What Is The Required Crossbar Spread For J-Style Kayak Carriers?

Updated 03/26/2021 | Published 03/24/2021

Question:

The cap on my truck has an adjustable sliding bar option and was wondering how far apart the racks or bars should be to accommodate a kayak. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

asked by: Richard D

Helpful Expert Reply:

A roof rack will have specific mounting locations and crossbar spread according to your vehicle. Crossbar spread is the distance from the center of one crossbar to the center of the next crossbar. Then most accessories, such as a kayak carrier, will have a minimum crossbar spread or sometimes a crossbar spread range that the accessory requires for installation. If you have a specific kayak carrier that you were looking into then I can give you some information regarding crossbar spread and installation, but this is typically found on the product listing page and in the instructions.

For example, the Malone DownLoader Kayak Carrier with Tie-Downs - J-Style - Folding - Side Loading # MPG114MD requires a minimum crossbar spread of 24" as seen on the product page. While that is the minimum requirement, it would be better to install it closer to 28" if your setup allows for it.

expert reply by: Andrew N