Rooftop kayak carrying questions

[David 7]

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Twisting your straps can cut down on the noise quite a bit 

Agreed, it’s amazing how much difference one twist in each strap makes. Particularly the one closest to the front. Those straps singing stress me out! 

[Crankin4Bass]

On 7/1/2021 at 10:30 AM, TnRiver46 said:

(cough just get a truck cough cough)

This is probably the best suggestion.

[Koz]

5 hours ago, Crankin4Bass said:

This is probably the best suggestion.

He keeps stalking me here on BR telling me to buy a truck ?

 

It's turned into a running gag.

[fishwizzard]

11 hours ago, Crankin4Bass said:

I looked into getting a 2017 Outback and remember Thule made an adapter kit that allowed you to mount Thule feet and crossbars to a Subaru Outback.  The part # of the Fit Kit is 184063. Expensive at $130, but possibly worth it?

 

https://www.thule.com/en-us/roof-rack/fit-kits/kit-184063-_-184063

 

 

BTW I think wagons are awesome for kayakers. I drove my wife's old Volvo wagon for a while before it become too expensive to maintain. It was so easy to load the kayak up there because it was low. Also convenient to fold down the center back seat and lay down your rods. The wagon was great because it had side roof rails so you could easily attach third party crossbars. 

The issue I had with that kit is not only the price but how far it raises the bar above the surface of the car.  I found some inspiration online and I’m in the process of making my own riser blocks that will use the existing tie-down d-ring holes to mount to, which I will then mount a tbd aftermarket crossbar too.  It should end up 2-3” lower and cost a lot less. 
 

I do love wagons for fishing in general and that’s probably 50% of the reason I bought the Outback. I keep the larger rear seat always folded down and I made a little wooden trough that runs the length of the car so my rods can be protected from all the other junk I have in there.  

[Crankin4Bass]

 

1 hour ago, fishwizzard said:

The issue I had with that kit is not only the price but how far it raises the bar above the surface of the car.  I found some inspiration online and I’m in the process of making my own riser blocks that will use the existing tie-down d-ring holes to mount to, which I will then mount a tbd aftermarket crossbar too.  It should end up 2-3” lower and cost a lot less. 
 

I do love wagons for fishing in general and that’s probably 50% of the reason I bought the Outback. I keep the larger rear seat always folded down and I made a little wooden trough that runs the length of the car so my rods can be protected from all the other junk I have in there.  

Cool. I agree that kit is not ideal. Just wanted to let you know about the option. The roof rack was one of the cons of the Outback for me. I wish they would just have standard side rails like they have on the Crosstrek and Forester. Glad to hear you figured out a solution.

[fishwizzard]

12 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

 

Cool. I agree that kit is not ideal. Just wanted to let you know about the option. The roof rack was one of the cons of the Outback for me. I wish they would just have standard side rails like they have on the Crosstrek and Forester. Glad to hear you figured out a solution.

Yeah, I mean shame on me for not researching it before I bought the car, but the Outback has been the “standard“ yak hauler for so long it never crossed my mind to look into it. 

[Crankin4Bass]

1 minute ago, fishwizzard said:

Yeah, I mean shame on me for not researching it before I bought the car, but the Outback has been the “standard“ yak hauler for so long it never crossed my mind to look into it. 

Sorry dude! I wasn't questioning your judgment on choosing the Outback. Didn't mean it to come across that way. I know you research stuff in depth. I'm always impressed with your knowledge of equipment and you've pointed me in the right direction many times. Was just trying to return the favor on the fit kit. Sorry.

 

Was also just pointing out the roof rack issue for Koz since he is considering the Outback. I should have said that. My bad.

[fishwizzard]

19 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

Sorry dude! I wasn't questioning your judgment on choosing the Outback. Didn't mean it to come across that way. I know you research stuff in depth. I'm always impressed with your knowledge of equipment and you've pointed me in the right direction many times. Was just trying to return the favor on the fit kit. Sorry.

 

Was also just pointing out the roof rack issue for Koz since he is considering the Outback. I should have said that. My bad.

Oh no I did not take it that way at all. I am legitimately a little upset with myself that I didn’t bother to do any research for such a large purchase but I will spend literal months agonizing over a $400 fishing rod.

 

As soon as I got the car and started looking more closely at the rack I realized something was wrong and five minutes of googling gave me hundreds of forum posts with angry sea kayakers ranting against the new rail system.  

[TnRiver46]

23 hours ago, Koz said:

He keeps stalking me here on BR telling me to buy a truck ?

 

It's turned into a running gag.

[guidoStow]

I use a Rhino Side Loader to load my 73lb. Native Watercraft Slayer 14.5 onto my Prius. It is really stable and makes getting it up/down a snap. Works much better than methods loading the boat from the back.

 

The Prius still gets over 50MPG even with the Kayak on top. Makes visiting that distant lake so much more affordable...

[king fisher]

When it comes to transporting a kayak nothing is impossible.  I was putting my kayak in the water at daylight a few weeks ago, and two guys drove up in an ancient Volkswagen bug.  They had two full size fishing kayaks on the top.  I was in a hurry to get on the water and didn't even think of taking a picture or looking at their engineering, but hope to see them again and take a better look along with a photo

[Choporoz]

I carry my Hobie on my Durango using Thule Hillivator. Not cheap, but worth every penny to me.

[Koz]

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

I carry my Hobie on my Durango using Thule Hillivator. Not cheap, but worth every penny to me.

To me it seems if you can lift the kayak into those arms. you could just lift it onto the roof.

 

My kayak is 94 pounds without the seat, electronics, or any other gear. There's no easy way I could dead lift it into that cradle.

[Bankc]

28 minutes ago, Koz said:

To me it seems if you can lift the kayak into those arms. you could just lift it onto the roof.

 

My kayak is 94 pounds without the seat, electronics, or any other gear. There's no easy way I could dead lift it into that cradle.

You could just lift the front end up into the cradle.  Then go around and lift the back up and slide it into place.  But you still have to lift the whole kayak, plus the weight of the Hullavator up onto the roof of the car.  Of course, it's locked into a hinge, and it's a lot harder lifting a free weight that you have to control, verses something on a rigid pivot. 

[Koz]

10 hours ago, Bankc said:

You could just lift the front end up into the cradle.  Then go around and lift the back up and slide it into place.  But you still have to lift the whole kayak, plus the weight of the Hullavator up onto the roof of the car.  Of course, it's locked into a hinge, and it's a lot harder lifting a free weight that you have to control, verses something on a rigid pivot. 

After every trip I strip down my kayak (except the seat) and have to lift it by the nose to drain the water. So I don't see any problem lifting the nose to put it on something like a Yakima ShowBoat extension and sliding it onto the roof.

 

When I get too old to do that I'll buy a trailer. Part of the reason why I like my kayak is the exercise although pulling it up the hill to my hotel on a hot day after 4 hours on the water can be brutal.

[Fred Allen]

I know its only if you have a crappy car like me but this is my solution. I drilled my roof and installed 4 U-bolts as my "roof rack". I didnt want to spend money so I think between the U-bolts and washers/nuts I paid around 10 dollars.  I got sick of running the straps through the inside of the car and having rain get in. I keep the kayak on my roof until lakes freeze because its a pain to get it in my yard and I fish at least once a week. Dont see any difference in gas mileage running it on top all the time. 

[JoeDeal55]

Just got my first kayak and I drive a 2005 dodge neon. My brother-in-law loaned me some universal cross bars that work just fine. Kinda of a pain but they work. Have to open all 4 doors to install them. I plan on getting a better setup in the future but, it is what it is.

 

[Bankc]

I just used pool noodles with a PVC pipe down the center to haul my kayak on my 2-door coupe.  It worked fairly well and was a lot easier to load than on my Forester.  It did scratch the roof up eventually, when the foam got compressed and I was too lazy to replace it (an advantage of driving a 12 year old car).  I held the PVC/noodles in place with bungee cord ran through my doors.  I ran the kayak up there with my kayak dolly inverted and strapped to the trunk.  

[Holetail]

On 7/3/2021 at 6:51 AM, Koz said:

He keeps stalking me here on BR telling me to buy a truck ?

 

It's turned into a running gag.

not trying to pile on, but he has a point…

[CrashVector]

#1:. NEVER pay more than MSRP.  I don't care if you have to walk to work.  DONT. DO. IT.

 

 

[Koz]

5 hours ago, Holetail said:

not trying to pile on, but he has a point…

I looked online at some trucks the other week and I'm still of the same mindset - I just would not get that much use out of the cargo area, even with my kayak. I don't need a pickup for my job, either. I have nothing against pickups, I just have use for one.

 

Funny story about pickups. Before my dad passed away he spent a few years wintering in Florida. So that first year he buys a brand new pickup and a brand new 5th wheel and heads to Florida. But when he comes back home two months later he's got a BIGGER pickup and a BIGGER 5th wheel.

 

It seems his neighbor at the campsite had a bigger 5th wheel that dad liked, so he bought a bigger one for himself. Then he realized his new truck couldn't haul it, so he had to buy a new truck as well!

[Krux5506]

Sorry I didn't read through this entire thread but are you opposed to a small kayak trailer? I used to haul two kayaks with a nice Yakima roof rack on a chevy cruze. Worked fine, but it was always a pain getting my 12' fishing yak up onto it. My wife's cheapo Pelican was super easy though just being as light and flimsy as it is. 

[Holetail]

14 hours ago, Koz said:

I looked online at some trucks the other week and I'm still of the same mindset - I just would not get that much use out of the cargo area, even with my kayak. I don't need a pickup for my job, either. I have nothing against pickups, I just have use for one.

 

Funny story about pickups. Before my dad passed away he spent a few years wintering in Florida. So that first year he buys a brand new pickup and a brand new 5th wheel and heads to Florida. But when he comes back home two months later he's got a BIGGER pickup and a BIGGER 5th wheel.

 

It seems his neighbor at the campsite had a bigger 5th wheel that dad liked, so he bought a bigger one for himself. Then he realized his new truck couldn't haul it, so he had to buy a new truck as well!

I hear you. Was really just piggybacking on the already running joke. I’ve just always had a pickup and it makes hauling the kayak so easy. Trailer is a good option but it’s more maintenance, registration, storage that I prefer not to deal with. Had a boat and sold it to get the yak for these reasons.
  Last truck I bought my wife asked me to get an SUV instead. I refused and she got a little mad until she bought some furniture that needed picking up, lumber for the deck she wanted, or yards of mulch every spring. I like to remind her (nicely of course) why a truck is needed during these times. 
 

[Gera]

On 7/2/2021 at 12:05 AM, David 7 said:

Koz, check this video out. Saw it the other day. Not applicable to my situation as mine is only 36 lbs but this method looks smooth.

 

 

I use this method to load my kayak, the strap in the two racks works great for my heavy kayak.

 

[Standard]

I just need to watch out for low bridges when shuttling..