Transporting Canoes or Kayaks ?

I did do a search, came up with nothing

So anyone that transports a canoe or kayak on your roof question.

How do you secure the front?

Seems to me running straps around and under the front would take its toll on the paint. I have these straps that I could bolt on a fender bolt, but the 4Runner doesn't have any so no place to bolt them

 

I have a 10' kayak and have never secured the front. I drive slow when it's up there, though.

I believe you can buy tie down points that fit between the hood and the fender. I could be mistaken, though.

Something like this might work:

https://www.opticsplanet.com/thule-watersport-accessories.html

 

I’ve driven 65mph-70mph with just the two straps that go around the kayak (10ft), never had any issues. Just make sure they’re tight.

 

Same. If you use straps and secure well on front and aft rack bars - it is absolutely unnecessary to tie the front down.

 

I use paracord loops through existing frame points.

 

And I didn't think about paracord or strap loop. The Straps I have need to bolted down.

And after a bit of whisky around the campfire last night, I was thinking about making a bracket of some sort to mount along the hood, similar to what the new bronco has.

I have a Old Town 133k, lighter @ 60 lbs and more my style for fishing.

 

I only use a strap to secure the front when I haul my 17 foot canoe on top....

 

I don’t use a front tie down either. If you do decide to use one be careful, I completely gooned up some plastic fender pieces on my old Highlander when I tried it. The pressure from the line broke the plastic holes where the screws held the fender on.
I do, on occasion, run a cable lock through the scupper holes and secure to the roof rack for long trips - just in case.
I also recommend Thule Hulavators, makes it a ton easier. Pricey, but can be found on sale.

 

I didn't use to use a front tie down, only the two "body wrap" straps that go around the kayak and the crossbars; however, after viewing a youtube video from a kayak store in Florida that gives tips and tricks on kayaking, I decided to run the front tie downs. I'll try to find the video to explain the reasoning. Mine are paracord cinched with can-jam tensioners through the paracord frame loops shown above.

Edit: 8:35

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBmYD8A0sK4

 

Yeah, when I had my kayak I didn't always worry about the front strap. I have been hauling kayaks and canoes around for 35+ years. Just didn't see any good spots to anchor the bow line on my new 4Runner. She is bit different with everything be covered with plastic parts, and I worry about the wind getting under it and lifting it.
Like I said it's a Old Town Discovery 133 and is 13' ish

 

That kayak you have sticking out the back.... is it a 10' or 12'? Did you need to recline the front passenger seat?

 

What are you running for crossbars, and which model kayak carriers are those?

 

10'

Nope. We put down half the backseat and can still comfortably transport 3 people. The kayak nose rests on the back of the console. Actually we have hauled a 14' the same way.

 

Stock crossbars, and they’re Amazon specials. I think they’re discontinued, but any regular j bars with some good straps will do.

 

I picked up a Yakima DryDock off craigslist and mounted it to a receiver hitch on the front. It's designed to carry canoes, but works for other things too. This model is out of production, but Yakima and Thule both have newer versions of the rack. Just for reference, the bag is approx 19 feet long, maybe a tad less.

 

Am I the only one that cringed when he set the metal latches down on the hood?

 

It wasn't his hood!!!!!

 

Where ever I had a strap that came in contact with the hood or front bra, I would sleeve that strap with old gym sock(s).

Also used cargo strap loops that used existing frame bolts along the hood side edges on my old pathfinders.

 

So do you guys just use regular luggage rack with crossbars? I’ve been debating getting a rack, either the TRD rack, or a full Baja Rack basket type rack. But it’s hard to tell what’s the most useful and flexible Rack for a variety of uses.

(and of course, which looks coolest when not actually carrying something).

 

OEM crossbars for one kayak.
Aftermarket (wider) crossbars for two.
Not sure the PRO rack will really work well, it's higher at the back than the front.

 

You can buy canoe tie down kits. For the front...there are 2 tie down hooks to attach to, for the rear I use the tow hitch receiver hooks, and then I run a strap under the factory roof rack and around the middle of the canoe. I have a 16 ft Old town camper.

 

Old town 16 ft allagash

Yakima 60" (2) round cross bars on Yakima Q tower mts. Straps with tension clamps..

Straps and hooks as reqd to tow hooks in front and trailer hitch in back...

 

i have carbon paddle board which is very light and easy to chuck, and also have an old town hybrid kayak paddle board that weighs 60lbs. i imagine never being able to get that on top the 4Runner due to height. on my Jeep Grands i'd slide the boards over a Thule rug type pad either from the side or the rear over the spoiler. would hop on the tire to secure tie down cinch straps and never used front or rear point ties. but the Runner is so much taller, are any of you all needing step type ladders to get 'er done?

 

My running boards and step hitch have been all ive needed for access to the roof so far. Those rear ladders look dangerous to me.

Judging from your pic, you shouldn't have a problem recruiting a taller assistance.

 

I'm just tall enough to load my boat but if it's a problem for you I suggest you just roll down the rear window and stick yours inside. The rear seats can recline to a position that's about level with the bottom of the rear window. I have no trouble carrying a 15 foot canoe although it sticks out maybe 4 feet. When I had an Expedition with flip up rear window that was my preferred way of carrying a boat for short distances because it's so fast and easy and the boat is out of the wind and rides securely. I've done it long distance too. I suggest that you don't use a step because sooner or later something bad will happen.

 

Seems to me every kayak will require something different. My 12ft kayak needs to be transported flat on the hull due to its size.

I tried it once on two cross rails on the factory rails. Well, it was a complete mess the one time I tried it. I had lots of crosswinds and it kept turning and loosening in the wind, even though I had it tied down to two points on my metal bumper in front. I kept stopping to cinch down the straps a bit more to keep it from turning, until I realized that I was starting to crush the kayak.

The problem turned out to be (no pun intended) that the two cross rails are way too close together on the factory rails. On a longer kayak, the short distance between cross rails acts as nothing more than a pivot.

I ended up building a rack that mounts on the factory rails that has some cantilever. Now the two cross rails are a good 2 feet wider. That made all the difference. Rock solid with just two straps, three to be sure. It’s also allows strapping near the ends where the hull is narrower. That would lock it down fore/aft, as long as it straps straight down to choke it down. Haven’t needed to do that yet, but for a long road trip I might.

There are longer extended roof baskets available that have a cantilevered portion, so that would work well for longer kayaks as well.

 

I currently float tube fish our local bays and harbors but have been wanting to get a pedal kayak. Transporting the kayak has seemed a bit daunting to me though. I have like the idea that others shared here about rolling down the back lift gate window and sliding it in that way. Would I have any issues with a 10’ kayak using that method?

Also, one of my spots is about 35 minutes away and I take the freeway to get there. Seemed like it might be pretty cold driving down there at 5:30am with the window down. But, I think I’d rather do that than fuss with loading it on the roof of my 4R.

 

I have slid my Ascend H10 through the back window, but only for short drives. I do agree that it will be windy and cold. I also worried about the weatherstripping on back getting damaged, but I hung a towel over the lift gate before sliding the kayak in, and it seemed to hold up fine.

I usually put it on the roof and it's definitely not fun. But, I've figured out a system that makes it bearable.

Enjoy the kayak!

 

I have really wide square crossbars mounted like Gumpus above. I’m transported two canoes/kayaks/paddleboards/thule box two across on top using only straps to the crossbars and travelled at high speeds on the highway with absolutely no problem.

I would love to upgrade the roof rack to a full length low profile Baja rack (quieter), but it’s not wide enough for two across. I wish someone made a rack that had bars that could fold out to accommodate the wider setup. Ideally I’d fabricate something myself, but there are other things in line first.