Kayak racks options.

Hi there, I know this is not a new question. I saw many threads on the topic but they are all over the place and not much about the factory racks.
I have 2 10ft kayaks weight about 36lb each. I really want to use my factory racks. What type of racks/attachments do you recommend. Is the factory rack strong enough to handel the 2. My trip to lake is about 30 min with about 70mph on highway.

 

$22 Kayak Roof Racks - J-Bar Hooks Canoe, Surf-Board & Kayaks Carrier - Universal Fit for SUP Roof-top Rack Mount on SUV, Cars, Truck, with Tie Down Straps & Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/OxGord-Unive...&qid=1533229428&sr=8-8&keywords=J+kayak+racks

I use this kind of rack for the yaks. Make sure you invest in some good ratchet straps and use two in the middle, and then one front and back. Ive done it like that and never have any issues going 75mph on the highway for hours at a time

 

Heres my setup. I dont see why you couldnt use it on the factory roof rack. Two yaks should be well below the rated limit

 

You'd be better off securing them in the bed. At one point, I made a rack for our yaks that secured to the floor of the bed. Today, we have a trailer just for transporting our yaks.

Pictured is the bed rack but not in position to accept the yaks. It would be slid back a bit and secured with straps tp the bed. (Note - don't use ratchet straps on yaks)..........

 

Por que? Do they bend the hulls?

 

Those J Racks work really well, I've been meaning too buy a set for my Kayak's just haven't decided on a roof rack rack.

 

Ratchet straps can distort the hull. Most folks who use them crank down hard and the possibility exists that the hull can be damaged. Use a high quality cam strap and you'll be good to go.

A perfect storm scenario - Yaks on roof in direct sunlight, hot day, ratchet straps cranked down hard = potential hull distortion

 

Gotcha that makes sense. I typically just get em snug, thats why i use four instead of just two

 

These work really well as well as Yakgear straps.........

$13 Boncas Sturdy 16-foot-by-1" Tie Down Strap Lashing Strap Cargo Tie-down Strap Padded Cam Lock Buckle 2 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IOZXTDM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Equally important are bow and stern lines. If anything fails while travelling at 70mph these will make a really bad situation a lot better......

 

One other piece of advice. A Cockpit drape or cover would be very helpful.... as pictured here with my GF....

 

I use two of these on my kayaks on some J Bars mounted to my prinsu rack. I can grab the kayak and rock the whole truck side to side, so i've never bothered to tie down the front and rear.

 

2 round Yakima bars on top my cap. can carry at minimum 2 whitewater kayaks

 

I'm a firm believer in redundant systems. If something fails, there there's some form of secondary restraint with bow and stern lines. I've heard of J racks failing. Not very common but for the extra time and minor expense of adding those additional lines, you could save your yak or maybe someone's life that is behind you. It never ends well when a rooftop yak goes free range.........

 

Even better are rollercam straps https://www.rollercam.com/ or roller cams with loops if you prefer https://cascaderivergear.com/product-category/frames/straps/ Here's a whole thread on them: https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/rollercam-straps.144147/ Measure how long you think you'll need then order a bit longer, they're easy to cut shorter when you get your system down or just tie off the excess since you may decide you want them longer for other tasks (ranger bands work well for this).

Ratcheting straps are easy to use and work fine as long as you snug them, just don't crank them down. I know some people who prefer them as they are easier to snug than the old, non-roller cam style buckles. You shouldn't leave your boat on a rack or cradle in the heat/sun any longer than you have to, they can develop impressions or start hogging (warped bottom). Always use at least a brake line, a line on the rear, but adding a bow line as well is definitely preferable, especially when carrying something like a canoe that will generate uplift. If you don't have something in the front like a bull bar to tie them off to there are straps made to shut in your hood that allow you to tie off without messing up the paint.

A popular option for carrying boats off the vehicle used to be the inexpensive Harbor Freight trailers but they've haven't sold them in a while. Plenty of folks would buy them, put Bearing Buddies on them, extend the necks and add some sort of rack system. Nice lightweight trailer system for under $300 as compared to the much nicer but much more expensive Yakima trailers.

 

Those rollercam straps look like the bees knees....

 

I gotta admit I was skeptical as hell that they could be that much better but they really are easier and for really no more money than regular straps. I've only got two of them right now but I'll buy more as I replace my other straps. A couple of the people I know who use ratcheting straps are females who like them because they're easier for them to tighten up but I've sold at least one of them on the roller cam straps.

 

I use factory roof rack, Thule cross bars and Thule Hullavator. My profile picture has pic of setup.

 

Yes the factory roof rack is plenty capable, my buddy carried 2 kayaks on his 4 hrs on the highway to PA.
2 NRS straps and no worries.

https://www.nrs.com/category/4342/straps/

I have a thule xsporter rack on the bed.

Edit: I always recommend the 20 ft straps for multiple kayaks, its easier to have more strap than not enough.

 

This seems to work good