Will Two Canoes Fit On Yakima Rack and Roll Trailer

Published 10/15/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Yakima KeelOver Canoe Roof Rack w/ Tie-Downs - Gunwale Brackets - Clamp On

(43)

$198.95

Yakima Cinch Straps w/ Padded Cam Buckles - 16' Long - Qty 2

(67)

$43.95

Question:

Ive purchase a Yakima rack-and-roll trailer for carrying one or two kayaks/possibly canoes. The total width of the two canoes at their widest is 30+34.5. Because of their design shouldered tumblehome, the widest rail width of the canoes are 27+32. Im considering using gunwhale brackets on each. Accounting for 0.5 spacing between the canoes, would a 66inch bar be sufficient? I assume at the tie-down areas of the racks at their widest 48inch spacing front-to-back, the canoes would be a couple inches narrower total. With gunwhale brackets installed, would a lashing strap such as Yakimas be on the inside of the bracket or the outside i.e. straight down? Given my application, would a slighter wider bar be adviseable, as long as I dont use that space for loading, as indicated in your answered question about exchanging 78inch bars on a 66inch trailer?

asked by: Kent P

Helpful Expert Reply:

The 66 inch crossbars on the Yakima Rack and Roll Trailer # Y08106 will work great for you. It sounds like the canoes will take up almost all of the crossbars, with their widest points equaling 64-1/2 inches, but will not over-hang the bars. With the widest point of the top of the canoes equaling 59 inches, you will not have a problem fitting the canoes on the 66 inch crossbars, and as you noted, the canoes should be narrower at the mounting locations.

Tie-down straps, like the Yakima Cinch Strap # Y05006 need to be secured inside of the crossbar supports. So if the outer KeelOver # Y04069 bracket is outside of the frame supporting the crossbar, the tie-down strap will need to be ran under the canoe to the inside of the crossbar support. I have attached a diagram from the Yakima KeelOver instructions illustrating this.

expert reply by: Victoria B