# 1
Malone FoldAway-5 Kayak, Canoe, and SUP Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Clamp On
Very good quality materials for the price point. No tool Assembly and installation is a bonus. I’ve used them for two weeks now, hailing in both two kayak and single kayak configurations. The lever that you pull Up/down on is going to break. Period. If you have the rotating level too tight you can’t switch it up or down and if you have it too loose, it will come unscrewed and then you have a hard time longing up that no internal thread to get it back on. Also, it’s a pain to have to move the entire system to reconfigure needs. Would be nice if it had a slide and lock back in option once on the cross bars. Pulling off 16 wing nuts isn’t ideal. The video was great, appreciated that. Do wish they had shown how to tie down when using two kayaks because once you have one on the system when you place the second on the opposite side, you no longer have access to that center rack. Shipping speed was excellent. The quality of the cam straps is impressive. I have a hand injury and so getting the bolts secured was difficult. The fact that they come with two different lengths to accommodate different rack heights was really nice. Make sure you have your cross bars 24” apart as the instructions say.
This carrier has worked out really well! I paired it with the SportRack Semi-Custom Roof Rack for Naked Roofs - Square Crossbars, and the carrier attached to it perfectly. I drive a 2014 Honda Civic and this carrier has been able to transport two kayaks with no problems. Highly recommend, especially considering the price.
# 2
Rhino-Rack Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Clamp On
Just installed it. So far so good. Ran 2 bike cables side to side with 4 pad locks to secure it for the summer,
Sturdy cradle and easy to install. Difficult to keep tie down strap looped over top of "U" bar while trying to get it over the kayak, keeps slipping down. We made a channel out of foam to keep the strap in place and now it is easy.
# 3
Malone DownLoader Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Clamp On
These kayak J-style racks worked great, AFTER I went to the hardware store and spent $20 on bolts that actually fit my truck rack. It comes with 2-5/8” mounting bolts that aren’t adequate for a heavy truck rack ( mines a Best.Wyle). I had to buy 4” bolts, lock washers, and nuts). I also wish the locking teeth were mitered instead of square. That would make them less prone to breaking and easier to align.
In the meantime, that boy is not to be in this house ever again These kayak carriers are fantastic! They combine with downloaders to make it possible for my wife and I in our advancing years to get our kayaks on top of our car.
# 4
Malone SaddleUp Pro Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Clamp On
Timely order processing and quick shipments
My kayak holder works exactly as it should. All parts were included and it was an extremely easy set up. etrailer’s customer service department was on top of everything and extremely helpful in placing my order.
# 5
Yakima KeelOver Canoe Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Gunwale Brackets - Clamp On
Excellent product! We have two other sets!
I've been using the product for two summers now and it is perfect for what I'm using it for. My canoe is an Old Town Discovery 133, it's very wide and I initially had trouble fitting it in the brackets with how relatively narrow my Rav4 is, but the instructions that came with them mentioned I could just flip them around. That worked perfectly. I only use the brackets and the tie down straps from the kit to tie the boat to the crossbars, and then use the painter lines I put on the bow and stern of the boat to tie those to the car. That rides on the highway very easily with no shifting. With two people, the load/unload time is around 10 minutes as long as one person knows what they are doing. This kit had exactly what I was looking for, seems built to last, and if I ever need another kit to help tie a canoe to a car then I know I can trust this product to get the job done safely and reliably.
# 6
Thule Portage Canoe Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Gunwale Brackets - Side Loading
As all Thule products the Thule universally mounted canoe carrier is great. It came with all required items for safe and easy canoe transportation. There are two straps with pull to fasten for the canoe down, two tie down ropes for each end with nice pull tight and release mechanisms for the cord as well, along with two straps to fasten to the canoe ends used with the pull to tighten cords. The Chevy traverse cross bar had to have the plastic end caps removed for use with Thule canoe carrier. This was because my canoe took up the entire cross bar width to allow for Thule mounts. It is not a big deal to remove the plastic end caps. They only provide a finished stream lined look. Happy and Safe Canoeing
After retiring my 1999 Chevy Silverado 4x4 pickup, I purchased a 2017 Subaru Outback as a replacement vehicle. To transport my 1981 17 foot QT17C Alumacraft canoe on the factory installed roof rack crossbars that came with the Outback, I selected the Thule Portage Canoe Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Gunwale Brackets - Side Loading - TH819 to do the trick. With one previous transport of the canoe sitting directly on the Outback roof racks, I realized those Outback roof racks were not as durable as the racks on my truck so I sought an improvement to avoid future scuffing and scratching. I did some advance research online and couldn’t be more pleased with this purchase from etrailer.com. I now have a quality product at the right price and these gunwale brackets are a simple solution for this veteran canoe man. The padded brackets grip the canoe and stopped the scratches. The high-quality load straps are nice with the rubber pad that covers the buckle and they easily snug the canoe tight to the racks. I’m also impressed with the bow/stern tie downs that have a very nice ratchet and clip on one end and I secured the supplied hook with a bowline knot to the other end of the ¼ inch rope. The Outback did not have convenient anchor points on the front or back of the vehicle for tie down locations but I found a good solution there as well by ordering the Thule Bow/Stern Tie-Downs - Qty 2 - TH530. This works well with the tie downs I mentioned previously. One limitation to be aware of with the Subaru Outback roof racks and this product is the width of your canoe. My 17-footer measures 34 inches at its widest point at the portage yoke. I had to place the four brackets up tight against the inside roof mounting to achieve the spread and accommodate the canoe placement. The canoe ended up fitting like a glove on the padded brackets. When placing the strap to hold the canoe down to the crossbars, I ran the strap through the vehicles tie down points and then under the crossbars for added security. Total product installation time including securing the canoe can easily be achieved in approximately 20 minutes. I look forward to many more years of safe and happy canoeing. I give etrailer.com an excellent rating for the entire ordering and shipping process on top of the high level of satisfaction with the products I purchased through them. Their customer service and price ensured me that I’ll do more business with them in the future.
# 7
Thule Compass Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Clamp On
We bought this Kayak rack for my mom to put on her 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee so her and my dad could haul their kayaks easier. The mounting hardware was a little tricky at first but once we figured it out, it wasn't bad at all. It holds the kayaks in place nicely. Had no issues with them getting loose or moving around. Seems to be built well and they're very happy with it so far.
High quality materials, great design and the directions to install were excellent. The design of the product is great, I can now carry both of my kayaks on my car. And I have the advantage of carrying them two different ways. I love this pro
# 8
Rhino-Rack Nautic SUP or Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Clamp On
They fit well and I feel my Kayak is safe tied down correctly.
After attempting to mount the individual rack pieces using the “burglar proof” button head screws with the pin in the recess and the short hex wrench with the hollowed out end I discovered that no real burglar would want the rack but would rather have the kayak so the first thing I did after spending 10 minutes trying to insert the hex into the button head screws with the pin inside the recess and attempting to turn the bolts and continually being obstructed by the support pieces and the paint interference on the bolt heads with trying to get the wrench into the recess I knew it was going to be a long frustrating process so I threw them away and purchased new button head stainless steel bolts and a 4mm extended handle hex wrench to turn them. Smartest thing I ever did. You not only have to mount the rack initially but then you have to put the kayak on the roof and remount all pieces again to fit your boat. All kayaks are different to one degree or another. Having to move the individual support and retighten them with the boat on the rack is even more difficult to do than the initial mounting with these “burglar proof” bolts and hex wrench and you will be happy you threw them away before you started the entire process. Try it for yourself at first and then go get the alternate ones. Worth the little investment and stainless steel will not rust away when you want to remove the rack system in the future. Once the rack is on your vehicle and kayak in rack the tie downs supplied are very good quality. Make sure you use the recommended tie down locations and directions, two kayak body ties and ties at front and rear. Due to numerous kayak hull designs it would be nice to have each support pod have a horizontal swivel built into it so it readily conforms to the hull shape. The overall quality of the system should be the last rack you will have to purchase. I only had issues with the supplied bolts and hex wrench. I gave this rack system a three star because of the bolts and hex tool and the individual pods not swiveling and I haven't at this point transported the kayak anywhere so I am waiting to see how it handles long trips with wind loads and constant loading and unloading performances.
# 9
Rhino-Rack Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed - Clamp On
Easy ordering and fast, free shipping. Product was $50 cheaper on etrailer.com than from Rhino Rack themselves. I will absolutely buy from here again.
I purchased the Rhino legs, cross bars and J-style kaya carriers together and could not be more pleased with the combination. The system was installed in an evening and used the next day. Assembly is straight-forward; the racks are easily mounted and removed. I am 6' tall and found it helpful to use a 4' ladder to mount the racks on the cross bars as well as load the kayaks in the carriers.
# 10
Yakima Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style w/ Rollers - Clamp On
Works great and very sturdy no issues. I have it on a seinna van...i also bought a suction cup roller for the back window. Left it on all winterin MA. No issues in car wash either
This combo makes loading and unloading a quick and easy one man job.
# 11
Rhino-Rack Nautic Roof Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Clamp On
This product was very easy to install. I had it installed in about 15 minutes and my kayak on the roof a few minutes later. The only issue I had was one of the tie-down straps was broken (stitching was not complete or something). Other than that, this product was great! The customer service (Carol and Neil) were great also, helping with the strap problem. Thank you again!
We are pleased with the Rhino Rack kayak rack. We are able to get 2 kayaks on our 2020 Volvo V60, and we ate using Yakima crossbars. The kayaks ride without any drama, and the orientation of the kayaks make it easy to load and unload.
# 12
Yakima SUPDawg Stand-Up Paddleboard Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - 2 Boards
Received the the Thule accessories and Yakima Supdog from etrailer.com. It was all nicely packed into one box. As the box said, "the bottom of this box should not be the end of the relationship" I can tell you it won't be! The items were shipped quickly, and they followed up with an email to make sure all was received well. Love the customer service! Also, the Yakima Supdog product is great. Took no time at all to get it on my truck and load up the 2 paddleboards. It was exactly what I was looking to get! Thanks!
The SUPDwag is easy to install and use. Made for Stand Up Paddle boards, but it can work with Surfboards. Wish it was a little bit narrower, hopefully Yakima will make smaller one for the surfing market. I turned my unit around to the driver's side for loading, also protects rain from getting in the lock when driving.
# 13
Yakima BigStack Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Post Style - Folding - Clamp On
I acquired a second kayak and needed a system to fit the factory racks on my 2011 Toyota RAV4. Etrailer.com has always had information on what fits and has always had the item needed for the job. I attached the Yakima BigStack to the top with ease, and, with one other person to hold the kayaks while I secured, tied two of them down for a long road trip to Northern Minnesota. The system worked just fine. The only caveat was in the configuration of multiple boats in the instructions. The diagram has two boats on the same side of the posts, however, I found it more secure to put one on either side ( other reviews of this product on different Internet sites have found similar results.) The boats made it through the trip with no shifting.
Where do I start? I've been whitewater kayaking for 22 or so years now. I've always used used either Yakima or Thule products... Until I bought a 2015 Nissan Rogue with a naked roof. The curvature of the roof and large door jams mean that Yakima and Thule can't make racks for them. I went to a place that does custom installs and again because of the curvature of the roof, they couldn't give me a rack. This meant no kayaking which is really bad news. Enter the Rhino rack system. I purchased the feet, the fit kit, the cross bars and a Yakima "big stack" stacker. The first issue I had is the reccomended size for the Nissan Rogue is only 48 inches. Way too small too haul 4-5 (very light) whitewater kayaks. I called etrailer and they were SUPER helpful, told me I can buy the 65 in cross bars and they'll work fine. I held my breath and placed my order. I was nervous leaving my trusted name brands. The order arrived super fast (they told me it would arrive by Friday but it actually arrived on Thursday) and everything was packaged rock solid. I was impressed. I read the instructions and put the rack system on my car. It took about a hour (it was hot and I worked slowly) but the rack system is SUPER SOLID. I love it. Rhino might have a "forever" customer out of me. -The rack system is very stable. I can't move it with my hands by pushing or pulling. -The rubber stripping you put on the top and bottom of the bar is an awesome added feature AND it reduces wind noise. -Adding the fairing reduced wind noise even further. With four boats on the roof you couldn't hear any extra noise. The ONE thing I dislike is that you need to use the supplied Allen wrench to take the rack on and off the car. It's a small complaint, but other systems I've used in the past don't have them. I paid much less for this system than I would have if I purchased one of the aforementioned systems, but I'm really really satisfied with the product. We will see how well it holds up over long-term use, but it looks awesome!
# 14
Thule SUP Taxi XT Stand-Up Paddleboard Carrier - Roof Mount - 2 Boards
I love my Rack it came when promised and etrailer was great believe me I will be going back to them for anything else I need I am giving them a well deserved 5 stars
looking forward to using my new racks. Thank you E Trailer.
# 15
Malone J-Pro2 Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed Arms - Clamp On
They feel sturdy enough,easy to install om Malone kayak trailer. We'll see how they hold you to Gulf of Mexico salt air.
Super easy to install, quality built, rock solid paring with crossbars. Zero doubt about safety. Could not ask for a better product. Worth every penny. And they fit perfectly with the Malone crossbars for my 2019 Equinox. Customer Service via chat helped me find the one and only pair that would fit those crossbars. So glad I found etrailer.
# 16
Malone Stax Pro2 Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Post Style - Folding - Clamp On
We needed a carrier solution that folded down easily because of our garage door height. The Malone Pro2 Kayak Carrier has performed flawlessly over the past year. The kayaks remain stable and never shift even at freeway speeds. The foam blocks fit our crossbar well and offered a rattle free ride, which is nice. The one drawback to this system is how difficult it can be to actually route the straps. Without a ladder, it can be nearly impossible to get the strap over the kayak and hooked into the carrier properly. After you find a system that works for you, it becomes easier but I still think that the stationary carriers are more user friendly in that regard.
Ordered and received three products; a Yakima DoubleDown 4 bike rack, a Yakima hitchlock, and a Malone Stax Pro kayak carrier. The website contained a ton of information which allowed me to make an informed decision re which type/model and manufacturer of each item to choose. Ordering was simple and I received the items on the estimated date of delivery. I detected a manufacturing flaw in one of he items, however when I contacted the manufacturer the customer rep immediately shipped me the necessary parts and tools to repair the item. The installation of the rack and carrier was simple, especially having observed the videos on the etrailer website. Thus far we have transported two adult bicycles on the Yakima DoubleDown and the ride was very smooth as if there was no rack or bikes. We have also transported one kayak using the Malone carrier system and like the bike rack, the ride was very smooth and quiet as if there was no 10' kayak on the roof. The bike rack is on our 2015 Subaru Forester and the kayak carrier on our 2010 Chrysler Town and Country. Overall a very good experience and I would highly recommend etrailer and the Yakima DoubleDown and the Malone Staxx kayak carrier system (as well as purchasing the HitchLock to prevent the theft of the rack and bikes!).
# 17
Thule Hull-A-Port Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed - Clamp On
Arrived quickly and was very easy to assemble and attach to the roof of my Jeep. Now that I have the initial setup complete with the proper placement of the entire system, attaching and removing the kayaks will be a breeze. Will definitely make hauling our kayaks much easier and safer.
This product is excellent. I have transported my kayak on these J Hooks several times going 70+ mph down the highway. It never moves. The bolts that come with it are short. If you have a thick roof rack, you will need longer stainless steel bolts. Make sure you you orient the blue straps with the buckle on top so you can pull down to tighten it up.
# 18
Malone SeaWing Kayak Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Clamp On
I needed a rear-loading rack because the roof rack on my Ford Ranger is up on the topper, and I needed to fit two kayaks side by side. The roof rack bars are 48" wide and the width of the two boats together is about 52". The center clamps of the Malone Seawing fit between the rack towers nicely. The Malone racks have a grippy ribbed rubber surface which is great to keep the boats in place but makes it hard to slide the boats forward. I throw a towel on them to get the boats loaded and then remove it. My Yakima rack has round bars and the Malone racks tilt on the bar when I load the boats. Easy enough to adjust them after the boats are positioned. In this regard the Malone racks would stay flat with square or aero bars. Strapping the boats down is easy. And as always, eTrailer delivery and customer service is fantastic!
Our kayak club has many members that use this carrier. Since I have back issues, I will use mine on a Malone Eco Light trailer toted from to/from the water using a kayak carrier. Note: Being on a low trailer and so 'accessible', instead of the wingnuts, I bought metric hex nuts to double-nut the bolts to add some security.
# 19
Thule DockGrip Kayak and Paddle Board Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Clamp On
Installed it today on my Thule rack. Great product!
The problem: How to transport kayaks with smaller vehicle as weight of cross & kayak racks plus kayaks was above vehicle roof weight limits. So I shopped for a "kayak" trailer. The people at etrailer made the ordering process easy and successful to complete this project. Great trailer, impressed with the size & strength of frame, and assembly went together as instructed. Installed bunk boards and mounted Thule DockGrip for Kayaks. This for me is an easier and safer way to transport kayaks. Thank you etrailer...
# 20
Malone SeaWing Kayak Roof Rack w/ Load Assist and Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Clamp On
Very good advise by Lauren to purchase this product, happy to have bought it. My tandem kayak twin heron fits without problem. It's easy to install and easy to get the kayak up and down
My biggest worry is losing a kayak off the roof, and these carriers are super secure. Never had a worry. They come with ropes, and I always use them, but I've never seen the ropes get any added tension because their so secure. Also, with my bad back, these are pretty easy to load and unload. I'm 6'2 and have no trouble even though these are pretty high up on the Highlander. I always protect the car with a rug, but rarely does the kayak even touch the rug. You don't have to lift the whole weight of the kayak up to shoulder height, just get one end up to the load assist, and then slide it on, same thing in reverse to unload. Easily mount to the factory roof rack, no need for an expensive system. Took them off for the winter, and am getting ready to remount for a new year of exploring lakes and rivers.
What our customers are saying:
"Fantastic, Quick, easy and great prices. Paul"