Kayak Transport Explained | Roof Racks, Trailers, and More

In Tips, Uncategorized by Tanner V.

 

Kayak Transport: Every Question Answered

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About the Author
Hi Everyone! My name is Tanner, and I am the founder of kayamping.net. I started this website as an outlet to pursue my hobby of kayaking, camping, and exploring the world at large. Every post here is written and curated by me so stop-in, have a read, leave a comment, and most importantly, get going on your next adventure!

Getting a kayak from point A to point B can be more difficult than you thought. You can't squeeze them into the cabin, but you also don't want to damage your vehicle's roof. So what do you do?

How to Transport a Kayak

To haul a kayak you have two main options:

  1. Rooftop hauling - Put the kayak on the roof of your vehicle. This typically requires a kayak carrier set, crossbars, and straps. However, how exactly to do this will vary based on the type of vehicle you have. 
  2. Trailers - You can strap the kayaks to an ordinary trailer or use a special trailer designed specifically for kayaks or canoes.

Kayak Roof Racks vs Kayak Trailers - Which is best?

Well there is no definitive answer to this question because they are both good options. It really just depends on your unique situation. Here's a quick pros and cons to see which pertains best for you.

Add PROS and CONS Table

How to Haul a Kayak on a Truck

  1. Stick' em in the bed - Some kayaks will be small enough to be placed into the bed of the truck. This is the cheapest method, but also the most harsh on your kayaks.
  2. Aftermarket crossbars over the bed of the truck - Trucks have a smaller roof compared to standard vehicles so there are aftermarket crossbar options to support the kayak.
  3. Truck bed extender - If you drive a smaller truck or have long kayaks, a truck bed extender attached to the trailer hitch to support the end of the kayak.

How to Haul a Kayak on a SUV

Many SUV's from the dealership with crossbars and roof rails already installed but they are often flimsy and made from plastic. Check the your owner's manual to see the weight rating of the crossbars. It may be a good idea to forego the dealership crossbars and purchase after market bars instead.
  1. Kayak Roof Racks with lift assist - SUVs are taller and wider than the average car which can make kayak loading difficult. Certain kayak racks have lift assistant mechanisms to allow for side car loading and easy lifting.
  2. Kayak carriers like saddles, j-cradles, or stackers will work as long as you can safely reach the roof of your vehicle. Stools and ladders may come in handy here.
  3.  DIY - You have the option (while not recommended) to wrap your crossbars in pool noodles and tie your kayak down to these. It works and it is cheap, but it won't last forever. This is best saved for kayaks that you don't mind taking a beating.

How to Haul a Kayak on a RV or Motorhome

  1. Vertical haulers attach to the trailer hitch of the RV and hold the kayak vertically against the rear of the rig. These haulers can hold kayaks, bikes, cooler or any number of things.
  2. Roof top Carriers with Lift Assist - Much like SUVs, RVs are simply too tall for you to get a kayak on the roof without help. Kayak racks with lift assistance are a must for this scenario.

How to Haul a Kayak on a Sedan

  1. Roof top hauling - The standard car has no choice but to put the kayak on the roof. Luckily, cars are relatively short and most people can reach their roof. This means there a plenty of options of roof racks depending on your unique situation.

How to Haul a Kayak with a Small Car

The simple answer is with a small, lightweight trailer. The problem with small cars is the 4 cylinder engine underneath the hood. These engines were designed for fuel economy not towing power.
To put this in perspective, a Honda civic can tow up to 1,000 lbs. But remember this includes the weight of a trailer. You can find many kayak trailers under 200 lbs. so there are plenty of option for small cars.
Consult your vehicle's owner manual to see the max tow capacity of your car. If in doubt, consider taking a larger vehicle as the wear and tare on the will be less overall.

 How to haul on a Car Without Crossbars

If your car does not have crossbars installed and you don't want to get them, you have two options:
  1. Foam pads - Two foam blocks that go on the roof of your vehicle, which the kayaks rest on top. They are cheap and get the job done.
  2. Inflatables - Similar to foam blocks, go on the roof of your vehicle and the kayaks rest on top of them. They can be inflated and deflated by an air pump making them very convenient for storage.

How to Get Crossbars for your Car

Crossbars consist of two parts:
    • The Bars - This is what you think of when you mention crossbars. They are the bars that run across the roof and support the weight of the kayak. Round, square, and wing shaped crossbars are the major styles.
    • The Towers - These attach to the crossbar and to the roof of the vehicle. Each crossbar probably has many compatible feet based on your cars roof. Some are clamped to door opening, or screwed to pre-existing rack channels, or clamped to roof rails.

Your local body shop will be able to mount a crossbar system for a fee or you can do it yourself. Most crossbar setups require little expertise and few tools.

What makes up a Kayak Roof Rack System

What makes up a Kayak Roof Rack System?
All kayak rack consists of a few main parts:
1. Crossbars - These support the weight of the kayaks and provide mounting points for the carriers
2. Kayak Carriers - These come in many different forms such as J-hooks, stackers, or saddles but they all have the purpose of physically holding the kayak in place.
3. Cam Straps - These are used to tighten the kayak to the carrier and keep the kayak in place throughout the entire trip.
4. Bow and Stern Ties - Ropes attached to the front and rear of the car and kayak to keep it from falling over front the car during braking or tumbling off the back of the car during acceleration. Metal frame underneath the hood or tailgate are the best mounting points but it will vary depending on the type of vehicle.

Different Types of Kayak Carriers

  J-hooks hold kayaks at a 45 degree angle, which allows for maximum roof space. You will frequently see two sets of j-hooks on a single car to carry two kayaks at a time.
    Stackers - Capable of carrying 1-4 kayaks at a time, stackers, are vertical arms that allow kayaks to be carrying on their sides at 90 degrees. They are best for short, durable kayaks like whitewater or recreational boats.
    Saddles - The easiest to load of all the kayak carriers and good for those carrying only one kayak at a time. Kayak are positioned as they would sit in the water, which uses a lot of roof space.

How Far Apart Should Kayak Carriers Be?

Kayak carrier spread will depend primarily on the size of the kayak itself. Kayaks are strongest at their front and rear bulkheads so carriers should be lined with these if possible. Crossbars spread too far may result in poor contact with the carriers that could mean a bumpy ride. The rule of thumb is at least 28 inches with a maximum of 46 inches.

Can you Transport Kayaks Upside Down?

Carrying a kayak deck down/hull up is more aerodynamic and removes the need for a cockpit cover because rain cannot enter the kayak. Oil canning from overly tight straps damages the deck as opposed to the hull which has no impacts to performance. However, damage to the coaming is possible and vehicles with a hatchback may have trouble opening their trunk fully. Loading upside down means more obstacles to maneuver around so it should be left to those using saddles, foam pads, or other horizontal carriers.

How to Carry Two Kayaks on a Roof Rack?

Your best options are two sets of J-cradles or a single set stackers because they maximize your vehicles roof space. The process is the same as loading a single kayak but with a few caveats.
1. Check your vehicle's maximum roof weight capacity is not exceeded by the total weight of your rack system. This includes the crossbars, carriers, and kayaks themselves.
2. Load each kayak onto the roof rack
3. Buckle each kayak onto the kayak carrier with the cam straps
4. Secure a separate bow and stern line set to each kayak
5. Manual check rack setup is secure

How to Carry 3 or 4 Kayaks?

Stackers are capable of hauling up to 4 kayaks but they need to be small recreational or whitewater boats to do so. The weight of all these kayaks will quickly be approaching most cars' roof weight limit so be careful. The best and safest solution for transporting this many kayaks is going to be trailers.

How to Load and Strap Down a Kayak?

Video to explain how to do

How Transport a Kayak on a Trailer

To haul a kayak you have two main options:

  1. Rooftop hauling - Put the kayak on the roof of your vehicle. This typically requires a kayak carrier set, crossbars, and straps. However, how exactly to do this will vary based on the type of vehicle you have. 
  2. Trailers - You can strap the kayaks to an ordinary trailer or use a special trailer designed specifically for kayaks or canoes.

How to tie down a kayak on a trailer?

Tying down a kayak on a trailer is much the same as strapping one down to the roof of your car. To safely secure a kayak, you will want to have four tie downs holding the kayak. More or less maybe required depending primarily on the size of the kayak and configuration of the trailer.
Two cam straps or ratchet straps go around the hull of the kayak and latch to hooks on the side of the trailer. For extra precaution you can run these straps through the scrubber holes. Ratchet straps should be tight but not too tight. Overly strict ratchet straps can disfigure your kayak's hull causing performance issues in the water.
The 3rd and 4th straps are bow and stern ties. These can be ropes or bungie cords tied to the front and back of the kayak. You can run these through the kayak carrying handles if not loops are available.

How to build a kayak trailer?

There are few mass produced kayak trailers available for sale today so some people opt to build their own kayak trailer. This is a great option for those who have the tools and time to make a trailer. The easiest way to get started is to purchase a base trailer from a local manufacturer. This takes care of the wheels and frame that is made from metal that requires expensive machinery to make. Let the professionals take care of the hard part so you can focus on building custom features out of wood.
Check these videos to see how others have gone about creating their own kayak trailers.

How to haul a kayak trailer with small car?

The simple answer is with a small, lightweight trailer. The problem with small cars is the 4 cylinder engine underneath the hood. These engines were designed for fuel economy not towing power.
To put this in perspective, a Honda civic can tow up to 1,000 lbs. But remember this includes the weight of a trailer. You can find many kayak trailers under 200 lbs. so there are plenty of option for small cars.
Consult your vehicle's owner manual to see the max tow capacity of your car. If in doubt, consider taking a larger vehicle as the wear and tare on the will be less overall.