Rooftop kayak carrying questions

[schplurg]

I load it from the side onto my van like the video mentioned earlier.. I used to think it would slide off when unloading on a ramp but it doesn't.  Haven't dropped the yak yet, though with my 100 plus pound kayak it's not fun either. Works for now and I don't feel like I will hurt my back or anything.

 

I also add a third strap near the front if I'm traveling far just in case one comes loose. Can't hurt.

 

And I do not use a front or rear strap down the front of my hood. My van design isn't really conducive to it and it hasn't been necessary.

[Gera]

I stopped using the front and rear straps as well, I now run one strap on the back, and two trough the hole of he pedal drive at the center of the kayak to each side, it makes it very easy to tide.

[WaterOtter]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I've been using a perfect solution so I never have to lift the whole kayak at once and it never touches my car.  

 

One of the criteria that led me to buy my Mazda3 was the low roof line to facilitate kayaking.  It also has weld nuts in the roof, which I screw M6 stainless steel studs into (these are really screws with the heads cut off).  Then I put my $125 craigslist roof racks onto those studs and I secure them with wing nuts.  (I drilled holes in the roof rack's feet)

 

On the roof racks I have Malone Sea Wings, the version with the Stinger tail ($150 on sale).  When I load the kayak, the stinger pivots with the weight of the boat and puts a support on the roof for sliding the kayak on and off without the kayak touching the car.  The real key, and the one that took the longest to discover, was to use a suction cup thing with a foam roller on the back window.  I can lift up the front end of my kayak and put it onto the roller, then slide the kayak up across that and the stinger and onto the sea wings without ever lifting the entire boat at once.  I store the kayak on a hoist in my garage, and I can have the kayak on the car in less than 5 minutes, including roof rack install, and then at the lake I can have it off the car in two minutes, and vice versa.  And I haven't hurt my back once since I started using this system in early 2020.

[Choporoz]

On 7/17/2021 at 10:14 PM, 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.

Problem is that my Hobie has a fixed rudder that precludes standing it up on the stern. 

  You're right.  The Hullivator won't even handle that kayak.  I'm pushing the limits at 70#

 

[cyclops2]

Can you buy a mini trailer & change the wheels,  tires & bearings to DOT stuff.  Down side is a HORRIBLE set of stone kick ups.  if a full floor board is not installed.

we did trailers for those DIY rowboats in the 1960s.  HEAVY ??? 2 senior linemen could just lift & load after soaking up springtime water.

 

I did not read all the pages first.

[Koz]

3 hours ago, WaterOtter said:

The real key, and the one that took the longest to discover, was to use a suction cup thing with a foam roller on the back window.  

 

 

I've seen those as well and will probably look into that. My kayak is 90 pounds not including the seat, and of course the 22 pound pedal drive is not included in that and is transported separately anyway. I do have the rudder to content with, but it can be easily raised or lowered as needed.

 

The good news is that I **think** I have finally decided on a vehicle to purchase. I was initially looking at the Subaru Crosstrek, Forrester, or Outback. But at least in my area these are in short supply and are way of MSRP and the ones I can find don't include all of the options or color that I want.

 

So now I think my choice is going to be a four door Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend or Outer Banks.

[WaterOtter]

On 7/23/2021 at 1:16 AM, Fred Allen said:

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. 

Mounting these tie-downs on top of your car is very clever, I love it!  It's one of those ideas I wish I had thought of

[cyclops2]

$ 700  Add a couple of V rollers and remove the vertical post. adjust bunk boards inward. Northern tool

 

[WaterOtter]

On 1/13/2022 at 5:11 PM, Koz said:

Ford Bronco Sport

The Bronco Sport has awesome styling, but you might consider the height of the roofline and lifting the kayak up that high.  Its roofline is 70", Outback's roofline is 4" lower (which can be a lot), and my Mazda's roofline is 13" lower.  Of course there are other tradeoffs, such as it's easier (and more manly) getting into cars with higher rooflines. 

Follow your heart, but keep  in mind that it's your back that gets you around so you can do the fun stuff.

[KSanford33]

I have a '21 Bronco Sport OBX Edition, so I'll chime in. As previously mentioned, the roofline is 70", and by the time you include the rails and J-hooks (in my case), you're looking at hefting a kayak ~80". If you're trying to essentially clean and jerk it up there, good luck. I'm 6'0" and my arms are almost fully extended to try to get the kayak onto the J-hooks. After a close call of almost going over backwards, I decided to fabricate something similar to the video below:

 

 

 

P.S. I should add I have the same kayak as Koz; I actually bought it after reading his review. Thanks Koz!

[Koz]

15 hours ago, WaterOtter said:

The Bronco Sport has awesome styling, but you might consider the height of the roofline and lifting the kayak up that high. 

Well, I'm a real man, so... (THAT'S A JOKE!!!!)

 

Actually, this is the loading system I'm looking at. I figure that if I can haul 140 pounds of kayak, pedal unit, and gear up the steep hill out back of my hotel after 6 hours of pedaling around the lake that ths solution would be pretty easy.

 

 

[Darth-Baiter]

When my wife’s coworker gets her new car she is offering me her old one.  It’s a cherry low miles Honda Accord Hybrid.  She brags about 50 mpg.  She just put new tires on it.  If she doesn’t hose me on price, I’m buying it and putting my Hobie on the roof.  
 

i think I’m gonna run my kayak on the roof upside down.  So I’ll have the added move of flipping it over.  Im Game to give it a try. 

[schplurg]

On 1/21/2022 at 6:08 AM, KSanford33 said:

I have a '21 Bronco Sport OBX Edition, so I'll chime in. As previously mentioned, the roofline is 70", and by the time you include the rails and J-hooks (in my case), you're looking at hefting a kayak ~80". If you're trying to essentially clean and jerk it up there, good luck. I'm 6'0" and my arms are almost fully extended to try to get the kayak onto the J-hooks. After a close call of almost going over backwards, I decided to fabricate something similar to the video below:

 

 

 

P.S. I should add I have the same kayak as Koz; I actually bought it after reading his review. Thanks Koz!

 

I just lean one end against the side of my mini van (use a towel to protect the paint if you want) and slide it up, then spin it facing forward. No poles needed.