I just bought a flame red Dodge minivan (short wheelbase, cab-forward design, with bra and fog and driving lights). It has the factory roof-rack allowing a Yakima tower to slide right into the factory rail. I'm setting it up as previously suggested on this list with a left and right cradle up front and left and right rear rollers -- both on 66 inch bars. Does anyone know if this set-up is strong enough if I carry three British heavies this way (third kayak would be tied above and between the other two kayaks with an ensolight pad for deck protection on the two below)? Thanks. Doug Lloyd (BC'in ya as I pass you by...and if I'm pushing blue anymore, it will be with my paddle in the ocean!) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- > From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Doug Lloyd > Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 12:07 AM > To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] Minivan > > > I just bought a flame red Dodge minivan (short wheelbase, cab-forward > design, with bra and fog and driving lights). It has the factory roof-rack > allowing a Yakima tower to slide right into the factory rail. I'm setting > it up as previously suggested on this list with a left and right cradle up > front and left and right rear rollers -- both on 66 inch bars. Does anyone > know if this set-up is strong enough if I carry three British heavies this > way (third kayak would be tied above and between the other two kayaks with > an ensolight pad for deck protection on the two below)? Hi Doug, Yakima bars (the round bars themselves) are rated at 150#/bar. If you call a Yakima dealer they can tell you what the Caravan itself is rated for. When establishing weight ratings for roof loads they take many factors such as cornering and general handling into consideration. So one can often safely exceed the rating with prudent driving. This must be an older Caravan as I think the newer ones have eliminated the gutters; that's too bad really, the Caravan was the last hold-out. My personal experience has been that you can put as many boats on a pair of Yakima racks (using the 1A gutter towers) as you can squeeze on, provided the gutters are structurally strong. I used to regularly carry six on a 1/2 ton van. Now this is all opinion, and your mileage may very, but I wouldn't be shy about "loadin' 'er up and hittin' the road". OOPS! Just reread your post. You are talking about using Rail Rider towers in the factory rack. Well, the bar strength remains the same. Factory racks vary widely from vehicle to vehicle, some are well fastened and others not. My recollection is that the Caravan's is pretty stout. It in part depends on what hidden members the rack is attached to in the roof. On some vehicles a heavy load will dimple the roof. I would just keep my eyes open and watch for any deflection. And not to start another debate, but definitely tie bow and stern lines. Some factory racks have been peeled off the vehicle because of the lack of bow lines. Again, all of this is just my opinion. Congrats on the new ride. Cheers, -- Rob Cookson 3 Hats Design INTERNET PRINT ILLUSTRATION 5201 15 Ave NW Suite 220 Seattle, WA 98107 206.851.8202 direct line 206.784.1641 main office phone 206.784.2231 main office fax mailto:rob_at_3hats.com http://www.3hats.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Doug, With that setup, you're at the mercy of the rated bearing of your factory rack. I think with the old-style raingutter-mount Yakima racks, you could haul a second car on the rack. With Q-mounts and Railriders (for factory mounts) I think the weight limit is 150 lbs. You might read your owner's manual, though. At least make sure you're not voiding a part of your warranty by putting 200-ish pounds on your rack. I'm pretty sure the chief concern is the factory mount and not the Yakima accessories. You could also consider installing the bolt-on pseudo-raingutters and then using raingutter mount Yak racks. I can check with my friend, the Yakima dealer, for the acceptable load, if yours doesn't know. >It has the factory roof-rack allowing a Yakima tower >to slide right into the factory rail. <snip> >Does anyone know if this set-up is strong enough if I >carry three British heavies this way Thanks. -- Shawn W. Baker 0 46°53'N © 1999 ____©/______ 114°06'W ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\ ,/ /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ baker_at_montana.com 0 http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have the same setup on my 99 Dodge in Florida white.... According to Yakima the rack is good for 250 lbs. I carry two Nordkapps at times (+- 90lbs). you're paying 1-2 MPG and a lot of wind noise so put the racks on before you get used to the nice quiet drive. I use the two front saddles and the rear rollers. I trimmed the bars so they don't extend past the roofline. cya I just bought a flame red Dodge minivan (short wheelbase, cab-forward design, with bra and fog and driving lights). It has the factory roof-rack allowing a Yakima tower to slide right into the factory rail. I'm setting it up as previously suggested on this list with a left and right cradle up front and left and right rear rollers -- both on 66 inch bars. Does anyone know if this set-up is strong enough if I carry three British heavies this way (third kayak would be tied above and between the other two kayaks with an ensolight pad for deck protection on the two below)? Thanks. Doug Lloyd (BC'in ya as I pass you by...and if I'm pushing blue anymore, it will be with my paddle in the ocean!) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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