# 1
Thule The Stacker - Rooftop Multi-Kayak Carrier
Looked everywhere to find a kayak rack that would fit on an existing 08 Xterra with a manufacturer storage rack and crossbar support. etrailer site had what I needed. They had a "blog" describing that this would work, with extension bolts (which they also supply). Received the system within 4 days, installed it in about 15 - 20 minutes on the manufacturer rack. Holds up great, first trip we traveled about 250 miles round trip with two kayaks on top (about 80 lbs total), in 20 - 30 mph winds. No problems at all. I am extremely happy with this system. I do use a few rubber cabinet liners cut and placed on the crossbars to help the kayaks from sliding (this is also very helpful). I have read a few reports of the boats coming lose, but have not had any issues. I have enclosed a few pictures to show how they install as well as how boats were secured.
Great product. Explanation of what we needed before we bought the product was excellent! Have loaded 4 kayaks easily for a couple trips. Very happy we purchased this instead of a trailer. Easy to take on and off and light to use on both vehicles allowing us to carry on kayak trip so we do not leave kayaks while retrieving other vehicle.
# 2
Rhino-Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier - Fixed - Universal Mount
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.
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.
# 3
Darby Extend-A-Truck Kayak Carrier w/ Hitch Mounted Load Extender and Single-Bar Roof Rack
I purchased the Darby for my 12 Foot Kayak. I noted in the instructions that a rope was required to secure the hitch in the upright position due to its wobbly fit in the hitch receiver. I was unsure about what to expect and found that I could use a different attachment point on my truck to secure the hitch. Rear Stacks in my bed. (see pictures) Wear Point..... The product improvement feedback I would give to the manufacturer is to place a plastic molded insert into the top support tube to reduce metal on strap or rope on metal wear during transport. I understand that this is a cost but having your customer create an insert when you can create one for the customer would be in my opinion an improvement. The wind noise was minimal on the large cushions on the front carrier, thought the noise would be greater. As we all know drag is a mileage killer and any noise during travel is annoying and concerning, when you hear a noise come out of the blue when you are driving you need to stop and check. Overall great product and serves those who need a simple design multipurpose hitch, mine will be dedicated to my Yak. For those thinking of purchasing I took my Kayak out for maiden voyage with its new carrier speeds up to 75 mph and found a few improvements. I did not buy the foam pad for the front carrier. Instead I purchased foam pipe insulation and doubled it up and used good ole duct tape as the adhesive. Thick Float Noodles work if you want one of those. I will check the wear on my improvised foam. I used ratchet straps for tie downs and used my bed stakes for anchor points. I used pcs of the foam insulation to protect my straps from the metal on strap contact point and I will be fabricating an improvement because the foam is temporary. Happy Camping for those out of doors enthusiasts!
My kayak carrier arrived within 5 days of my order, in perfect condition. Because I had researched various options, I was aware of how this device was structured, and there were no surprises. I put it all together in about 6 minutes, and had my kayak mounted and ready for a 1 hr drive to Cape Anne MA within another 10 minutes. (advice: you should either mount the included foam cushion up front, and figure out how to cushion the rear of your kayak, or simply order an extra bolster for the rear of the kayak support.) For short hauls, I've used the rear mount WITHOUT any extra strapping to guard against right-left wobble, and it's not a problem. For longer hauls, the brace to bumper strapping is probably a good idea. All in all, I considered many homemade options before I found this product, and in the end this has proved to be the best option. Convenient, not terribly expensive, and very sturdy! And by the way, the reason I'm not attaching a photo -- the thing is in the back of my truck right now, because I use it frequently. It assembles/disassembles so quickly that I only use it when I need it. When on the truck it looks exactly like the photos!
The product remains awesome, unexpected. Ive told others about this carrier.
Mike i - 08/05/2015
# 4
SportRack Foam Block Roof Kayak Carrier - Adjustable
This is a terrible product. I only carry a kayak a few times a year, so I was looking for an inexpensive way instead of spending more for the mount than I did for the kayak. The first problem was the straps that are provided to go around the kayak were too short. My kayak is 31" wide - had to buy more. The second, and most significant problem is - you can't use this product in the rain. The straps that go through the vehicle compress the seals around the doors. When it rains, rain runs down the straps and POURS in. I was caught in the rain 200 miles from home with no way to get under cover. The headliner in my truck is permanently watermarked now. etrailer did a great job getting these to me quickly, but they really shouldn't be selling junk.
It's reliable and very easy to install. Trapped several different kayaks onto roof and driven long distance at top speed and no issue with kayak getting loose or moving around.
# 5
Yakima BigStack Roof Mounted 2 Kayak Carrier System
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!
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 - 07/11/2015
# 6
Rhino-Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier - Folding - Universal Mount
These mounts are great! I bought two of them to mount on the Rhino-Rack RS 2500 Roof Rack for Naked Roofs - Vortex Aero Crossbars (RRRS118B) along with one set of Anchor Straps (RRRBAS-2). I really like that the angle is adjustable with markers to be consistent. It makes mounting your paddle on the upright bars before placing the kayak a piece of cake. I dont normally leave them on if not in use because it wouldn't take much to steal them and the added drag isn't necessary. I considered only getting one and buying the extension piece (RRS512X). However, I was concerned about where I would put the second paddle and having the ability to mount 2 kayaks at angles less than vertical seemed like a bonus. Considering the small price difference it was worth it to me to get two. The straps that come with are more than sufficient for any car and probably most trucks. The blue ones are a bit long for my application. I had an issue keeping the excess length contained on the freeway, probably going to cut them. All together, these mounts are very sturdy and give a great deal of confidence even with a crosswind on the freeway. Note on the photos: I have a hitch on my car with chain loops so I only needed the anchors for the front.
Product is as it says it is. Fast, free shipping from etrailer.com too! Haven't had chance yet to take the kayaks on a trip yet but don't expect any problem as these are meant for wide and heavy kayaks. Also before i forget, etrailer.com did answer my question before purchase online...basically confirming they'd hold my wide fishing kayaks and its max weight limit of 99lbs. I've attached pictures to show my setup...sweet looking with two pair of these J-Carriers, my Yakima rack and roll 78 trailer plus the Thule Medium Sonic Carrier in between the J-Carriers. Looks nice!
# 7
Yakima HullyRoller Roof Rack Kayak Carrier - 1/2 System
I have ordered numerous items from etrailer and LOVE LOVE LOVE this website. In the case of this last order I made a mistake with the shipping address. They came to my rescue and made the change and the items were delivered yesterday. The items are exactly what I wanted and am EXTREMELY happy with them and their excellent customer service. WELL DONE and I will definitely come back! Now I can Kayak on my vacation.
I first received my base roof system for my kayaks. Product is weel made. I received my yakima cradles and installed them to base rack. There is barely enough room for two kayaks.
# 8
Yakima EvenKeel Flexible Boat Saddles for Roof-Rack Crossbars - Qty 4
The kayak saddle kit(s) were just what I needed to carry two boats on top of my existing truck rack. They came out of the box and right onto the truck, fitting exactly as I hoped. The attachment mechanism is simple and strong, and can easily be adjusted to fit different kayaks which is important as we have some different ones we haul, depending on conditions. The saddles hold the kayaks firmly and the long straps included give plenty of extra length so there are no problems tying things down. We travel and camp all across the country and always take kayaks, so it is important to have a rack that we know will be secure and hold the boats firmly in all conditions. So much better than my jury rigged wood cradles I used previously. First trip starts tomorrow!!! etrailer had these in stock and shipped so fast, I was amazed, especially since it was a holiday weekend when I ordered. Great people to work with and I have never been disappointed with shipping, service or merchandise after buying from etrailer over several years. Can' say enough good things.
85lb Liquid Logic Deuce Coupe rides like a queen on top of the Even Keel Yakima rack. 65-70 mph in my suv no problem. I'm a very confident 1st time yak owner now! Thanks etrailer for the excellent customer service.
I have not had opportunity to use the rack this year yet
Paul S - 07/05/2016
# 9
SportRack Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed Arms - Roof Mount
These work great exactly what we expected. We started hauling our kayaks in August in Western NY state around Ohio than of to Florida for a total of about 1600 mile without a problem!.
The racks are working fine Another year on the roof and have traveled approximately 8000 miles with the kayaks. From Florida to NH to NY to Ohio to Montana a great product.
Mike L - 12/28/2016
Unfortunately this rack did not fit correctly on my 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The factory rack slopes ups towards the front of the car. This makes the racks crooked. There doesn't seem to be any way to adjust the angle of them. I also noticed that since the rack doesn't fold down, I can not put the pathfinder in the garage with the racks attached. The rack looks like a quality product and attaches easily. I put 1 star because it didn't work for me
# 10
Rhino-Rack Nautic Roof Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Side Loading - Clamp On
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.
These kayak carrier saddles cup the bottom of my kayak. They are easy to install and clamp to the rails firmly. The tie downs that are included to secure kayak to the rails have no metal to scratch vehicle or kayak. The bow and stern tie downs are plenty long to give you options as to where to attach to vehicle.
Still love how these carriers cup and mold to the bottom of my kayak. Once secure, kayak stays put.
Alex - 08/22/2016
# 11
Thule Hull-A-Port Kayak Carrier w/Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed - Side Loading
This product was perfect for what I needed. I used this carrier along with the Thule Glide and Set to carry two kayaks and enjoyed using this system way more. What I liked most was how easy it was to load and unload the kayak from the side of my jeep. It was also a bit easier to install too because there was only two pieces, where as the Glide and Set took a couple times to get it adjusted to fit the hull of the kayak correctly. I also liked the way the straps tied around the kayak. The only thing I wish this system would have came with is the ratcheting pulleys like with the Thule Glide and Set.
The J-Style kayak carrier worked well for my 4Runner. I was easy to put on with the simple knob and I felt like it held securely to the aeroblade bars. I was concerned about how securely it gripped since it was on the outside of my bars, but it was solid and I felt good about it. The J shape, as opposed to carrying the kayak flat, frees up some roof space. Putting it on the outside gave me room to get the paddleboard and paddles on the roof also. No water toy left behind for the river trip. It rode well. I checked it about 100 miles into the trip and everything was still tight. I really liked the ratcheting bow and stern hooks. They were quick to put on and gave me a bit of extra warm and fuzzy, nothing is going to end up on the highway, feeling.
# 12
Yakima JayLow Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style or Post Style - Folding - 1 or 2 Kayaks
I really like these kayak racks. They come fully assembled, and they installed easily on the aero crossbars of the factory roof rack on my 2015 Toyota Tacoma. The "ramps" on the front really do help in loading the kayaks, because you don't have to lift the kayak up as high. I opted to get two sets for our two kayaks, rather than try to transport two with one set of racks, because it seemed like it would be much easier to load. I agree with some other reviewers that the directions are a little cryptic, but the installation process is pretty self-evident. I also agree that the provided S hooks are a bit small (I'm going to replace them with carabiners), but these are minor issues. Overall, the racks are very sturdy, and I like the fold down feature. I also got the locks (not available for many of the Thule racks) because it seems like a small investment to protect the larger investment. My wife and I took our kayaks to a lake today using the new racks, and had no problems loading, unloading, or tying them down. Loading is a two-person job, however, at least for us and our 12-foot boats on a pick-up truck. We carry a folding two-step stepladder to make the reach easier. These racks are well worth the cost, and I would certainly recommend them to my fellow kayakers. And great service from etrailer, as always.
This was my second large order from Etrailer.com and my wife I are VERY pleased! Our first order was a Curt 5th wheel hitch which performed as advertised - so easy to use. Now we haul our 5th wheel camper and that takes up my entire full sized F250 truck bed which in turn messed up hauling the kayaks back there. I was leaning toward rigging something up on the back of the camper, saw lots of posts on how to many looked very sketchy. Rather than risk dumping our two $$$ fishing kayaks onto the highway.... somewhere..... we bought this GREAT Yakima roof rack system for the TOP of my truck cab. You see, it made me uneasy that I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on our boats if strapped to the back AND we read about many horror stories not limited to the rear bumper falling off from fatigue. Yakima Install; I'm a General Contractor and fancy myself a pretty handy guy so mounting the towers, the rack bars, and all of the accessories onto those took a total three hours. [on-line] videos very useful and follow the easy to read instructions that come with each part and you'll have NO trouble. I have to add, etrailer said it would take one week but I received the complete order within four days. Thank you etrailer for making the ordering through delivery experience so very streamlined!
# 13
Thule Top Deck Rooftop Kayak Carrier System with Tie Downs
This kayak carrier works great with my factory Rav4 roof rack and 10' Tamarack Angler kayak. I did break one tightener knob but probably over-tightened it. And it was replaced for free. I can load and unload the kayak easily and it doesn't budge going down the freeway. I can even drive in and out of the garage with the kayak on the rack for easy storage hanging from the rafters.
Order arrived the very next day, and I didn't pay for overnight. Doesn't get much better than that! Parts were packaged well and exactly what I needed. Will definitely continue to do business with you guys. Thanks!
# 14
Yakima BowDown Folding J-Style Kayak Carrier for Roof Racks
Ordering was easy, delivery was fast. Installation was complete in less than twenty min. Haven't tried them yet, next week.
I am very pleased with the Yakima Bowdown and with the service that etrailer.com provided. I had received my order just a day or so before a large Yakima sale. I contacted etrailer.com and they were outstanding and applied the sale price. I really appreciated their effort and excellent customer service. Judy M. and Anna S. are excellent. I need to order new Yakima crossbars next and I will definitely be giving my business to etrailer.com
Yakima kayak carrier working great. Heavy duty product! I dont ever worry about kayak departing my vehicle.
Tom F - 06/02/2015
Rhino Rack Watersport Carriers Review - 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
Today on our 2015 Chevy Cruise, we are test fitting the Rhino Rack J style kayak carriers. This is universal mount, and the part number is S510. As you can see, we already have our kayak strapped up and locked in there. We're just gonna show you how we strap down the kayak, and then also how the j hooks actually connect to your vehicle. We're gonna start up here with the bow and stern straps. We're going to undo the strap keeper right here. Release all the extra strap.
Thule SUP Taxi Stand-Up Paddleboard Carrier Review - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
Today on our 2013 Chevy Cruze we'll be test fitting the Thule SUP Taxi Stand-Up Paddle Board Carrier with a two board capacity, part number TH810. We'll begin our test fit by placing the front part of the carrier onto our front bar. We'll bring the rubber coated steel straps around the underside of the front bar and hook them into the connection points. We can then turn gray knobs to bring up the straps tightly up against the bar. With this done, we'll repeat the same process for the rear part of the carrier. Once everything is all tightened down and secured, we're ready to load up our paddle board. We'll push out the silver plate on the right hand side and pull out on the silver plate with the Thule logo, freeing up the strap. We'll then throw the strap on the other side of the vehicle. With both straps on the other side of the vehicle, we'll take our paddle board and place it up onto our carrier, with the fin facing the front of the vehicle. We'll then throw the straps up over the paddle board, making sure the gray protective tubing is touching the sides of the paddle board. With this done, we're going to put the strap in place. Again, we'll pull out on the silver plate with the Thule logo to fit the strap in place. We'll then put the silver plate with the Thule logo on top of the strap and secure it with the silver side plate. We'll then pull it tight and secure the excess slack into the hole on the bottom portion of the carrier. Once everything is all tightened down and secured, that'll complete today's test fit for the Thule SUP Taxi Stand-Up Paddle Board Carrier with a two board capacity, part number TH810, on our 2013 Chevy Cruz.
Great. Easy to install and Uninstalled when not using. Have even used for camping supplies.