NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Zone => Gearing Up and Rigging Up => Topic started by: Malibu_Two on October 08, 2009, 09:04:41 PM

Title: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Malibu_Two on October 08, 2009, 09:04:41 PM
Any thoughts on how I might strap 2 kayaks to the top of my Civic? Is there a such thing as extensions for roof rack bars? That would make it much easier to lay two 'yaks side by side on top of my car.

Thanks...
Andrew
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Hojoman on October 08, 2009, 09:16:35 PM
I bought the extra long Thule bars for my truck so that I could carry two kayaks and safely use the Hullavators without dinging the truck. Not sure about Yakima bars. Of course, if you're not using Hullavators, then you may not need bars of that length. I have a pair of the standard length bars if you're interested.

Howard
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Malibu_Two on October 08, 2009, 09:26:27 PM
I have two standard length Thule bars. I'm thinking of making an insert for each one that extends a foot or so on each end.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: polepole on October 08, 2009, 09:49:42 PM
J-rack.  Or kayak stackers.  Or spoon them up there.

-Allen
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: HamachiJohn on October 08, 2009, 11:39:33 PM
Sorry to add a question instead of providing an answer.

I too, want to carry 2 yaks.  I currently have a Mako saddle and Hullyrollers for Yakima.
Can I stack a 2nd yak on TOP of the other, but strap both down separately for security?  Will I get ticketed by CHP if I do that?  thx in advance.

Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Hojoman on October 09, 2009, 04:16:06 AM
I have two standard length Thule bars. I'm thinking of making an insert for each one that extends a foot or so on each end.

The extended bars do make a difference. It's just too bad you have to spend more money to get them. Good luck on the extension effort.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: BillS on October 09, 2009, 06:38:25 AM
I put 3 yaks on the roof of my truck.. one in saddles and the other two strapped to a thule kayak stacker. 

http://www.summitonline.com/kayak-car-racks/c1000002015/thule-kayak-stacker-p28302.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=googlebase&utm_campaign=googleproductsearch

Pretty easy to use and nothings ever loose up there. 
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: ganoderma on October 09, 2009, 11:16:22 AM
I bought the long bars for my Yakima racks. Two boats fit side by side in mako saddles.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: pao on October 09, 2009, 01:03:01 PM
Malibu_Two  

If you have Yakima racks then instead of the 48" crossbars that are supplied for the civic just get the longer one..66" crossbars which will extend out a bit.  The only thing you'll have to worry is how much load you'll be carring for safety reasons and those crossbars that extend out can cause accidents when walking or working nearby them.   

I bought the long bars for my Yakima racks. Two boats fit side by side in mako saddles.

So does that mean you have a civic too ganoderma?


Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: HamachiJohn on October 09, 2009, 01:48:08 PM
Malibu_Two  

I carry two yaks on my civic hatch one on top of the other with the 48" bars.  So far the weight has taken a Trident 15 and a Caper.  Hope that helps!  
  

I bought the long bars for my Yakima racks. Two boats fit side by side in mako saddles.

So does that mean you have a civic too ganoderma?




So what do you use between the yaks?  a pool noodle? boat fender? something else?
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: pao on October 09, 2009, 02:21:16 PM
hamachijohn

Sounds like you have a civic??? 
I used the noodle style but felt that with both yaks it would be more secure with Mako Aero Saddles plus making it easier for loading and unloading both boats by myself.  First I tie down both straps for the bottom yak then for the top one I will run one of my straps through both yaks handle sections to prevent shifting.  Hope that helps.   
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Fuzzy Tom on October 09, 2009, 09:32:51 PM
If your bars are nearly, but not quite long enough to hold 2 yaks in cradles, consider sliding one in cradles way over to one side, maybe with one of the attachments to the cradle to the outside of the gutter tower, then carry the non-cradled yak upside down on the other side - it might just slide up under the cradled one enough to still be one the bar. Mine will carry two this way.   But be sure to loop the straps inside the towers, not just around the stub end of the bar, or the strap might slip off the end of the bar.
 And with a Civic, I'd say you'd better drive slowly in any amount of crosswind, like near Sand City on the way home, or load the car up with some seriously heavy fish.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: ganoderma on October 10, 2009, 12:46:51 PM
Malibu_Two  

If you have Yakima racks then instead of the 48" crossbars that are supplied for the civic just get the longer one..66" crossbars which will extend out a bit.  Just measured my civic and it's the same width 66".  The only thing you'll have to worry is how much load you'll be carring for safety reasons and those crossbars that extend out can cause accidents when walking or working nearby them.  I carry two yaks on my civic hatch one on top of the other with the 48" bars.  So far the weight has taken a Trident 15 and a Caper.  Hope that helps!  
By the way what is the weight of your two yaks?  

I bought the long bars for my Yakima racks. Two boats fit side by side in mako saddles.

So does that mean you have a civic too ganoderma?


No, I have a Subaru. It doesn't really matter, since it's the length of the crossbars that is the issue. Also, the long cross bars will stick out quite a way, as mentioned before. You have to be careful to avoid bumping your head on them. You might want to paint the end caps orange to make the ends of the crossbars more visible.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Malibu_Two on October 11, 2009, 11:57:04 AM
I like to keep my bars on the car permanently, so I probably won't get the long bars. Is the kayak stacker good/easy/convenient?
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: BillS on October 11, 2009, 05:39:33 PM
The kayak stacker just folds down so you could leave them right on your racks.  I take my racks off the truck but I leave the stackers on the racks permanently.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: CaptainKayak on October 15, 2009, 09:38:52 PM
I bought the extra long Thule bars for my truck so that I could carry two kayaks and safely use the Hullavators without dinging the truck. Not sure about Yakima bars. Of course, if you're not using Hullavators, then you may not need bars of that length. I have a pair of the standard length bars if you're interested.

Howard

Hey Howard! You got a picture of your Hullavators setup? If universe line up just right for me I may pull the trigger on a truck soon and I've been thinking how I might set up the truck to haul the yak. Thanks in advance.

Frank
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: CaptainKayak on October 15, 2009, 11:18:58 PM
Howard,

I found a video on youtube so I now know how the Hullavator works. Pretty sweet. Thanks anyway.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Hojoman on October 16, 2009, 07:08:40 AM
Frank, sorry to be so late in replying. The Hullavator is just what is needed to keep me somewhat into kayaking. Lifting the kayak over my head was going to work for only some many tries. I'm definitely getting weaker with age. If you still want a pix of my setup, let me know. Or you're more than welcome to stop by my house to get a first-hand look.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: CaptainKayak on October 16, 2009, 09:14:54 AM
Howard,
No need to apologize I searched youtube as soon as I posed the question about the picture. I know I didn't give you time to respond quickly. So no problem at all. I just realized you're in Fremont too. That's awesome! The Hullavator videos are sufficient and gave me the info I was looking for. Besides, I don't have the truck yet so I'm no big hurry to see the setup.

Since you're so close we should fish sometime. Too bad RF season is almost over. I might go out one more time before RF is over. I'll let you know and perhaps we can team up.

 :smt001

Thanks
Frank
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: bmb on October 16, 2009, 09:20:36 AM
andrew, i have 48" load bars and the best way to fit two kayaks on top is to buy one set of J racks.  I had a set of kayak stackers and I didn't trust them so I never used them.  look for them on craigslist or ebay and you can get them cheaper than buying them new in store.

When I carry two kayaks, I have one on the J racks, and the other laying flat upside down like normal.  Tight fit but it's pretty much perfect. 
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: pao on October 19, 2009, 01:23:15 PM
Or you could do what Tsuri did on the 97 SAAB ...http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,14071.msg214921.html#msg214921 (http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,14071.msg214921.html#msg214921)  Thanks Tsuri!
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: Fish Elvis on October 19, 2009, 02:52:09 PM
I got some used stackers off Craigslist and tried them for the first time this weekend. 

Two kayaks on their sides strapped to regular Thule Bars (50"?) on a 93 Nissan Altima for hours of driving, no problems.  Easily room for a third kayak if I wanted. 

Stackers, J-Racks, carefully positioned saddles, I bet any of those would work fine for you.
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: elongatus on November 05, 2009, 10:31:12 PM
Andrew I too have been wondering how to get two kayaks roof top.  To be honest I bought two very fancy folding J's from Yakima that fit on my factory rack.  So I did not have to buy a base system.  But, the crossbars of my factory rack that the J's mount on are less than confidence inspiring. 

In hindsight, the better, and less expensive way I am convinced would be to by the base system (thats towers and crossbars from Yakima or Thule), but make sure the cross bars are long enough to support two kayaks upside down.  Wrap the cross bars with a split pool noodle zip stripped on.  Then mount the kayaks on the cross bars upside down.  We routinely carry two kayaks on tigerfishes outfit this way.  Sit on tops upside down rest on the cross bars with the sharp bend contour of the cockpit which is very sturdy against the cross bars even at high summer temps.  You wont need saddles or J's.   The only drawback will be having 60 inch or more wide cross bars on the top of your Honda and since you kayak is upside down you cant really leave it rigged.  You can still use the Thule hulivator or the Yakima equivalent.  This is far less expensive. 
Title: Re: Carrying 2 kayaks on my car...
Post by: FishFarmer on November 06, 2009, 07:21:38 AM
The last time I needed to take two yaks I put them in saddles on top of my Saturn (a very amusing sight) and drove 3 hours to the coast. I don't think I'll do that again. The yaks rode just fine, but the Saturn really struggled against the added wind resistance. I think Civics have stronger motors, so maybe it's not an issue.

Maybe if they were both loaded upside-down it would have made the difference, or if the distance was half that I wouldn't mind. But I just decided if I take more than one I'll use my truck.

Ben