Safely Hauling 2 Kayaks 2017 Subaru Forester

Updated 02/16/2021 | Published 02/14/2021

Question:

Could you safely use TH503 load stops on the outside of the crossbar tower? In other words between the tower and the end of the crossbar? I have a 17 Forester with a 65 malone steeltop and when I haul 2 kayaks laid flat on top of the crossbar the kayaks cover the pedestals by an inch or so.

asked by: Ken

Expert Reply:

Hi, that's a good question but I don't think I can answer definitively that yes you can do so "safely". The product is designed and tested with placement on the inside; that is not say that you personally can't be comfortable with the way you have loaded the kayaks. Since, per manufacturer, it has not been tested and approved for that type of placement, my suggestion is to consider use of kayak carrier such as the Rhino-Rack 2 Kayak Carrier w/ Tie-Downs # S512-S512X.

expert reply by: Michael R