Kayak racks !?!?

[RedRum]

Hey everyone,

So I just recently bought a kayak and have it strapped down on the roof using a couple foam floor pads under it to give it clearance over the light bar. While yes I understand this isn't very secure I literally live 5 blocks from the beach I launch at. I am looking for a more secure rack so I can bring it on trips, the o let issue is every rack I see that is decent would interfere with my existing light bar mounts, requires drilling through the hardtop, or is over a thousand dollars. Does anyone know any option in the 700 dollar price range that would work for my setup ?

Thanks in advance

 

[Judesign]

FYI I carried my kayak the same way for a while and ended up replacing a cracked windshield. The tension across the frame ,if you're using ratchet straps , is enough to crack it. Although mine was across the roll cage with the soft top down

 

[RedRum]

Nah those are just tie downs I was worried about using ratchet straps because of how tight they can become but thank you for the heads up ... What are you using now ?

 

[HighwayTrout]

Get rid of the light/rack and save another 700 bucks and buy the LOD roof rack.

 

[Warebear]

X2 on the LOD. I want that one myself.

 

[Studfam24]

Any pics of the LOD?

Anyone have experience with the GOBI rack?

 

[Judesign]

Don't have the kayak anymore but if I did I liked the lod

 

[GraniteCrystal]

I have the Gobi Stealth. Love it. Functional and looks great.

 

[SteelBadger]

I have the Gobi Stealth. Love it. Functional and looks great.

Ditto on the Gobi. I have the Stealth rack. No drilling is why I got a Gobi (that and I think they look nice) as at the time most other options required it. More manufacturers have no drill racks now if you care about that sort of thing.
If not it really opens up your options. If the kayak is the only thing you will be strapping to it you may want a less expensive frame only type. You can usually buy baskets etc later if you want it.
Just don't go cheap.

 

[asullivan920]

have you looked at anything like this? http://www.walmart.com/ip/44-to-60-Telescoping-Roof-Rack-Cargo-Cross-Bars-150-lb.-Capacity/29390127

 

[Outdoorsman_JK]

Are you specifically looking for a roof rack? An alternative is to build a cheap kayak trailer? There are many DIY kayak trailers built from Harbor Freight or Northern Tools trailers.

I may build myself a kayak trailer for the ease of not having to throw a 12ft 75lb kayak on top of my jeep. It looks like your kayak is not near as heavy as mine though.

 

[Jaimegomez8]

I usually take the top off and ratchet strap it to the roll bar, never fails.

 

[MTG]

Yakima gutter rack mounts if your using a hard top. I haven't priced it, but I imagine it would be under $700.

 

[RedRum]

Thanks everyone, yea I thought about a trailer but I don't think I want to go that route. And yea actually it's 78 pounds, it's a 13.5 perception rambler ... It was comical getting it up there the first time with my fiancé lol I'll have to look into the Yakima gutter rack mounts. Does anyone have any experience with the snotty build defender ? It wouldn't work for me but j like the concept of how they made a gutter mount hybrid design almost

 

[Desert Crawler]

This is my solution to kayak hauling, since I generally am topless during kayak weather. Without the basket it is not as tall and easier to manage. With the basket it is a little easier to bring along all the camping gear.

 

[RedRum]

This is my solution to kayak hauling, since I generally am topless during kayak weather. Without the basket it is not as tall and easier to manage. With the basket it is a little easier to bring along all the camping gear.
View attachment 201930

What setup is that ? The Olympic ? And can it be used with a hard top or only when top is off ?

 

[GraniteCrystal]

Keep height in mind too. Depending on how much lift and tires you have, you may not fit in your garage anymore.

 

[Desert Crawler]

Olympic cross bars with yakima attachments. The Olympic bars attach to the rollbar so it cannot be used with the top on.

 

[Studfam24]

I have the Gobi Stealth. Love it. Functional and looks great.

Thx! Great pics. I think this is the only clear option for my build.
Is it easy to get on and off? I don't plan on running it full time, only when we go overlanding.

 

[GraniteCrystal]

Thx! Great pics. I think this is the only clear option for my build.
Is it easy to get on and off? I don't plan on running it full time, only when we go overlanding.

No, I definitely wouldn't put it in the easy category. Took me multiple hours to get it on. Not really something that's made to come off. The whole top part does pivot back though and that's easily done. So you can loosen four bolts, pivot back, remove your hard top, and pivot back down. And the freedom panels still come off without changing anything if you don't have a front basket (as I don't).

If you're really looking for something to take on and off, you're probably looking for something that fits in the door jams. Won't hold as much weight though. The Gobi can do 800lb static load. Rooftop tent kind of stuff if you wanted to.