# 1
Thule The Stacker - Rooftop Multi-Kayak Carrier
My wife uses these to carry two small kayaks in the roof of her Subaru. They work great and we very happy with the purchase. She also likes finding her car easier in the parking lots, even with the carriers folded down.
We needed a better way to haul around 3 kayaks and after looking at a number of options, we settled on the Thule Stacker setup. Installation is simple and the stackers provide a sturdy option for hauling multiple kayaks. One of the best features is that they fold down when you don't need to use them. My shopping experience with etrailer was smooth and shipping was prompt.
# 2
Rhino-Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier - Fixed - Universal Mount
I 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!
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.
# 3
Thule Hull-A-Port Kayak Carrier w/Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed - Side Loading
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.
I think the Thule Hulaport kayak racks are the best, most secure way to transport your kayaks. I had these on my Xterra and hauled two kayaks up to Cape Bretton park in Nova Scotia, Canada from Connecticut, USA no problem. We were even able to store gear in the kayaks for the trip. I’m so excited to have them for my Crosstrek. Highly recommend these!
# 4
Malone DownLoader Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Side Loading
The yellow pads on the crossbars are pool noodles secured by zip ties. They provide padding for a third or even a fourth kayak.
Malone DownLoader Kayak Carriers are a perfect design. Fold down locking mechanism when not in use is a great feature as well as adjustable upright angles for transporting kayaks. Easy to follow instructions along with sturdy tie downs. Highly recommended!
# 5
Rhino-Rack J-Style Kayak Carrier - Folding - Universal Mount
These racks are so great! The option to fold them down means I can leave them on the car for a few days between kayak trips. They’re very sturdy and we love that they come with the tie down straps, but I wish the hood/trunk anchors were included. Just another order I guess!
Does what I needed it to do: carry my kayaks on my car! Website is great for installation information, too.
great
Christopher - 07/20/2020# 6
Yakima JayLow Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style or Post Style - Folding - 1 or 2 Kayaks
This kayak rack system is designed very well and can transport either 1 or 2 kayaks at a time. To me, it was worth it to spend a little extra and have the flexibility to transport a second kayak when needed. The included instructions are clearly written and helpful. If you have any questions about installation, etrailer.com has a "Yakima JayLow Kayak Carrier Review" helper video. You can find additional installation videos on the manufacturer's website.
Highly recommend etrailer.com. This is the second time I have used them for a product either for towing or roof racks and there service is excellent. Also they are always on the mark with regards to fit for the vehicle. The staff is very knowledgable and friendly. Would highly recommend them. I like the Yakima product I ordered and I think it looks great on the 4Runner. It was easy to install with the exception of one confusing piece of the instruction. It was not clear in the fit kit instruction manual what was being referred to adjust the spacing of the foot piece now attached to the bar (in Step 2 of installation). In addition to this etrailer video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQhsOY7zvuE this etrailer video shows it better at about minute 1:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IZFFJnUWc4 That screw needs to be loosened and THEN the foot will slide easily in and out when it is pushed upon. I am pointing to it with a pen in the picture in my review. Hope that helps others avoid some frustration I had. I would definitely recommend.
# 7
Rhino-Rack Nautic Roof Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Side Loading - Clamp On
I have a pretty big kayak to begin with, it holds it perfectly. Recently , i strapped a smaller kayak on top of mine. I was expecting the worst on this trip. But did not have a problem at all. Quality product.
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.
# 8
Yakima BowDown Folding J-Style Kayak Carrier for Roof Racks
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 - 06/02/2015Excellent product than makes carrying a kayak very easy! Easy to put on and simple to use. 2 come in a package!
# 9
Rhino-Rack SUP and Surfboard Pads w/ Tie-Downs for Crossbars - Universal - 33-1/2" Long - Qty 2
The product came quickly and was so easy to install on my existing roof rails! It is absolutely perfect to fit many needs above and beyond my kayaks and paddle boards. They look so good on my new 2019 Jag F-Pace I might leave them on all the time.
These worked great on our fishing kayak. The are transported bottom up and this kept everything in place, no moving around and no damage. We have this on our roof with the kayak for about 5000 miles. Recommend this for anyone looking to transport a kayak bottom up!
Still working great!
Michael H - 12/01/2020# 10
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.
# 11
Rhino-Rack Nautic Stack Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Post Style - Folding - 4 Kayaks
Carol researched after I queried about this particular kayak holder. I needed to make sure it would work with my rhino rack that I also bought from etrailers. These work great and I'm looking forward to when my wife and I can get the kayaks out and do some paddling! Thanks Carol C and thank you etrailers!
Live the rhino rack. Its perfect for carrying all 3 if our kayaks in the Nissan rogue. It is holding up well.
Michael J ODonnell - 02/27/2021Very fast shipping and great customer service! Prior to purchasing this, we were looking everywhere to find a way to transport 3 kayaks on one car. We were very excited when we found this available/in stock at etrailer.com as many places are currently out of kayak related items. We received it within a matter of days after purchasing online. Overall installation went smoothly and we were able to get out on the water sooner than we planned; however more comprehensive and clearer instructions for installation and tying on the kayaks would have made the process easier.
# 12
Malone Stax Pro2 Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Post Style - Folding - 2 Kayaks
This is a one-year anniversary of purchasing the hitch for my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. I've kind of had time to forget how painful it was to crawl around under my car for a couple of hours, struggling to tighten the last bolt. But now it all feels worth it. I got a solid hitch that looks great and works great for way less than I would have if I had the dealer install it. Worth some discomfort lying on the ground cursing tight spaces on the underside of my car.
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.
# 13
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!!
# 14
Thule Hull-A-Port XT Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style or Post Style - Folding - 1 or 2 Kayaks
Fits perfectly and easy to install. etrailer, as always, was the exact right place to order it. Always satisfied with them. My only complaint is the way Thule designed how the straps are held while I’m putting my kayaks up on racks mounted atop my camper shell. The straps won’t stay in the cheesy guides very well. I’ll probably modify them so the straps won’t fall out. I’d suggest wider straps or ditching the little slot where the strap falls out. Very satisfied with the transaction and I do like kayak racks, especially the ease of installation, quality and the very innovative way they fold down.
Spend the money on a product that is going to truly secure your kayak so you do not have to worry while driving down the road. Ditched a no name brand for these and couldn't be happier.
1 year later and no issues, we use are carrier regularly and are very happy with it.
G - 09/12/2020# 15
Rhino-Rack 2 Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Side Loading
I searched a lot of websites before finding what I needed on etrailer.com for my 2012 Suzuki GV. I was looking for the proper mounts to install a Kayak rack system. Because my vehicle has a built in rail system it was very confusing what was needed. Thank you etrailer for hooking me up with the appropriate parts for the Rhino system, it worked great!
Product was delivered on time and in good condition at a competitive price. Dual kayak rack fits OEM Kia crossbars perfectly. Ample tie-down straps. Simple, hassle-free installation in just a few minutes. Quality piece. Highly recommend this product and etrailer.
# 16
Swagman Tajo Wall Mounted Kayak Storage System
We love the kayak racks. They are just what I was looking for at a reasonable price.We did have to make minor adjustments on the hanging brackets so the screws are closer together and fit security on our side boards. A pleased customer
Mounted the kayak rack yesterday and wanted to offer some feedback. In general, a pretty easy process. The screws do seem to be pretty soft; easy to strip a bit, even with 1/8" holes drilled. No disaster, but could be improved. What is wrong is that the straps seem backward. The clamp is mounted so that you must pull up to tighten the strap. Would be better/simpler to pull down on the strap. I see why the longer strap is at the top, but still bad mechanics. I mounted my rack pretty high on the wall, and not being tall, will have a problem using the strap as oriented. In addition, the clamp strap has no means to adjust its length. My kayak (a Poke boat) is pretty slim in cross-section, which makes tightening the strap very difficult unless I get on a ladder. I realize that some of this issue is due to the height that I mounted the rack, but I had to make sure that it put my boat completely out of the way of the car, bikes, etc., with which it shares the space. Would give the rack a good rating, but the odd engineering design and lack of a way to adjust the strap length are disappointing. Overall, does what I need though, just could be a killer rack with some slight changes.
# 17
SportRack Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - J-Style - Fixed Arms - Roof Mount
Great product. Never have an issue installing and very secure. Work great and look great!
Excellent quality carrier, easy loading and unloading, very happy with the purchase. Thanks a lot Patrick!!!
# 18
Erickson Lift Sling for Personal Watercraft - 1,000 lbs
Thank you etrailer.com for the free shipping. This is exactly what I needed. etrailer was able to get it to me 2 weeks quicker than Amazon Prime that cost me $$$ every year for membership. The sling seems to be well made and looks like it will last for a while. I have owned one of this brand before, had it for about 5 years until someone decided they needed it more than I did. If this one holds up like the other one did I will be very happy
After a year all I can say is get one. We have used it, our friends have used it,our repair shop has used it and everyone loves it. We sold our jetskis this spring but I didnt let the lift sling go.
Ernest Baggett - 04/24/2021I am glad to provide a review that you requested of the Erickson jetski lift sling. I have used the sling for over 10 years; more later on the purchase made one year year ago. Our home has a saltwater beach, so we use a dolly for moving the jetski down on a boat lift to the edge of the beach, then to the water. When not in use, the jetski is in a small boat house, resting on a bunk. We use the sling for moving the boat to the dolly, with a lift attached to a chain hoist on an I-beam trolley. For maintaining balance, I put tape markers at the center of gravity on each side, as indicated in the photo For occasional tips to the dealer, I use another chain winch on a boom. I move the boat on the dolly to a spot beneath the boom, then use the sling for lifting the boat onto my pickup; and of course, use the sling again for the reverse process. I might add that the dealer also uses an Erickson sling for moving jet skis in his boat yard This device has been an absolute essential for this 85 year old owner, converting an otherwise strenuous and risky undertaking to a simple, pleasant, safe task. Last year, in my senility, I could not find the sling, so I ordered another one. In accordance with the immutable law of cussedness, I found the old one a day or so after the new one arrived, and then forgot about it. For several obvious reasons, it's rather unlikely that I'll wear the old one out, so my question is: can I return the new one?? it's still in the original shipping container.
# 19
Yakima Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - Saddle Style with Rollers - Clamp On
This roller and pad setup allowed me to get a 68 lb kayak on and off my car by myself. Could not do that with the Jlow racksI
# 20
Rhino-Rack Nautic Roof Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs - Rear Loading - Clamp On
Love my Rhino Rack. Installed myself without complication. Thank you etrailer for great product with the best price!
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 - 06/04/2019
No issues after a year would definitely purchase again.