Best Kayak Carrier and Roof Rack for 08 Ford Escape to use with 100lb Fishing Kayak?  

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I was able to find out from my research that the factory roof rack on the 2008 Ford Escape has a 100-lb capacity, so carrying a kayak that weighs that much on your roof is not going to be the safest option you have. If you are going to try to stick with a roof mount option then a good crossbar system that works with your 2008 Ford Escape is the Malone AirFlow 2 # MPG215 which has the towers needed to mount your crossbars to the factory side rails as well as the Aero style crossbars that are going to provide you with much less wind noise than a system with square bars. Normally rated at 165-lbs carrying capacity, they are stronger than your factory bars and give you a little more safety margin of error than your factory crossbars. A good carrier that works with those crossbars is the Malone MegaWing Sit-On-Top Kayak Carrier # MPG207. This carrier is designed to carry the heavier fishing kayaks similar to the one you own, but keep in mind, you will likely be just at or over the maximum capacity of your vehicle's roof.

Really, the safest way for you to transport a kayak of this weight on your vehicle is going to be with a kayak trailer like the Malone MicroSport LowBed Trailer # MPG464-LB. This trailer is 13' long and provides an 800-lb carrying capacity so you'll have more than enough room to bring along a friend or two. The trigger latch coupler is easy to use and attaches to a 2" hitch ball. If you don't have a hitch already on your Escape, the etrailer Matte Black, Class III Hitch # e56AR is a fit. You would need to pair this with a ball mount similar to the Curt Ball Mount and 2" Ball # C45036 and the Tekonsha T-1 wiring harness # 118551 to have everything you need to tow this trailer.

expert reply by: Erik B

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