Rack system failure

Just passed a car on the side of the road on highway 37. As I drove by I noticed skidmarks and next to it was a kayak still attached to crossbars racks. It appears that the rack system failed and flew off kayak and all. What are the chances of this happening? When I was looking at getting the racks put on my new car I was worried about the old Sonby tracks it was going to lock into.

It happens more often now 'cause more are out there. I cable lock it to the car to prevent theft but even more to prevent my 100 + lb Yak killing someone if it came loose! Might beat my Yak and car to Bits but  not the cyclist next to me.... Just like wearing a PFD on the water...

Wow well that puts a whole new spin on things. I was just about to try and run dual Hobie outbacks with hullivators Using my skinny old worn-out looking track system

more like user or installer error.  Make sure everything's tight!!!!!

No matter what rack system you run, ALWAYS run a bow line as well.

No matter what rack system you run, ALWAYS run a bow line as well.

+1!

It happens more often now 'cause more are out there. I cable lock it to the car to prevent theft but even more to prevent my 100 + lb Yak killing someone if it came loose! Might beat my Yak and car to shit but  not the cyclist next to me.... Just like wearing a PFD on the water...

+1 on the cable lock. makes me feel a little bit safer

+1 on the bow line also stern line

Safety comes first, but what about the yak? Do you think auto insurance would cover your rack failing and dragging the yak down the highway? Manufacturer coverage or tough luck? Makes me want to reconsider a trailer.

I am doubtful that insurance would cover a kayak that has dislodged from the car. 

I am doubtful that insurance would cover a kayak that has dislodged from the car.

You can get kayak insurance from State Farm. It cost me like $2 per month and something like $300k in insurance.

I am doubtful that insurance would cover a kayak that has dislodged from the car.

You can get kayak insurance from State Farm. It cost me like $2 per month and something like $300k in insurance.

Wow. Thanks for that little gem of info. Sounds like a no brainier.

Well I might be getting a new car anyway. I needed a car immediately to finish up the last 3 weeks of my paramedic license process. So I pay 4k for a 13mpg gas hog that blue books at $3,100. Didn't mind. Good service records. The minute I drive away bam 1,200 bucks for steering issues. House burns down and I am force to quit my paramedic program after 3 years of work and 2 weeks away. Boom. 1,200 to replace coils and plugs. Oh well in too deep now. Pay it. Boom. Check engine light again. Now a cam shaft sensor and some other crap. I'm in over 6,500 for a $3,100 gas hog I didn't really want.

I think I'll fill it with tanerite, shoot it and start over. Fml

I am doubtful that insurance would cover a kayak that has dislodged from the car.

You can get kayak insurance from State Farm. It cost me like $2 per month and something like $300k in insurance.

Wow. Thanks for that little gem of info. Sounds like a no brainier.

Well I might be getting a new car anyway. I needed a car immediately to finish up the last 3 weeks of my paramedic license process. So I pay 4k for a 13mpg gas hog that blue books at $3,100. Didn't mind. Good service records. The minute I drive away bam 1,200 bucks for steering issues. House burns down and I am force to quit my paramedic program after 3 years of work and 2 weeks away. Boom. 1,200 to replace coils and plugs. Oh well in too deep now. Pay it. Boom. Check engine light again. Now a cam shaft sensor and some other crap. I'm in over 6,500 for a $3,100 gas hog I didn't really want.

I think I'll fill it with tanerite, shoot it and start over. Fml

Wow: what bad luck.  Does it have factory roof bars with space between the bars and the roof?  My 2000 VW Passat wagon does so I built a wood rack, bolted to the roof bars.  The roof bars themselves would let go before the rack would.  You might also be able to find a store-bought metal rack that you could bolt to roof bars.

Wow well that puts a whole new spin on things. I was just about to try and run dual Hobie outbacks with hullivators Using my skinny old worn-out looking track system

Excuse the delay in reading this thread but both Yakima and Thule rate their roof racks for a maximum load of 165 lbs. and the two Hullavators will put 80 lbs. on the rack before you add the boats. Only exceptions are the racks by these companies that mount on the rails of the bed of a pickup truck which are rated for over 400 lbs.

Boats like the Hobie Pro Angler are better transported on a kayak trailer.

That all sounds fairly correct.  At the last company I worked for, we were tasked with engineering an antenna to be rack mounted on top of a SUV or similar vehicle.  We found, after talking to all the major rack manufacturers, that the roof mounted racks were limited to ~150/165# of capacity.  The vehicle manufactuers we contacted declined to provide their "stock" rack capacities given that we were adding additional cross members supported to their stock rails.