# 1
Thule DockGlide Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Rear Loading - Universal Mount
The Thule DockGlide Kayak Carrier and the Tie-Downs that came with it are a very functional High Quality Product. Once the DockGlide Carrier was properly positioned on the Cross bars it attached easily and solidly with the associated hardware. The Kayak slides on and off the Carrier very easily and is quite secure once properly tied down. I enjoy Kayaking and the DockGlide Kayak Carrier enables me to get where I want to go.
Have not used or installed yet. Easy to order, very descriptive with excellent supportive photos and videos. This company is well run. The shipping is quick and the communication is excellent. I will update once we actually install and use the DockGlide Kayak Carrier
# 2
Swagman Exo Aero Rooftop Kayak Carrier System with Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Universal Mount
Bought two sets for two boats. Installed on a 2020 Forester and will be able to carry two boats side by side. Sturdy racks and easy to assemble and install and will be easy to remove when not in use. They will also fit on truck racks so the ease of install/removal will be a real plus. Side by side mount on this vehicle required placing the racks a little more outboard than I like but should not cause any problems. I will strap the boats to the crossbars as suggested in the instructions for additional stability. PS. one set was returned merch. Got a better price and can't tell that it was ever out of the box. Yay me.
I have (2) Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 kayaks and was looking for something better that the cheap J-Shape kayak holders that I purchased elsewhere. Unless you are tall enough to lift the kayaks and install them from the side, the loading of a kayak on it's side is unwieldy and somewhat frustrating to keep the kayak from flipping to a horizontal position. I am using the factory racks with crossbars on my 2006 Toyota Highlander. I was looking for a solution that would allow me to load 2 kayaks with the keel down. Using a large bath mat to protect the paint I was able to load the kayak by myself and I am 5'6". The one thing that they could improve is that the rubber pads on the wings are very tacky. Once that you set the kayak onto the wings, the kayak will not move back and forth. You will find it very hard to move the kayak front to back once it is set in the cradle. This is a good thing since the kayak could slide off should a strap fail. The Pungo 120 has multiple angles so the contact with the wings are very minimal. The rubber does keep it in place before strapping them down. Once you load the kayak onto the wings, it will stay where it is.. it is a kind of a struggle to move the kayak.. a solution is to throw large beach towel on the wings before loading your kayak and you can position the kayak with ease. Once you have centered your kayak, lift the kayak one end at a time and remove the towel. Bow and stern tie downs are necessary to completely secure your kayak. The wings are 28" across and will rise 6" above your crossbars that you attache them to.
# 3
Rhino-Rack Nautic 581 Rear Loading Kayak Carrier - Saddle Style - Rear Loading - Channel Mount
Works great on my Ram truck. I pull a 5th wheel RV so I can’t use the truck bed for my kayaks. I bought the Rhino Rack roof rack from etrailer, as well. It is very easy to slide the kayak onto the roof with this carrier. Then I slide my second kayak on top of the first one. It is easy to do by myself, which is what I was looking for. I’d also like to give a shout-out to etrailer for their great customer service! They had both of these items in stock, and actually beat the price on Amazon.
Buying from etrailer is the ONLY way to go. The customer service is excellent from start to finish and afterwards if you need. This rack is a simple install and adjusts to many types of kayaks. Much less expensive then the others and high quality. I just completed a trip through a bad storm with no issues. So easy for me to load and secure
I still love it!
Lynne - 08/22/2021# 4
Inno Multi Cradle Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Side Loading - Clamp On - 1 Kayak
I purchased a car rack system as well as the kayak carrier and it arrived in only two days! It was easy to put on and fits my 2013 Hyundai Tucson Limited perfectly. I picked up my new kayak the next day and mad it home with no issue what so ever. I am very satisfied with this product.
Son uses them to transport his kayak, and they work great.
# 5
Yakima HandRoll Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - 1/2 System - Roller Style - Rear Loading - Clamp On
Had same setup on old suv which was sold with rack. So I ordered same for new Honda Pilot. This Rack is especially useful to safely load and unload heavier kayaks ( like Hobie) even by ladies and smaller people like teenagers.
I put the rollers on a strong arm loader it Works great, the loader fits a 2in receiver it pulls backwards at a 45 degree angle and it is springs loaded you put the kayak onto it then go to the back of the kayak push forward and the kayak is at a 45 degree angle in the air then you push it's on the rollers and stop when you get where you want it let it down gently a d that's it ,take it off in reverse thanks to the wheels it makes it very easy
It has been working out just fine,I also use it for my float tube.
Ken - 08/10/2020# 6
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
Easy to use, but I leave them on the truck so I use them more often. Always ready. They are well thought out and easy on /off for two boards. I’m glad I got them.
# 7
Rhino-Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier - Fixed - Universal Mount
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.
# 8
Rhino-Rack Nautic Stack Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Post Style - Folding - 4 Kayaks
Choosing a system for transporting my new (to me, they're actually used) kayaks was TOUGH. I love my little 2017 Honda Fit, and I knew I would love my new kayaks when I got them. I don't want anything bad to happen to either! Also, my car is small and the kayaks are fairly large, comparatively. I've strapped a lot of things to a lot of vehicles, but this is going to be a long term relationship, so I wanted to get it right the first time. I've been researching and reading reviews for months, but I got confirmation that the kayaks were ready for pickup, so I needed to make a decision! I ultimately pulled the trigger on the Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Crossbars with the 2500 Series Legs and Custom DK Fit Kit for my naked roof car and the Rhino-Rack Nautic Stack Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs. I placed my order on 09/15/21 at 6 PM. The estimated delivery date was 09/23/21, which made me a little sad. I really wanted to pick up my boats on Sunday, 09/19/21, but I figured I'd waited THIS long, I could probably handle waiting another week. I was very pleasantly surprised to receive an email at 8 PM the same evening notifying me that my order had shipped. AND, even better, the UPS tracking was showing delivery on 09/18/21 by 7PM! I was beyond excited, but didn't get my hopes up because shipping has been pretty hit or miss since well before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, UPS delivered my package just before noon on Saturday, which was amazing! I got everything unpacked and reviewed to ensure that I had all I would need to assemble the system - check. Nothing missing, which is always an auspicious start. Then I started reading the instructions - UGH. This is (so far) the ONLY thing I have to complain about. I have put together furniture that had clearer instructions. I probably should have gone to Google to find a [online] video, but I powered through with the instructions provided. Since I've never put together or used a roof rack before, I didn't really know what the final outcome should look like, so that made interpreting the instructions very difficult - the pictures were not super clear, and the accompanying text did not improve the situation. Now that I know what it looks like assembled, I get it, but at the time it was rough. I estimated it took me about 2 hours to get the rack assembled and secured to my car, and towards the end my fiancé arrived and helped me to realize that the foot pads were not properly attached to the feet, which made a huge difference! The kayak carrier was much easier to install, taking maybe 15 additional minutes. The foot pads rest in the groove on the edge of the roof, I assume over the frame of the car. There's absolutely no flex in the roof where the feet sit. The hook part of the clamp rests against the metal of the car, under the rubber seal, so I don't foresee any potential issues with the seal as a result of the rack. The doors close as normal, and the rack has no movement whatsoever once tightened down. I've now used it as a handle to pull myself up towards the roof a few times (I'm about 190 lbs), and I feel totally confident that it's not going anywhere. I now have ideas about how to use the rack to haul around the larger stuff that won't fit INSIDE my car (which isn't much - I HIGHLY recommend this car!). So, the big question - how'd it go with the kayaks? In short - perfection! I was slightly concerned about the boats overhanging the front or back of my car, as they're 12.5 ft long and my car is just over 13 ft long. Eeeeek! I needn't have worried. They fit like a dream, and even without bow or stern tie downs were very secure during our trip home. We took local roads instead of the highway because we didn't tie down the bow and stern, so we probably didn't go over 40 ish MPH, but I saw absolutely no lift (I can see the ends of the boats out of the front windshield). I will be using those tie downs in the future, and anticipate no issues with highway speeds under those conditions. Obviously, only time will tell how everything holds up/works out, but at this stage, I am extremely pleased with my decision and am looking forward to many kayaking adventures to come! I only have one picture at this point, but may take a few more and add them so anyone else considering a similar setup knows what they'll be getting.
've previously used the Yakima Kayak Stacker (old style), which worked fine but I always worried the straps would slip off the hook at the top while I was loading boats. They also didn't fold down, so had to be removed after use unless you wanted to look odd and cause a whistle while you drove down the road. They didn't have a universal attachment option, requiring adapters depending on the style and make of your crossbars. More recently I got the Thule "The Stacker", which is a superior solution. You thread the strap through a closed loop at the top, so you don't worry about straps slipping off while you're loading boats. They fold down after use and have a universal style attachment that fits around most styles and makes of crossbars. Good stuff. I really like the straps that come with these, as there is a rubber cover that slips over the metal cam buckle to protect your car's paint while you're tossing the strap over your boats to strap everything in. In order to shuttle our boats for river trips, we needed stackers to fit on both our cars, so it was time for another set. I had never heard of Rhino Rack before, but the lower price than Thile caught my eye, so I read about them and decided to give them a try. The Rhino Rack Nautical Stack used a closed loop at the top, which I liked better than the Yakima or Malone options, and came with the hardware necessary to install them into the C-channel of my Malone aero crossbars, which I wanted to try. I remember that with the Malone stacker, you had to buy the C-channel mount hardware separately. I really like the Rhino Rack Nautical Stack. They are a single post design, unlike the loop style of the Thule "The Stacker". I don't know if this cuts down on vortex drag, but it definitely saves you a couple horizontal inches up where the boats stack. The Rhino Rack Nautical Stack has textured rubber strips on either side of the post, which I believe is intended to cut down on vortex drag, but is also quite helpful in that boats tend to slip much less when you're just leaning them up against the post as you load up before you strap them. That's smart. The Rhino Rack Nautical Stack feels really solid. The mechanism for folding them down and locking them upright is easy to use and feels solid. Installation instructions were good. I tried to install into the C-channels without removing the rubber tubing in my Malone aero crossbars, but couldn't get the little squares to slide into the slots with the rubber tubing in place, so had to cut the tubing, slide the Nautical Stacks into place, then cut down some of the tubing I had removed and replace it in the remaining unfilled crossbar slot. That's not a knock on the Nautical Stack; just a tip in case you're trying to do the same kind of install I did. The one area in which I was less impressed was the tie-down straps that come with this kit. The metal cam buckles have no covering at all, so I'll probably still use my old Yakima and Thule straps instead and use these as backups. But overall, I think these are going to work at least as well, if not better, than the Thule option, and for quite a bit less money.
# 9
Yakima BigStack Roof Mounted 2 Kayak Carrier System
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.
One year later: Still using the system and have had no problems thus far. As always, I recommend etrailer.com for any racks and accessories you may need no, Im not employed by them, Ive just always found exactly what I need with them.
Bob P. - 07/11/2015Worked great on our Subaru Crosstrek with factory crossbars. Loading very easy, and it was very secure, for our 2 kayaks. The Yakima Big Sticks are easy to install/setup and take off. Very happy with our investment,
# 10
Inno Locker Watersport Carrier - Locking - Channel Mount - 1 Boat or 2 Boards
I've used my locking Watersport Carrier numerous times over the past year to carry my two SUP boards. It's been wonderful! The fact that it synches down securly offers an additional level security on long trips, and it's very easy to load on/off. Would definitely recommend!
I can only comment on what my daughter has said, since it was a Christmas gift, and she lives out of state. It works perfectly and has been very durable.
# 11
Rhino-Rack Nautic 580 Side Loading Kayak Carrier - Saddle Style - Side Loading - Channel Mount
Looks great got em on today, rock solid. I put them on an adarac ladder rack system. With light modification, they slide into the track. Very nice they include sooo many straps too. etrailer fast shipping and always great information. Thanks!
I paired this side-loading rack with Thule Aeroblade bars and Rapid Traverse Feet to carry a 14.5' poly kayak on my 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT (with panoramic sunroof, so my options were limited). This review is based on one 400 mile weekend trip at interstate speeds with some head- and crosswinds. The saddle construction seems solid and locks into the aero bars' C-channels. The key locking feature is nice. The bumper tie-down straps are maybe not as rugged as I would have expected, so I will keep watch for any abrasion from wind vibration, but the cinching mechanism seems more than capable. Wind noise and a ~5mpg decrease in gas mileage are obviously going to be noticeable, but I found that installing the rubber strip in the aerobars' channel did the most to eliminate any annoying whistling. I chose the side-loading model over the rear-loading RR581 model because I felt the extra pair of rubber pads would grip a little better for side-to-side motion. Depending on your kayak's hullform, the pads likely won't make full contact, but everything still seems solid for my setup. Installation takes a little trial and error but is no more difficult than installing bars. Solo loading/unloading my 60lb kayak isn't too strenuous on my mid-height hatchback. Once it's up there, you can "walk it" into place. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and I would recommend Rhino to any other first time buyer without an unlimited budget.
# 12
Malone SUP30 Surfboard and SUP Pads w/ Tie-Downs for Crossbars - Universal - 30" Long - Qty 2
We got this on our Acura in 30 minutes. It is sturdy on highways fully loaded (within weight limit). Minor wind noise along windows since seal is affected, but we aren’t bothered by it. The rack is used daily. Great product for the cost! So glad we didn’t buy the expensive models when this meets all our needs! I hope to report back in a year that we are still just as happy with it. We also bought the Malone pads and strap system to hold our boards and sails, and it’s working well.
# 13
Rhino-Rack Nautic Roof Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Rear Loading - Clamp On
The Rhino Rack cradles, straps and hardware are all good quality and I have no complaints. The only issue I have, and the reason for only a 4 star rating, is the supplied M6 x 40mm Security Head screws are too long for the factory cross bars on my roof rack. When I first installed the cradles if I had tightened the screws all the way, the ends would have dug into the roof and paint, even before I added the weight of the kayak. In checking, I can purchase some M6 x 25mm Security Head screws from Amazon, but frankly part of me feels that for what I’ve already paid for this kit I shouldn’t have to spend another $15 for the correct length screws, plus the package has 20 screws and I only need 8. However, it appears that is exactly what I will have to do. At least they will be stainless steel, rather than the cheaper material the current screws are. Plus I will have extras for when/if the head strips out. I would suggest Rhino Rack consider included in their kit two sets of screws to meet this need. Keep the length they have, Judy add a set of 25mm. I’m still happy with the purchase but not 100%. I do like how the kayak slides easily on the rear felt lined cradles. Plus Rhino Rack includes every tie down strap that you will need, e.g. one each for the bow and stern in addition to two straps intended to secure the kayak directly to the roof rack cross bars. I would highly suggest you get in the habit of using all four straps, you really don’t need to have a gust of wind lifting the nose and tearing the roof rack off your vehicle. Can happen! My brother-in-law lost his roof rack exactly in this manner. So happy yakking and safe travels down the road. By the way I have paired these cradles with the Rhino Rack RTL002 T-Load Hitch Mounted Load Assist and Support Bar for 2” Hitches also purchased from eTrailer. I’ve attached some photos showing my first and second attempts to solve my dilemma. I need to order the replacement screws. First attempt after dark was a large flat washer, then the next day I added some nuts under the large washer. NOTE: Photos may post in reverse order.
Continues to exceed expectations.
Vernon - 06/04/2019Love my Rhino Rack. Installed myself without complication. Thank you etrailer for great product with the best price!
# 14
Thule SUP Shuttle Stand-Up Paddleboard Carrier with Tie-Downs - Roof Mount - 2 Boards
This is a very thought out design; hence it works on my GMC Yukon SUV. The carrier extends to match the width of your board to have more of a snug fit. The brackets that attach the carrier to your vehicle work facing down or up. At first I had them facing up and I thought this rack would not work, as the rack was still too loose. Then I learned that the brackets can face down as well, which makes it work for my rack. I'm using the factory racks from GMC, which aren't the greatest, and are a little thin, but the carrier fits snug. I get a much better fit for my boards now and feel safe traveling at higher speeds, as my boards aren't going anywhere, once I use the tie downs. I haven't used the extra hook tie down, as I don't think I need it, but if I ever travel a long distance with the boards, I will definitely use it. There are a couple videos from etrailer showing how to mount them. Once you get the brackets facing the way you need for your vehicle rack, it's a quick install.
Ive now had this carrier for a year. Still working great and holding up very good. Great product. Also I usually use the carrier with two boards.
Greg - 07/30/2020With a little help from youtube, this was one of the easiest things I've ever assembled! LOVE my new SUP rack!!
# 15
Malone Stax Pro2 Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Post Style - Folding - 2 Kayaks
Fit well onto my crossbars. Included everything you need to be able to use it right out of the box. I prefer the versatility of the post style over the cradles. Seems like solid construction that I anticipate lasting.
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.
# 16
Yakima SweetRoll Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Saddle Style - Rear Loading
Great product- we have a 13.5’ tandem kayak and the loading and unloading is so much easier that my wife doesn’t cry…
This item was delayed or several months, and the seller kept us well-informed throughout that time on its status. Excellent follow-through! Grateful for the consistent communication.
# 17
Swagman Contour Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed Arms
The product is of good construction but probably due to how it fits on my crossbars it needs additional support. The crossbars for my Honda Pilot are wide blade type and these racks seem more appropriate for narrower square type crossbars. Even with the rack fastened very tightly, the rack can twist back and forth. Last year on a trip across Montana the wind was pretty gusty and it caused the front one to pivot quite a bit and we had to pull off and apply a ratcheting strap over the kayak and under the factory rails to ensure it was held tight and wouldn't move again. This year on the same trip we had bad winds but had a roof rack mounted behind these racks giving it support on the tall side. We had to strap it real good to make sure it didn't move. If we hadn't had that additional support behind it and add'l straps we probably would have had more problems. I think if the top metal bracket had a wider channel to fit our crossbars it would be much more stable. The way it is now it just sandwiches 2 metal plates between my crossbar which allows it to pivot under stress.
Loved the racks, seem very durable. Only downside was that the groove made for the crossbeam was quite a bit smaller than my crossbeams, but they still secured down great. You'd have to have a pretty funky set-up for these racks to not work on your vehicle. Having all the straps/tie-downs included was awesome too. Reccomend!
# 18
Malone FS Kayak and SUP Storage Rack - Free Standing - 2 Kayaks & 2 SUPs
This is the greatest thing for storing our kayaks and paddle board. The online video gave us the info we needed to make our decision. The rack goes together easily. It is sturdy and well made. Also, I made a typo on my email address when placing my order. I contacted the company and they responded quickly to correct my mistake so I would receive my shipment notifications. We are very very pleased with our purchase.
We are still very happy with our kayak rack after a year of usage.
Kathryn - 09/15/2020Great product. Went together easily and is very sturdy. Can be adapted to any configuration and can be expanded to add more kayaks and paddleboards later. LOVE THIS RACK!!
# 19
Darby Extend-A-Truck Kayak Carrier w/ Hitch Mounted Load Extender and Single-Bar Roof Rack
The foam towers on the single bar roof rack worked beautifully. My only complaint was the whole thing depended on the S hooks the strap that runs through the cab is attached to. Under enough load, S hooks are subject to straightening out. So I took a spare Rhino Rack strap and looped it over both ends of the bar and back through the cab for a backup and to keep some load off the S hooks. You can also see in the picture that the bar has rotated slightly so that end of the strap could possibly slip off the S hook. A closed shackle would inspire more confidence than an S hook.
Havent transported my kayak since I purchased it, but this equipment survived a rough road trip from NY to VA last year, so I recommend it.
David S. - 10/04/2021This thing works great. Well built and easy to use. I use it in conjunction with my back rack.
As I said before its just a good product.
Jeff Powell - 07/12/2021# 20
Yakima JayHook Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed - Side Loading
Have only taken it out once so far but it was easy to put on and use. Could be easy for someone to steal, I put bike locks on mine to prevent that.
I have four of these. Never had a problem. When you can get them on sale I think these are the best bang for the buck as far as kayak carriers go.
Perfect. We RV full time and we’ve driven thousands of miles with 2 kayaks on the racks. We have had zero issues with the racks and they still look like new. I can install or remove the racks in less than 10 minutes.