Kayak on a rack...

Raccroc · 05-12-2003, 10:47 PM

I'm getting ready to order a rack for my TJ which I plan to use primarily for hulling a kayak or two. I've been trying to decide which rack I want to purchase when something came to my attention...

I want to get a front-windshield to rear-bumber style rack (Olympic Jeep Sport Rack - Top Five Rack - Congo Cage Rack); however, this style of rack only has an approx. 6 feet span. The kayak I'm planning on getting is approx. 16 feet, leaving 5 feet hanging off both front and back.

So, I guess my question is...Anybody have one of these rack *and* a long (15+ feet) kayak? How well does it mount? Do they mount foward very well (so most of the kayak is over the hood instead of 5 feet hangin behind the Jeep)? Pictures would also be greatly apperciated.

Thanks - john

littlewaywelt · 05-13-2003, 08:39 AM

I had a similar setup on my old yj, though I don't recall the make. I would think that any of the ones you're looking at will work just fine. I hauled a 16 foot canoe on my rack many many times without problems. The key is to center the boat on the rack not the car. Use a pair of cam buckle straps or cordage with a trucker's hitch to secure the boat to the rack and use a V tie down from the stern and bow to the car. It's a simple affair and shouldn't take longer than five minutes to secure the boat.

tck1000 · 05-13-2003, 09:23 AM

If you didn't mind having a bar sticking up in front of you, and wouldn't mind buying a new front bumper....

You could always get a front bumper with a 2" Receiver, then get a hitch-mount bar rack. Basically a single bar that comes up from the hitch receiver, and holds up the end of the canoe/kayak.

Design goal was use on the back end of a pickup, with the other end of the boat mounted over the roof of the cab.

But you could do it the other way as well, i'd guess.

As long as the bar didn't obstruct your vision too much.

Something a la http://www.rackwarehouse.com/t997.html would work.

-Tim

yru_stuk · 05-13-2003, 11:26 AM

I made my own. Its a self loader and works great. The only thing is that you have to have a front hitch.

tck1000 · 05-13-2003, 11:55 AM

That's *exactly* what I had in mind.

how's driving with that rack and the canoe mounted? Any problems encountered?

-Tim

yru_stuk · 05-13-2003, 12:05 PM

Nope, you would never know its there except for the bar running down in front of your jeep. On really windy days you can feel it wobble a little (the canoe, that is). The rack cost me $0.00, I made it out of scrap metal that I rounded up at work. Here is another pic I found.

Raccroc · 05-13-2003, 10:41 PM

Nice setup and pic. Unfortunately, I'm trying to avoid that style. It's to long a gap for shorter kayaks & windsurf boards while at the same time being unfriendly towards multiple kayaks.

I would like to go with a windshield-rear bumper cage, if at all possible. though I may have to go with a full bumper to bumper cage (running full Jeep length and mounted in the bumper-frame holes). This style has the advantage of being able to mount crossbars for shorter/longer/Yakima/Thule objects. Still, I'm hoping to avoid that too because they remind me of old land rovers.

05-13-2003, 08:39 AM	#2
littlewaywelt Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 38 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I had a similar setup on my old yj, though I don't recall the make. I would think that any of the ones you're looking at will work just fine. I hauled a 16 foot canoe on my rack many many times without problems. The key is to center the boat on the rack not the car. Use a pair of cam buckle straps or cordage with a trucker's hitch to secure the boat to the rack and use a V tie down from the stern and bow to the car. It's a simple affair and shouldn't take longer than five minutes to secure the boat. __________________ 89 XJ pioneer 5spd i6 88-95 210k 92 YJ islander 5spd i6 91-95 85k 94 XJ se 5spd i6 94-00 165k 01 XJ sport auto i6 08-? 7k

05-13-2003, 09:23 AM	#3
tck1000 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 36 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	If you didn't mind having a bar sticking up in front of you, and wouldn't mind buying a new front bumper.... You could always get a front bumper with a 2" Receiver, then get a hitch-mount bar rack. Basically a single bar that comes up from the hitch receiver, and holds up the end of the canoe/kayak. Design goal was use on the back end of a pickup, with the other end of the boat mounted over the roof of the cab. But you could do it the other way as well, i'd guess. As long as the bar didn't obstruct your vision too much. Something a la http://www.rackwarehouse.com/t997.html would work. -Tim __________________ 2000 TJ, Mark 1, Mod 1 [url]http://www.timkennedy.net/jeep[/url]

05-13-2003, 11:26 AM	#4
yru_stuk Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: VA Posts: 129 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I made my own. Its a self loader and works great. The only thing is that you have to have a front hitch. __________________ 2001 TJ 2" RE BB, 31 x 10.50 Trxus M/T, Homemade Disco's, Trail rack, I'm getting there.

05-13-2003, 11:55 AM	#5
tck1000 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 36 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	That's exactly what I had in mind. how's driving with that rack and the canoe mounted? Any problems encountered? -Tim __________________ 2000 TJ, Mark 1, Mod 1 [url]http://www.timkennedy.net/jeep[/url]

05-13-2003, 12:05 PM	#6
yru_stuk Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: VA Posts: 129 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Nope, you would never know its there except for the bar running down in front of your jeep. On really windy days you can feel it wobble a little (the canoe, that is). The rack cost me $0.00, I made it out of scrap metal that I rounded up at work. Here is another pic I found. __________________ 2001 TJ 2" RE BB, 31 x 10.50 Trxus M/T, Homemade Disco's, Trail rack, I'm getting there. Last edited by yru_stuk; 05-13-2003 at 12:09 PM..