Kayak Transportation

I’ve recently been struggling to find the proper way to mount my kayak to my Volvo XC60. I have horizontal crossbars that I can sit the yak on top of. I take two cambuckle straps, wrap one around the back crossbar and around the yak, then around the other side of the crossbar and buckle down. I do the same on the front rack. This make it feel pretty secure and stops it from moving, but I’m sure on a sudden stop or go, the kayak could move forward and back. Any tips on how I can secure it better? I was thinking of attaching two more straps to the front and back of the kayak and to the rear and front bumper but there’s nothing to attach to on the bumpers of my car. Would I be safe keeping around 60 mph with no front of back attachments and checking kayak security every few miles?

You can use bow and stern lines that go from your drag handles to the frame under your bumpers or to loops you install under your hood/trunk lid.

However, what I do is run the rear strap up over the kayak, down one scupper, around the cross bar, up through another scupper, then continue the same way you're already doing it.  This locks the kayak from fore/aft movement along with side to side movement like you already are doing.

You can use bow and stern lines that go from your drag handles to the frame under your bumpers or to loops you install under your hood/trunk lid.

However, what I do is run the rear strap up over the kayak, down one scupper, around the cross bar, up through another scupper, then continue the same way you're already doing it.  This locks the kayak from fore/aft movement along with side to side movement like you already are doing.

Never even thought about using the scuppers for further security!! Thanks for the input!

No problem!  I learned that trick from the guys at Wind Toys.  I'm sure someone will argue that scuppers are made of parchment paper and should never be looked at, touched, or used for utility and if you do this, the world will implode, but... I trust the experience of the guys with decades of experience and also have to file the warranty work.

  I'm sure someone will argue that scuppers are made of parchment paper and should never be looked at, touched, or used for utility and if you do this, the world will implode, but... I trust the experience of the guys with decades of experience and also have to file the warranty work.

Ha! The only thing I’ve heard that’s seriously bad for the scuppers is very consistent use of scupper carts.

Use the bow and stern lines.  I used those in addition to the two straps in the middle.  Work fine for me and I go a lot faster that your mentioned speed (on a sedan, but dont think the car type matter).

I do two over the middle with bow and stern lines- seems really solid. I go over the speed you're listing, too, just not always because steering feels so different. If you want to be sensible pulling over and checking for "settling" after 10 min of driving is a safe thing to do (I almost never do though unless I'm going a *long* distance).

Technically you should hook the bow and stern lines to actual attachment points, but imo it's the middle straps doing most of the work and the bow and stern are just there for security and keep it from wobbling. If my center straps have failed things have already gone so really ridiculously badly that I'm okay potentially risking a bumper.

This is old news that I'm sure everyone already knows but make sure to put a few twists in your straps and lines so they don't "scream" as you drive. 

A secure way to tie down the front and rear of your kayak is to use Hood loop anchor points which basically get pinched under your hood and rear hatch/trunk lids.  Here is the general concept of what I'm referring to:

https://www.amazon.com/KAPMOZ-Anchor-Straps-Transport-Lashing/dp/B07GF8FSF5/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=front+tie+down+kayak&qid=1603929637&sr=8-4

This would be in addition to the side tiedowns where most of your retention strength comes from. 

A secure way to tie down the front and rear of your kayak is to use Hood loop anchor points which basically get pinched under your hood and rear hatch/trunk lids.  Here is the general concept of what I'm referring to:

https://www.amazon.com/KAPMOZ-Anchor-Straps-Transport-Lashing/dp/B07GF8FSF5/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=front+tie+down+kayak&qid=1603929637&sr=8-4

Huh! Those are really clever, and look very easily DIY-able.

I run a bow tie down to the tow hooks under the front bumper. For the rear I tied some webbing around a small block of 2x4. Works the same as those Anchor points just not as pretty.

A rope running from the bow of your kayak to the front bumper area of your vehicle will keep the kayak from being pushed back or up by wind when you're driving, but it won't keep the kayak from sliding forward if you brake hard.  If you want to keep the kayak from moving forward, run a strap from the bow of the kayak back to the front roof rack bar.

I’ve tried different systems for my Revo 16 for the same reason, and eventually went back to the simplest one, which is just straps.

Because of the way I load it (facing up), I’m using foam pads to support the hull against the strap pressure. I found that the cross bars dig into the foam on one side, while on the other side the pads are sticky to the hull, which is perfect. I’m using closed cell, high quality foam that I bought in a big block from Austin Kayak (you can see them at the back of the kayak in the image attached).

In terms of testing, I’ve driven up and down the coast (HW1, I-280, HW17) at least at speed limit ( ) and in one occasion the wind was so strong it moved the kayak. Not in/out, but rather the kayak was diagonal to the car - just enough that I could see it moving while driving. I’d say the tip shifted at most 1ft. But it was scary, so I stopped the car and inspected the straps and pads. They were just as tight, and I keep driving. I’m sure that adding lines at the bow and stern would prevent the kayak from moving in certain ways, but it wouldn’t have helped in this situation.
But I’d agree with everyone else that, in this case, more is better.

Bow and Stern lines are pretty important.

They keep the kayak from shifting too much and lowers stress on racks and car. It's not about the kayak coming off your racks, it's about the racks coming off your car.  This is especially important in areas with huge gusts of wind such as driving over GG Bridge or other areas where the wind funnels down and gusts.

I use this for the front hood

https://www.amazon.com/Cajun-Tie-Downs-Anchor-Straps/dp/B0772V94MC/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=hood+loop+strap&qid=1604861334&sr=8-11

In the rear of the car most cars have a tow loop under the car near the exhaust.

I use simple ratchet pulleys.  It takes just a few seconds but in my opinion is very important for safety on the freeway.

Bow and Stern lines are pretty important.

They keep the kayak from shifting too much and lowers stress on racks and car. It's not about the kayak coming off your racks, it's about the racks coming off your car.  This is especially important in areas with huge gusts of wind such as driving over GG Bridge or other areas where the wind funnels down and gusts.

I use this for the front hood

https://www.amazon.com/Cajun-Tie-Downs-Anchor-Straps/dp/B0772V94MC/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=hood+loop+strap&qid=1604861334&sr=8-11


In the rear of the car most cars have a tow loop under the car near the exhaust.

I use simple ratchet pulleys.  It takes just a few seconds but in my opinion is very important for safety on the freeway.

+1 I would never even consider driving without bow and stern tie downs. As bdon mentioned, it only takes seconds if you use ratchet pulley. Time well spent when you consider the disaster and damage a kayak flying off your car could cause.

Bow and Stern lines are pretty important.

They keep the kayak from shifting too much and lowers stress on racks and car. It's not about the kayak coming off your racks, it's about the racks coming off your car.

That’s a good point