Overhead rack for Kayak

trob09 · 05-02-2007, 10:32 AM

Hi,

I'm looking for an overhead rack system to carry a Kayak on my TJ. I've done a search and found several threads/posts saying "just throw it on top/use a towel". That might be fine for short trips to the local water, but I have some longer trips planned (4-5 hours on the freeway) that conclude with several miles of dirt road and trail before water access.

So, any thoughts?

Couple of additional thoughts - I want to be able to use my hard top and my soft top for this - I kayak from the spring throught he late fall. Freeway drives in 40-degree weather are no fun after you've been in the water for a week. The ability to store some other stuff up there (bags, cooler, etc) would be a plus

**Divinitous** · 05-02-2007, 10:54 AM

The best solution that I've found so far it to get one of these.

http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/19670.htm

And use a light bar. Or maybe use two of those rack things and if your yak is long enough.

There was a few page long discussion on what to do. I cannot take credit on this idea.

defleppardsg · 05-02-2007, 10:56 AM

I think you're going to have to make a top decision, there are good options for hard/soft/no top but unfortunately they are all differnt. Ive got a thule rack setup on my hardtop -solid and perfect for this application, just gotta deal with having the hardtop. Im going to get the thule footpack to fit on the rollbars (top down/off) and use the thule bars i already have from the hardtop. This will also be a solid, and fairly easily removable setup, but with the rack on, it'll be more then 2 minutes to remove the rack and put on a roof if need be. For the soft top the most common thing i see is to get the light bars front and back with the safari basket. Seems like the only option I can think of for that case, and I"m not really a fan of that.. I kayak too and bought the thule rack just for that and snowboards. I think itll be cool to have the kayak right above your head with no top on...

trob09 · 05-02-2007, 10:56 AM

Thanks. It's a 17' doubles so I'm pretty sure it's long enough.

trob09 · 05-02-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by defleppardsg

I think itll be cool to have the kayak right above your head with no top on...

My thinking too. But a little too "cool" in those Minnesota October days. I'm really hoping for something I can use with hard top/soft top/no top which may not exist in one package.

atljeeplady · 05-02-2007, 12:06 PM

I use foam blocks under the contact points when I have one of the 2 tops up, otherwise, it's top down, strapped to the bars or thrown in the back. Of course, I have a short whitewater kayak, but if you have a longer flat water or sea kayak, then the option in Post #2 is a good way to go.

**Mayfair_Jeeper** · 05-02-2007, 12:10 PM

Do you have the Thule part number for both the hard and roll bar application? I have my Thule bars from my Tacoma I could use

defleppardsg · 05-02-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Do you have the Thule part number for both the hard and roll bar application? I have my Thule bars from my Tacoma I could use

300 foot pack for the hardtop, and I suggest getting the artificial gutters, makes much sturdier of a rack.

450 foot pack for no top. I dont have this one yet but I plan on getting it, so i cant vouch for how it works but I assume it functions the way its supposed to..

Dugzilla · 05-02-2007, 01:18 PM

I have a lightbar and will be buying or making one of the hitch racks like is shown above. I have foam blocks that hook to my canoe. I am going to cut out the bottom of the block to go around the lightbar and the hitch rack. Although I have a soft top only, I think this would work for any combination of tops.

PeteC · 05-02-2007, 01:43 PM

Somewhere in my shed is the set up I bought a few years ago to haul a canoe on my TJ. Bought it through Quadratec I think.

Essentially, the front part looks like and installs like a light bar. Tie down eyelits on the bar.

The rear was a T-bar type set up that attaches to you spare tire. Not sure what the size limit is on the tire.

This system could be used with hard top, soft top or top down. Only issue you would have is you could not open your tail gate while something is loaded on the rack.

I don't have acees to catalogs right now, but if I remember I can look when I get home.

In the meantime, check ou thte major Jeep accesories catalogs and website. I am sure you can find something to meet your needs. There are quite a few rack systems out there that can hadle good loads without attaching to or interfering with your Jeep tops. If you opt for a full cargo rack, look in the one that will tilt so you can put your soft top up and down without removing the rack.

newcaddy4j · 05-02-2007, 02:30 PM

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12037_500_07.htm

I have this for my canoe. It works great for my 13' old town canoe. It feels sturdy when driving and doesn't take too much effort to put on. The only down side is that you have to have the top down. Not thats a problem since I only take the canoe out when its nice out. I stay away from the highway though. I don't think I'd trust a canoe on a TJ driving highway speeds. My old XJ was blown around enough with the canoe on it.

Just a suggestion, Why not use the WJ?

trob09 · 05-02-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newcaddy4j

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12037_500_07.htm

I have this for my canoe. It works great for my 13' old town canoe. It feels sturdy when driving and doesn't take too much effort to put on. The only down side is that you have to have the top down. Not thats a problem since I only take the canoe out when its nice out. I stay away from the highway though. I don't think I'd trust a canoe on a TJ driving highway speeds. My old XJ was blown around enough with the canoe on it.

Just a suggestion, Why not use the WJ?

Thanks, that's one of the racks I've looked at.

Why not use the WJ? Well, that is a possibility - certainly easier from a commercial rack perspective. I just like driving the TJ for outdoor pursuits. The WJ is the wife's jeep....she doesn't like it when it gets muddy.

jclaudii · 05-02-2007, 03:06 PM

I was looking last year and I'm still looking. But I think I know what I want, I just don't want to pay for a new one so I'm keeping my eye open for a used one.

Here is a thread I started while back about racks in the picture request thread. It has some useful info so I'll link it for ya.

When I get one I think I may go with a Kargo Master or an older model Top Five that has straight bars and padding already on the bars, but there hard to find. I may end up getting one with the curved bars and make my own cross bars out of some aluminum. As for a basket, I would just have to save up and eventually buy one of those too.

If I wanted to spend about $ 700 bucks I would go with olympics, Daves' Rack. It tilts and it can even flip a 180 so you can make a canopy at the back of your jeep. It could be handy in certain situations.

Good luck on picking out a rack...Let me know what you go with and how you like it

http://jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321729

EDIT: here is another link that I replied in about racks while back
http://jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346724

Jason

trob09 · 05-02-2007, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jclaudii

I was looking last year and I'm still looking. But I think I know what I want, I just don't want to pay for a new one so I'm keeping my eye open for a used one.

Here is a thread I started while back about racks in the picture request thread. It has some useful info so I'll link it for ya.

When I get one I think I may go with a Kargo Master or an older model Top Five that has straight bars and padding already on the bars, but there hard to find. I may end up getting one with the curved bars and make my own cross bars out of some aluminum. As for a basket, I would just have to save up and eventually buy one of those too.

If I wanted to spend about $ 700 bucks I would go with olympics, Daves' Rack. It tilts and it can even flip a 180 so you can make a canopy at the back of your jeep. It could be handy in certain situations.

Good luck on picking out a rack...Let me know what you go with and how you like it

http://jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321729

EDIT: here is another link that I replied in about racks while back
http://jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346724

Jason

Thanks,

I did look at Daves rack as it seemed like an interesting bit of gear. I decided against it as a. it's expensive! and b. it would require moving my windshield mounted lights - which I don't want to do.

I am seriously considering the RRC frame and use Thule parts that can switch back and forthe between the TJ and WJ if needed.

wicky · 05-03-2007, 09:31 AM

You can buy kits that screw into the tail-lights and into the windshield brackets that will run you about $400 but will work all year with both tops. I saw it in Quadratec I think.
I just keep the top down in the summer and put my kayak up on the roll bars and tie it down really well and that works fine on and off highway if you don't mind the noise.
I actually measured and built an all weather system. It is a piece of aluminum that slides into my hitch, comes out past the spare tire and up above the top. I put a kayak on it with a pad on the front above the windshield...I then lashed the aluminum to the spare tire...yes, it works, no I don't have a picture on me, but the problem with it is that it wobbles in the back and the boat has a tendency to slide off when on rough dirt roads or when you hit potholes so it is only a good temporary measure.

05-02-2007, 02:30 PM	#11
newcaddy4j Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: White Plains, NY Posts: 244 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	http://www.quadratec.com/products/12037_500_07.htm I have this for my canoe. It works great for my 13' old town canoe. It feels sturdy when driving and doesn't take too much effort to put on. The only down side is that you have to have the top down. Not thats a problem since I only take the canoe out when its nice out. I stay away from the highway though. I don't think I'd trust a canoe on a TJ driving highway speeds. My old XJ was blown around enough with the canoe on it. Just a suggestion, Why not use the WJ? __________________ Jeepless.... Keep it Real Ol' XJ and TJ "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."

05-03-2007, 09:31 AM	#15
wicky Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Delaware Posts: 89 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	You can buy kits that screw into the tail-lights and into the windshield brackets that will run you about $400 but will work all year with both tops. I saw it in Quadratec I think. I just keep the top down in the summer and put my kayak up on the roll bars and tie it down really well and that works fine on and off highway if you don't mind the noise. I actually measured and built an all weather system. It is a piece of aluminum that slides into my hitch, comes out past the spare tire and up above the top. I put a kayak on it with a pad on the front above the windshield...I then lashed the aluminum to the spare tire...yes, it works, no I don't have a picture on me, but the problem with it is that it wobbles in the back and the boat has a tendency to slide off when on rough dirt roads or when you hit potholes so it is only a good temporary measure. __________________ 2005 Unlimited 6spd. "I don't mind a little body damage, it's paying for parts that bothers me..." "If an ATV can go in there, so can my Jeep."

05-02-2007, 10:56 AM	#4
trob09 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: north of most people Posts: 321 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks. It's a 17' doubles so I'm pretty sure it's long enough.