Two Kayaks fell off car on highway 101 yesterday?

Heard a report on the news saying that two kayak's and the roof rack they were attached too fell off someone's vehicle yesterday in the afternoon on HW 101.  JUST wondering if someone on here was to blame 

I have been laughed at for doing front and rear tie downs, but ya know, this is why I still do it every time

I had the Yakima kayak racks attached to my roof rack with two Hobies on and with the force of the wind and the weight of the Hobies, the bolts bent and one by one the kayaks almost fell off the top. Thank the good Lord I was in the right lane both times and was able to pull over ASAP and remove the racks off the rods. Needless to say, I no longer have the racks, but I do have the rods still. I now just mount them and strap them down and it hold them better.

I was considering getting rid of my lumber rack and getting regular racks (yakima / thule) to put on my trucks camper shell....now, I'm reconsidering and just keeping my lumber rack - just can't beat the strenght of STEEL  I can stack 3 yaks on the lumber rack and have no doubts about loosing them....even in Hurricane Conditions 

Just glad it wasn't me...this time!

I have the Yakima Q-Towers with Q-Clips and I was very un-easy at first about it.  These things literally just kinda "clip" to the outside where the door closes.  But before that I was using foam blocks, and after a trip up to Shadow Cliffs I noticed that the straps were wearing away part of my yack.  Decided to take the plung and got the ONLY rack that was supported for my car, the Yakima setup.  It took HOURS to get it setup properly and I still have one side not exactly like the other.  But when the yack is strapped down, it feels like its a part of the car, and I can shake the whole car by putting pressure on it, so it seems safe. 

But with front and rear tie downs I expect that if the rack fails to grip for some reason the front tie should keep it up on the roof hopefully long enough to pull over without it falling off.  The rear tie however is in case it does fall off, i just dont want it to go through some soccer mom's windshield or something else far worse than damaging the yack.

 

Al,

If you don't get the dimensions proper, the rack clips get loose. For the second time I have to readjust the clips and retighten them. Takes about ten-twenty minutes, but it is just a hassle. But as you say, onc you strap the yak down, you can shake the car.

Mooch. Keep the lumber rack. It looks "manly" on your truck. Chicks dig them!!!

Shaking the car with the yak strapped down is one thing. 

But I've always wondering about high frequency/ low amplitude resonance coming through the racks under normal driving conditions.  That kind of vibe would likely lead to some movement over time that cannot be adequately predicted with the gross shaking of the yak/ rack via manipulation by hand.  Had an old yakima rack with the rubber foot pedals and clamps to rain gutters - I always thought tha thing moved around ...

Yakima rack are great if they are adjusted properly.
I only recently began tying the fronts down.
I can attest to ( although I admit nothing ) that the yakima racks with 2 kayaks handled speeds of up to 105 mph.
I find that the ratchet straps work best.

The shell on my new truck has integrated Thule rack tracks.  If they come off, something REALLY bad just happened!!

Yakima racks are tough.  I know from experience.  One time, I went to a Chinese fast food joint with a drive-up window.  I forgot my bike was on top.  I destroyed their overhang and got cursed at in Cantonese.  Fortunately, my bike, my suv, and rack were all fine.  I just scuffed up the bike saddle a bit.  Another time, I did same thing pulling into my garage.  The Yakima bars got bent, but the whole rack system stayed in place.

As for transporting kayaks.  When possible, I like to simply strap'em upside down directly on the bars.  It's way more secure than using saddles and more aerodynamic too.  Your yak won't try to fly off as much.

I find it physically a serious bother to turn the yak upside down, but, we did it for the return trip from San Diego and got 4 MPH better mileage on the drive home......even though it's uphill........

Yakuza,

The frequency is created at the end of the rod. It is just the vortex coming off and breaking into the slipstream. Just like a planes wing the rods create it. Darn laws of aerodynamics. Also the noise is applified with the "dead space" inside the yak. I always hear it when I have the yaks mounted. If I don't , I may have dropped one!

Seabreeze, yea it is a bother turning them upside down, but you are probably right in it improving gfas mileage. The hulls do generate a little lift so it may just lighten the load a bit. 

Had a buddy's Yakimas fly off this weekend on hwy 1 going up to Big Sur. No cars behind him and the boat was fishable when he got there. He said something about a plastic bolt breaking? He had them installed "profesionally" and went back to the place and they were crapping themselves! They were ready to buy him a new boat even.  Also had Yakimas fly off just past Ensenada, Mexico and hit a caravan of missionaries going to build homes for orfans down there and they only had two days to do the work. So after dealing with Mexican insurance, it took up their whole day .  BUT I still use Yakimas WITH the bow and stern lines. Makes me feel much better. I also point my side mirrors up so I can watch the boats while I'm driving. I also installed them myself so I'm the only one to blame if something bad happens.
                                            safe driving CoS

Anyone heard anything or had experience with Thule racks?  I just got some for my car and they seem pretty sturdy.  Hopefully more than the Yakimas that simply clip on.  I strapped the yak onto the racks and took it down big sur last weekend and it seemed ok.

Hey Jeff, go Gauchos!  I wish I was into Kayak fishing (or fishing for that matter) when I was at UCSB ('84-'88).  I have Thule's on my Honda Pilot and usually carry 2 yaks on it with the saddles and cam straps.  I've had no problems on many drives to Tahoe, So. Cal, etc.  I have been thinking I need to do a once-over and tighten everything down again.