Im looking at getting into kayaking since i'm moving to the lake for the summer. Yakima has stated that the crossbar spread is not wide enough to support a kayak blah blah blah but the rack system can support like 150lbs. So basically im just wondering if anyone on this site has used the yakima roof rack (Q tower system) to carry a kayak. If so what J towers did you use and have you had any problems.

Im not going to be on the highway with it and the lake is only like a 2 minute drive from my place so high speed stability isnt going to be a concern. which is why im thinking of ignoring Yakimas advice lol.

 

up

 

Bumpskies

 

Ttt

 

portage that ****

 

Haha maybe if I lived closer to the water.

 

Great post. I lol'd pretty hard.

Considering what good roof racks cost i'd probably just buy a beater pickup and some bungie cords.

 

how about fold down the backseat and toss it in the trunk?

 

Interesting idea haha.

 

I don't think it will fit cause of the way the trunk is designed. I have a kayak so I'll try it tomorrow if I get the chance to.

 

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/pict...y-rack-222008/

 

U r the man blazin. Looks like I'll be getting my kayak

 

nice. fishing time lol

 

I use the Yakima rack with the fairing and Thule j-carriers. Two cambuckle ties around the cockpit, one pulley/rope going from the front of the boat to the frame in the corner of the engine bay and the other pulleyrope attached to the frame through the trunk. I carry two 12' kayaks at highway speeds and it works good. lol. I have my crossbars as far apart as I can get them, by the way.

 

Ya I went with the Yakima bowdown. My boat wiggles a bit over bumps and stuff but my bars are at the recommended width. Since I live near a lake it stays on my car at all times which is y I went with the folding one but it's got plastic mounts so it's not the strongest... With the tie downs tho its solid and there's no chance it will get loose but it still worries me.

I just bought a bike rack and it also wiggles around since the bars are too close. It would be amazing if they made a stretch kit for the rack.

 

You can spread the bars out a bit and it won't hurt anything. Just feel at the back of the door where the lip under the weatherstripping ends, and mount the rear bar right before that. For the front I put mine so the fairing is just before the point where the roof panel meets the glass. I've gone 100mph with two 12' kayaks and they stayed up there like a champ, lmao. I really want to get a bigger car though, it looks silly on the roof of the SS.

 

I spaced my rack out and my boat was a lot more stable tonight. Same with the bike rack. I dont know why Yakima decided to tell us to mount the rack in their spot. It seemed very dangerous having my bike mounted up top before.

 

Sorry to bring up and old thread but I'm looking at getting a couple more yakima accessories and am curious what kind of spread you guys have on your racks? The factory setting is supposed to be 16" but the bowdowns say you need a minimum of 24" - also, the rocket box 11 says you need a minimum of 30". If you guys are having good luck with the spreads your using, it will certainly put my mind at ease. This is my current set up



and use it for this...



I'd like to add the bowdowns so I can carry the rocketbox to handle all my fishing gear...get's tiresome having all the fishing rods slid through the trunk and through the backseat then resting between the two fronts. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

I had to spread the bars out as much as they could go. I have about 20ish inches of spread I believe and it's a lot more solid. I dunno if I would recommend the bow down. It's a cool design but it's all plastic and it kinda bends when u torque the straps down to hold the boat in place. I found out u have to strap it down differently if u don't want it to move since when u tighten it it pulls the bowdown forward and it doesn't clamp the bar properly. I plan on going kayaking on friday for the last time this year so I'll snap photos of what I mean.

 

Ya, I was just reading a few more reviews on the bowdown and not many people like it. I guess I was set on them once I read about the built in bottle opener. haha ...might just go with the Hullraisers to save headaches...but if you could post some pics that would be great...cheers

 

Front, the fairing is about 1/2" from the edge of the windshield.
Rear, the clip mounts to the very end of the groove underneath the weatherstripping. It goes all the way back until the doorframe begins to curve. If you feel for it you'll understand what I mean.

No issues for 2 years now. I carry 1-2 12' 50lb kayaks with the Thule J-Cradles. Always use bow and stern ties in addition to the two cambuckles. They won't go anywhere. I've driven through thousands of feet of elevation changes along with hours of highway driving around 80mph.

-2007 SS Supercharged

 

heres the photos and how i tie the kayak down. I find if you tie it down how Yakima recommends it pulls it forward and you lose contact on the back pressure point



by wrapping the strap around the back makes it 100X sturdy as it forces the bowdown onto the bar and wont let it budge.

 

Anyone used a canoe on these?
I have a 17' Kevlar that I want to carry so I can leave the truck at home but I was worried about how close together the bars are on the Balt coupes.

 

my bars are 21.5" apart. its a hell of a lot more studier with them the way i set them up compared to the recommended 16" apart that yakima recommends. I also have a highroller bike rack and with the bars at yakimas recommendations it almost pulled the front bar off the roof as the weight of the bike used the back bar as a fulcrum. it was straight up dangerous. but spreading the bars out has made the bike rack very stable