Transporting A Kayak? 2025
Californiafisherman reply :
Hey Users. So I've been searching for a nice fishing kayak. I think I'm going with the wilderness ride 115. Now the next step is figuring out how to car top it.. I have a Buick Enclave with the vertical bars on it and a Chevy Silverado with a 6- 6 1/2ft bed. How can I car top it on my enclave? Hopefully something under $100. Thanks!
rippin-lips reply :
You can put foam on the factory cross bars, and car top it with the top side facing down. You can also buy things that attach to your cross bars. I bought ones called 'Sparehands' kayak cradles.
the reel ess reply :
If you have a Silverado, I don't understand the question. That's exactly what I have.
flyfisher reply :
just put it on top and strap it down with cam buckle straps. I did it that way for a few years on my subaru factory racks.
you can get a bunch of other stuff like cradles but they don't do anything other than make the kayak sit up higher and create more wind resistance. I had the J cradle type and used it for a little while but i wasn't to fond of having a sail on top of my vehicle.
MikeinFresno reply :
with the pickup you can just slide it in and or get a bed extender at harbor Freight for cheap. The car you will need to get bars that go across the top from side to side to put the yak on upside down. There are also some inflatable heavy duty bags for this purpose, but most guys do not like them.
buzzed bait reply :
i put my ride 135 in the back of my nissan frontier.... shorter bed than yours and have had zero issues with it.
Darren. reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 5:52 AM, Californiafisherman said:Hey Users. So I've been searching for a nice fishing kayak. I think I'm going with the wilderness ride 115. Now the next step is figuring out how to car top it.. I have a Buick Enclave with the vertical bars on it and a Chevy Silverado with a 6- 6 1/2ft bed. How can I car top it on my enclave? Hopefully something under $100. Thanks!
Truck bed is by far easiest way.
Buddy of mine has a small Jeep Liberty or such,
and bought this, which works great for him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkYny6-tv0g&app=desktop
Californiafisherman reply :
Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyone
flyfisher reply :
it will be secure but you will still have to strap it down. I know that is obvious but i have learned to point that out sometimes lol
DogBone_384 reply :
I cheat: my Tundra's ladder rack...
Darren. reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 7:27 AM, Californiafisherman said:Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyone
Yes, you can strap to your handle. Just enough
to keep it tight, not to pull the handle out of the
yak. That would be too tight.
Californiafisherman reply :
Can you please post a link to the Sparehand kayak cradles? I still want to learn how I can mount on top of the enclave. Are the horizontal bars and cradles that you add to the top of car even necessary? I have cam buckle straps but will this work for long trips? 1-2hour drives
the reel ess reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 7:27 AM, Californiafisherman said:Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyone
With the tailgate dowwn, you have about 8.5'. That's more than half a kayak. I sometimes tow one to a local place and I'll only put one strap thru the carry handles across the rear of the bed. If I carry two, I'll run a strap thru the front and one at the back thru the middle carry handles of both kayaks. Nowhere they can go. It's a whole lot easier loading/unloading from the truck bed. You might want to tie something red on the end for a flag, but my kayak is red.
rippin-lips reply :
http://www.amazon.com/Stoneman-VR-851-Sparehand-Mounted-Vehicle/dp/B00711LBLI
jbsoonerfan reply :
I apologize upfront. But that looks like the most "jump straight out of the pages of LL Bean" setup that I have ever seen.
rippin-lips reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 12:05 PM, jbsoonerfan said:I apologize upfront. But that looks like the most "jump straight out of the pages of LL Bean" setup that I have ever seen.
I'm failing to follow you. I've never seen a single page out of LL Bean. A Subaru Outback with a kayak on the roof? They do have an LL bean edition Outback. I know that much about them haha
jbsoonerfan reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 12:28 PM, rippin-lips said:I'm failing to follow you. I've never seen a single page out of LL Bean. A Subaru Outback with a kayak on the roof? They do have an LL bean edition Outback. I know that much about them haha
Sorry, I'm just a redneck from Oklahoma. I used to trout fish an area in southern OK and the guys from Dallas would show up in their Volvos and BMW's and look like they were models for LL Bean, therefore we always called them the LL Bean guys.
Californiafisherman reply :
Thanks for posting link "Rippin Lips".. So it looks like the sole purpose of them is to get the kayak a couple inches off the roof of your vehicle. Kind of like "FlyFisher" said.
Californiafisherman reply :
Well, I guess the grip on them can also help stabilize the kayak when driving. Stops it from swaying or moving when driving across bumps
rippin-lips reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 12:36 PM, jbsoonerfan said:Sorry, I'm just a redneck from Oklahoma. I used to trout fish an area in southern OK and the guys from Dallas would show up in their Volvos and BMW's and look like they were models for LL Bean, therefore we always called them the LL Bean guys.
No need to be sorry. I got a laugh out of it. Just didn't exactly follow. I'm just a redneck from Western MD. If they're now hiring chubby guys with big beards, and covered in tattoos. I might have a new career path lol.
On 6/16/2015 at 12:41 PM, Californiafisherman said:Thanks for posting link "Rippin Lips".. So it looks like the sole purpose of them is to get the kayak a couple inches off the roof of your vehicle. Kind of like "FlyFisher" said.
That and it won't allow any side to side movement. It's also easier to load verse the J cradle racks. Are they needed though? Probably not, but the other option was putting foam on the factory crossbars. Which would get torn up and need replaced every so often.
Caliyak reply :
Hey Cali, I have a truck too. I talked to the chp, red flag and tie it down, you're good.On 6/16/2015 at 7:27 AM, Californiafisherman said:Ok. Wasn't sure if it was going to be secure in the truck bed with half the kayak sticking out, but if you guys do it! Why not lol.. I'll check out the spare hand cradles. Appreciate the help/advice everyone
the reel ess reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 7:46 AM, flyfisher said:it will be secure but you will still have to strap it down. I know that is obvious but i have learned to point that out sometimes lol
And NOT with a bungee!!! LOL
flyfisher reply :
bungees should be banned from stores....i see people using them as a securing method way too often and i cringe every time.
paleus reply :
I just stick my Slayer 12 in the back of my 5' bed Tacoma. Just one ratchet strap through the middle handles and a flag on the back.
rippin-lips reply :
On 6/16/2015 at 9:59 PM, flyfisher said:bungees should be banned from stores....i see people using them as a securing method way too often and i cringe every time.
They secure my crate down in the back of my kayak perfectly.
J Francho reply :
Pretty sure he's referring to car topping...
rippin-lips reply :
On 6/17/2015 at 1:07 AM, J Francho said:Pretty sure he's referring to car topping...
I know he is. I was just having a laugh.
Californiafisherman reply :
Hey guys been doing research and watching lots of YouTube videos. So for my 2008 Buick Enclave, i just need to buy the cross bars because it already has side rail bars. I'm seeing them for $150 on Amazon. These are the original GM factory cross bars. Once I have these I can just mount the kayak on and strap down with cam buckles. Is this correct? Is there cheaper crossbars I should look at?
J Francho reply :
As long as their rated for the weight of the boat you should be good.
flyfisher reply :
On 6/17/2015 at 4:34 AM, Californiafisherman said:Hey guys been doing research and watching lots of YouTube videos. So for my 2008 Buick Enclave, i just need to buy the cross bars because it already has side rail bars. I'm seeing them for $150 on Amazon. These are the original GM factory cross bars. Once I have these I can just mount the kayak on and strap down with cam buckles. Is this correct? Is there cheaper crossbars I should look at?
For about $100 more, i would look for after market racks like yakima or thule. Much better quality in my opinion.
MikeinFresno reply :
yes, but put some sort of a pad on the rails so the yak is protected and so that the yak has something to bite into when you strap it down. The plastic on metal bars will be slippery and the yak will wiggle or move, with a pad it will be snug. I use large diameter pool noodles and slit them to fit on the bars. Find them at the Dollar store this time of year for cheap.
boostr reply :
You can get the foam pads, and they already have the notches cut out to fit aero bars or square bars. They are also shaped to fit the contour of the hull.
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