Is this right for you? Product Expert Kathleen M says:
This fixed-position, J-style kayak carrier allows you to transport 1 kayak safely and securely on your roof rack. The space-saving cradle system with universal hardware mounts to most crossbar configurations. Includes tie-down straps.
Features:
Specs:
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (95 Customer Reviews)
This fixed-position, J-style kayak carrier allows you to transport 1 kayak safely and securely on your roof rack. The space-saving cradle system with universal hardware mounts to most crossbar configurations. Includes tie-down straps.Love the quality of the rack and the kayak mounts that I ordered. Five stars! Removed a star for the instructions and for the key for the security locks that broke the second use. The instructions ...work... but take a fair bit of patience to understand. Once deciphered, the mounting goes pretty quickly. Major room for improvement. The key - simple broke in half on the second use. No major stress put on it, just broke lol. Good thing kit comes with two keys so kudo's for that. Have a 2011 RDX. Car handles great with a 14.5 foot 55 lb kayak mounted. Driven up to 50 mph with the kayaks. No noise on the turnpike with just the roof crossbars at 80/90 mph. Overall, I love the rack system and the above two issues aren't show stoppers for me and I'd recommend them to a friend (tho I would help them with installation :).
We found the strapping to be difficult. You have to somehow throw the straps up and over the kayak after it is in the J rack. If someone has a tip that would be great. We watched you tube videos but nothing made it easier. Once the kayak is strapped in I think it would travel fine but it's not an easy thing to accomplish.
Sierra K - 09/08/2021
I received the roof rack kit sooner then expected. Everything arrived in good condition. The installation instructions where ok and the install went well. This is my 3rd order from etrailer and it will not be the last there customer service is the best I have dealt with in a long time. I have also installed the front receiver hitch the install went well and I am happy with the product
The Rhino-rack J-style kayak carriers are quick and easy to install and equally easy and quick to take down for when we travel without boats. We're not having any regrets with our purchase one year down the road.
Great product, already owned a pair of the Rhino Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier brackets, needed another to take a friend kayaking with me. FABULOUS purchase experience, I bought it online, paid w Paypal, and it showed up on my doorstep earlier than even expected maybe 48 hrs later. I'd had two prior bad experiences in the previous month ordering this same product online, the other two companies advertised that it was in stock but then, once paid for, informed me that it would be coming 2-6 mos late; I cancelled those orders. I am THRILLED it was ACTUALLY IN STOCK IN YOUR WAREHOUSE, and that you were able to deliver so fast. Thank you, you have my business from now on.
Racks were easy to assemble and install. They held up driving on the interstate at 70MPH with a not-ideally-shaped sit-on-top kayak. I had two sets of these for two kayaks and both held up well. I refastened the kayaks every rest stop (approx 30-50 miles) and the straps had only loosened maybe a half inch or so each time. I feel much more confident about these racks after their maiden voyage.
It took a while to figure out hoe to install the roof rack on my 2015 Nissan sentra but once I had it on these J style kayak carriers where fast and easy to put on. I drive to dicks and bought a ten foot kayak and set it in place and strapped it intp place just like the videos showed on this website, also very helpful. Thanks for a great product.
These were recommended for my application ands specs for carrier I have. Yet adapters do not work. Waiting on additional sneers products that will work.
Brooke M - 10/21/2021I installed these as soon as I got them and I’ve got to say, there are some extra holes for screws that are a tad misleading and the pieces that secure it to the cross bars don’t seem super secure. For reference, I do have Rhino Rack’s vortex crossbars so this should fit snug. The rubber tops were tough to get into place and I am worried they’ll snap when I go to remove my rack but Rhino Rack has yet to fail me with their products so I bet it’ll work out great!
I've used these racks for a few kayaking trips now and so far am pleased with the purchase. The assembly was fairly straight forward and I was extremely happy to see that the racks came with 4 ratchet straps, which I wasn't expecting. I gave the product 4 stars because after the first trip the padding on one of the racks tore during travel and is now duck taped on. The plastic knobs underneath the racks also loosen while driving, especially on windy days so make sure you double check that they're synched down before you travel!
The Rhino Rack system on my Taurus is working great! The kayak carriers are awesome too. My daughter and I have taken many trips with our kayaks and absolutely love the Rhino system. I will definitely be using etrailer.com in the future.
Held the kayaks really well on their first journey! Was a bit confused on how to strap it in the front on my 2014 Prius V but figured it out. Cannot wait to bring these bad boys on vacation. We have 13 ft. Kayaks that weigh about 50ish pounds. One gripe is it took a thousand years to screw the screws down (okay, just a little longer than expected) and the paint on the bars that go underneath was a bit thick so I had to use the screws to wear down the holes a little before installing on the bars. Lastly, I couldn't find where exactly to place them on the roof rack in terms of where exactly to load them (More to the center? More to the outside?) So I do need to do a little more research before I take them back out again to be sure everything is optimal. Overall VERY happy and would buy again if I need to!
Was a returned item that was missing hardware. Will now have to special order replacement components. Overall the rack seems like it'll be fine.
Sierra K - 10/04/2021Easy to install and priced right. Paired them with Rhino-Rack Aero Crossbars.
This rack works great. Very sturdy, easy to install (and remove multiple times if needed). Some need to be aware if the roof rack cross members are very close to the roof of the car, will need to place fastening stud on roof of car then place rack top to thread in as clearance can be an issue.
This is a great product. As a novice kayaker I was nervous. The assembly was easy with clear instructions. My sales professional Crystal K. was a pleasure to work with. She knew the answers to all my questions. From placing the order to the delivery I am very satisfied. I will be using etrailer again. I can't wait to get my kayaks to the water.
The J hooks are great, but the mounting hardware not so good. The bolts on the mounting hardware bent and came loose, which almost caused the kayak and j hook to fall off the rails. Tried to see if you guys sold replacement parts for them and you don't, so now I have to try and find them without having to buy a whole new j hook setup.
I was a little skeptical of using J style kayak racks. But after trying these out, they were very sturdy and handled both of my kayaks superbly. I am happy with this purchase.
Very pleased with item. Installation very easy. However, tie down instructions for kayak could be explained better. I would have given 5 star, but when ordering it doesn’t clearly explain the extras needed. Had to do separate order. Even then, when product arrived, was an explanation of another part needed given. Will definitely continue to order from etrailer!
These J racks rock solid. Easy to put together and attach to the crossbars with lots of rubber padding to protect your kayaks. I went with the universal mount for quick on/off. Large turn knobs make it easy.
I followed instructions all went fairly well. I am happy with final results. Wish I would have thought about doing this a couple of years ago. Roof rack and kayak carrier has added value and more versatility to our little Mazda II.
This product is well made and does the job it is designed to do. It is easy to set up and take off. Holds our kayaks solidly even in windy conditions.
The racks work great. I bought two sets. On our Tahoe they hold two kayaks and two paddleboards between them.
I ordered these to go with a new Rhino Rack roof rack I ordered for my car. Love the rack, however, the Rhino J kayak carriers are okay. I also have Thule J racks which won't fit adequately on my Rhino Rack (I've ordered longer bolts that will hopefully fix this issue). Thule J racks are a better quality product than the Rhino-Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier, frankly. Etrailer.com has been very helpful.
Susan G - 10/19/2017
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