out of it. Just didn't exactly follow. I'm just a redneck from Western MD. If they're now hiring chubby guys with big beards, and covered in tattoos. I might have a new career path lol. Thanks for posting link "Rippin Lips".. So it looks like the sole purpose of them is to get the kayak a couple inches off the roof of your vehicle. Kind of like "FlyFisher" said. That and it won't allow any side to side movement. It's also easier to load verse the J cradle racks. Are they needed though? Probably not, but the other option was putting foam on the factory crossbars. Which would get torn up and need replaced every so often. Quote
Caliyak Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyoneHey Cali, I have a truck too. I talked to the chp, red flag and tie it down, you're good. 1 Quote
Super User the reel ess Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 it will be secure but you will still have to strap it down. I know that is obvious but i have learned to point that out sometimes lol And NOT with a bungee!!! LOL Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 bungees should be banned from stores....i see people using them as a securing method way too often and i cringe every time. 1 Quote
paleus Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 I just stick my Slayer 12 in the back of my 5' bed Tacoma. Just one ratchet strap through the middle handles and a flag on the back. Quote
Super User rippin-lips Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 bungees should be banned from stores....i see people using them as a securing method way too often and i cringe every time. They secure my crate down in the back of my kayak perfectly. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted June 16, 2015 Super User Posted June 16, 2015 Pretty sure he's referring to car topping... Quote
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