I have a Yakima rack. I've bought a number of solutions (and returned them) and the BEST setup I've found is simply strapping the kayak down on formed foam blocks set on the rack. I think they have them at REI. You can also order them from the Chesapeake Light Craft site. best of all, this set up works on any car. I even used them on a car with NO rack (it's not as secure but I did go 400 miles with no problem). I bought the hully rollers and the Mako saddles. The kayak "bounced" around too much. I found the foam pads keep it really secure. I've driven from NYC to DC. DC to NC. And NYC to NC. Courtney *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 8/28/00 7:06:19 PM, sudnlycord_at_excite.com writes: << I bought the Hully rollers and the Mako saddles. The kayak "bounced" around too much. I found the foam pads keep it really secure. I've driven from NYC to DC. DC to NC. And NYC to NC. >> Bounced? I have two sets on my Jeep Cherokee. It may be the very long base they sit on with the bars at the farther ends of the factory rack but I have never had a moment of worry with my Hully-rollers and saddles in over 2000 miles with the boats on the car. My main concern with square bars is that the saddles are at an angle if the roof isn't flat. Maybe there is an adjustment you make but I don't know about that part. Joan Spinner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 28 Aug 2000 19:18:03 EDT, wrote: >In a message dated 8/28/00 7:06:19 PM, sudnlycord_at_excite.com writes: > ><< I bought the Hully rollers and the Mako saddles. The kayak >"bounced" around too much. I found the foam pads keep it really secure. I've driven from NYC to DC. DC to NC. And NYC to NC. >> > >Bounced? I have two sets on my Jeep Cherokee. It may be the very >long base they sit on with the bars at the farther ends of the factory rack but I have never had a moment of worry with my Hully-rollers and saddles in over 2000 miles with the boats on the car. My main concern with square bars is that the saddles are at an angle if the roof isn't flat. Maybe there is an adjustment >you make but I don't know about that part. > >Joan Spinner >********************************************************************* Here's another vote for Yakima! I've been using an old Yak rack system with Yak TLC cradles for years, and it's all just as solid as when they were new. The old TLC cradles hold boaty snug as a bug etc. - no bouncing at all. I've always been so happy with Yakima, that I've never tried Thule. However - I do have a question about Thules... why do I see so many of them "sagging"? (often, quite a bit). I've never seen Yakimas sag like that, but I see many Thules doing it. Anyone know why? Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I've always been so happy with Yakima, that I've never tried Thule. > However - I do have a question about Thules... why do I see so many > of them "sagging"? (often, quite a bit). I've never seen Yakimas sag > like that, but I see many Thules doing it. Anyone know why? I've had Thule racks for years, on a number of cars, for a numer of different activities (bikes, canoes, skis, kayaks. . . ). I've not had a problem with "sagging", but I would guess that a square or rectangular piece of tubing smay be more likely to sag than a round piece of equal thickness. Just a guess. I ain't not physikist. Still, I like the Thule stuff. It seems plenty strong to me. I have the new Thule padded saddles that are apparently intended to answer the Hully Rollers. I find them very good, especially since I learned to run the straps through them properly. I don't have any particular brand loyalty, really. . . but I have been very satisfied with the range and diversity of products available from Thule, and have never been let down by a Thule rack product, after many years of lugging stuff around on them. But I guess there are other brands that would do just as well. What about smaller companies? I've seen some interesting things that were not Thule or Yakima. . . Mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Courtney wrote: > > I have a Yakima rack. I've bought a number of solutions (and returned them) > and the BEST setup I've found is simply strapping the kayak down on formed > foam blocks set on the rack. That's what we're using, too. The Yakima cradles worked fine, and if I always carried the same (one or two) boats, they'd be OK, but from one weekend to the next I may be carrying 1 SK, 4 SKs, 6 WW kayaks, a kayak and an open canoe, 2 opens, etc, and it was just too much trouble taking the things on and off. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have a Yakima rack with those U-shaped "stackers". I wrap foam insulation around the rack bars and the stacker tubes. Then I put as many as 6 kayaks on the car, on their sides. The system works very well. My car is a Subaru Forester. Jack Fu 47 37 39 N, 122 07 57 W *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I believe the factory racks for BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen are made by the same company - large aluminum bars with a slot on top for attachments to slide into. (mine is BMW) A kayak attachment is not available, but I've found two solutions - one with aftermarket saddles and U brackets, and one for Thule stackers. The stackers require machining a flat piece of metal to which allen bolts are screwed into or just removing the metal plates from other rack accessories and using them. My cousin works in a machine shop and is making some metal plates that will fit the stackers exactly. Let me know if you are interested in either solution. Tim *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 28 Aug 2000 13:33:55 -0700 (PDT), you wrote: >I have a Yakima rack. I've bought a number of solutions (and returned them) >and the BEST setup I've found is simply strapping the kayak down on formed >foam blocks set on the rack. I think they have them at REI. You can also >order them from the Chesapeake Light Craft site. best of all, this set up >works on any car. I even used them on a car with NO rack (it's not as secure >but I did go 400 miles with no problem). I use shaped foam blocks cut to the size of my Thule racks. They work very well and I've driven from central Canada all over the southeastern USA. Oh, yes, they cost all of Cdn $12 or about US $8. I wonder what I could get from Thule or Yakima for $8 - perhaps a decal. :) -- cheers, Stephen stephen.bird_at_superaje.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
<I believe the factory racks for BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen are made by the same company> VW and Audi racks are made by Votex --- wouldn't be at all surprised if they made racks for BMW. <A kayak attachment is not available, but I've found two solutions - one with aftermarket saddles and U brackets, and one for Thule stackers> Another idea along the same vein, Tim --- if you can work from the top --- is to slide 5/16" (I'm pretty sure it was 5/16" that I used) carriage bolts into the Votex slots (sometimes you have to file down the crown of the head a tad for clearance) and bolt down whatever you want to file. Or use Thule slides in the slots if you're okay with those dinky 1/4" (metric eqivalent?) that they use. They work well, too. The bike carrier I bought from Audi and Votex has "Thule" marks all over it. Another idea for the Votex bars --- Malone of Maine J-cradles. Ask for the wider spacing on the studs. They work extremely well, and are solid as a rock in stiff winds. And Richard *loves* to get those special orders! Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:16 PDT