Okay, so I needed to get my kayak from my place to the lake. It’s not a huge kayak, but it’s definitely not fitting inside my SUV. So, I started looking into kayak racks. I mean, you gotta have a rack, right? Otherwise, you’re going to mess up your car and your kayak.
First, I went to the sporting goods store to get some straps, there are also some foam blocks with straps to secure the kayak on top, and the straps go inside the car to hold it down, and I bought a rope to secure the front or rear bumpers just in case.
I was thinking about how many kayaks I could actually fit on my roof. The guy at the store said you could do three, max, but it depends on your car. My SUV is not small, but it’s not huge either, so I figured I could probably get away with two, maybe three if they were small. Luckily, I just had the one for this trip.
Choosing the Right Rack
The store had a bunch of different racks, but the guy there recommended a J-shaped one. He said it’s better because it keeps the kayaks upright, kind of facing each other, and that helps with the wind. Sounded good to me!
- J-shaped rack: This was the one recommended to me. It looked sturdy, and the guy said it was good for reducing wind resistance.
- Foam Blocks: I saw these too. They’re like cushions that go on your crossbars. They seemed okay, but I wanted something more secure.
I ended up going with a J-shaped rack. It wasn’t too expensive, and it seemed like it would do the job. I also made sure to get some of those foam blocks that go on the crossbars of your rack. They’re supposed to protect your kayak and your car, so I figured, why not?
Putting It All Together
Getting the rack on my SUV was a bit of a pain. It wasn’t super hard, but it definitely took some time, and those instructions were not the clearest. Anyway, I managed to get it on there, and it felt pretty solid.
Then came the kayak. I hoisted it up there, which was a workout in itself, and put it in the J-cradles. Then I used the straps to tie it down, just like the guy at the store showed me. I also used that extra rope to secure it to the front and back bumpers, just to be safe.
After a few minutes, there I am, driving down the road with my kayak on my roof. It felt a little weird at first, but I got used to it. I was a bit worried about the wind, but the J-rack kept it pretty steady. I made it to the lake no problem, and had a great time out on the water.
So, yeah, that’s my kayak rack story. It wasn’t too bad, all things considered. Just make sure you get the right rack, secure everything properly, and you’ll be good to go!
