Kayaks and Roof Rack/Soft Rack...

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Kayaks and Roof Rack/Soft Rack...

dimsim

851 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 143

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#157320 27-Nov-2014 14:56

see a few here have kayaks, wondering if anyone has used a soft rack to carry one?

if so, how did it go, where did you get it from etc?

Have just bought a Malibu 2 to use on the lake for a bit of fun. 3.6m long and about 27kg..

Now wondering how to transport it the 2hours to Taupo which thankfully only needs to be done once!

k14

630 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 94

#1184166 27-Nov-2014 15:33

If you only need to do it once then you could potentially get away with rolled up towels/foam rolls on the roof of your car and then strapping it around through the interior of the car. Then if you tether the front/back of the kayak to the front/back of the car it should be safe enough for a 2 hour drive. I use the front towing eye to secure the front and either towbar or rear towing eye at the back. That way there are 4 points of contact to the car and it should be good enough to hold. Don't do it if it is very windy though. Wait for a nice still day and don't go over 100kph.

frankv

5690 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3649

Lifetime subscriber

#1184199 27-Nov-2014 15:43

Whatever you do, *do* tie down the front and back to somewhere solid. You do not want your kayak taking off on you.

When I was kayaking, I used those ratcheting tiedown straps for tying the kayak to the roof rack.

Actually, I still have the roof rack... two separate steel bars. Sits in the gutters of your car (if it has gutters). You could have it for $10+freight. PM me if you want it.

Frank

dimsim

851 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 143

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1184250 27-Nov-2014 16:00

frankv: Whatever you do, *do* tie down the front and back to somewhere solid. You do not want your kayak taking off on you.

When I was kayaking, I used those ratcheting tiedown straps for tying the kayak to the roof rack.

Actually, I still have the roof rack... two separate steel bars. Sits in the gutters of your car (if it has gutters). You could have it for $10+freight. PM me if you want it.

Frank

thanks for the offer, but alas I am gutterless :)

dimsim

851 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 143

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1219807 22-Jan-2015 09:35

update for anyone that needs to do this.

i bought a kayak soft rack from trademe and it did the job perfectly (approx $60).. checked a couple of times during the trip that its was still tight and didn't need to tighten at all. a couple of times when a truck went past it would lift slightly if the truck was close but otherwise 100kmh on open road no problem.

highly recommend for anyone that need to transport something like this occasionally. if i was doing it every weekend i'd definitely go for a solid roof rack.

shrub

776 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 267

ID Verified

#1220144 22-Jan-2015 14:50

https://www.tradetested.co.nz/browse/sports-outdoors/roof-rack-gutterless.html $89 Cheap and nasty but will work. Ive had mine 6 months with these racks and been from chch to picton a few times with kayak on and no issues. I was using a towel to protect the kayak but ended up buying a noodle?(kids use for swimming) for $10