I had 3
16’+ kayaks on top of my Honda Element last week…no problems.
Very small. Just be sure…
– Last Updated: Jul-14-05 2:03 PM EST –
It has enough HP to haul at highway speeds with the kayaks on. Someone posted recently about a Suzuki (?) that looked to be great as far as roof goes - but couldn't cut it with the wind resistance.
I'm not at talking a lot of HP, but personally wouldn't want less than 150 in a small yak hauler.
Minis work GREAT. I know two that use them regularly for this. Long flat roof line!
I had no trouble hauling 18' kayak and 21' surf skis on a Dodge Neon - and it had a pretty rounded roof.
The smaller Subarus are favorites among paddlers (and the SAAB 9-2X dressed up Subabru is priced cheap now with the incentives/pricing. Plenty of power in Aero trim - it''s a WRX!) - but the Linear model is easier to get if you're not a turbo junky and is a steal right now.
I just got the rack for my new Audi A3 (nice rack - but I will miss the Saris for tool free simplicity, easy on and off, and innovative saddle design). A3 has a longer roof than the Neon had, and is nice and low - but rack spacing is closer (Audi specifies location exactly - the Neon I just put it where I wanted - and the Saris saddles flexed enough that the bars could be placed out on the curve of the roof more).
Anyway, once you get used to lifting kayaks onto a small car (and buying less gas) you will laugh (or feel sorry) every time you see a big SUV.
Honda Element
How do you like your Honda Element. I’m thinking of perhaps getting one of those in the next year or so.
Chevy Aveo Sedan
Mine Hauls fine. It has the 5 speed stick shift and only 103 hp but seems to go 70 to 75 just fine with boats on top. However, the mileage is signifcantly reduced to 28 mpg when going fast with boats or bikes up top.
My car is pretty small
I carry a 21’ surfski on a Saturn Ion. Last year I went to NC with a surfski, an ICF K1, and a mountain bike on top. I have also hauled my touring boat (Q600) and my brother’s touring boat (NF Legend) on my car together. The biggest thing I’ve had up there is a Mad River Explorer 17. That mammoth canoe dwarfed my little car but rode fine for a 2hour drive down to the Merchant’s Millpond from Mom and Dad’s house last Christman Eve.
93 Mercury Tracer
Mine held two sea kayaks just fine. What someone before me said about making sure the bars are spread apart enough to allow the cockpit to sit in between them. Which for my boat is about 32". Necky Elaho from bow to stern (with rudder) just under 17’.
Ford Focus Wagon
I have a Ford Focus Wagon and i get about 30mpg winter driving and about 27mpg summer (A/C). I top two boats on a 14 ft and 12 ft. I use Thule feet attached to the existing roof rack. This really makes a great gear car too, because you can lower the seats and have a van like effect. you can actually lay down in the back.
Now, the downside. At speeds about 50mph, this thing roars like a angry tiger and you can barely hear yourself think. The other drawback is the power. Out on the flat, it can hang on the 70mph mark with no problem. But, if you have to launch into traffic, or head up a steep hill, you will need to do math equaitions.
Good Luck
Jay
Cooper S underpowered?
To me, the base Mini is a girly car. The supercharged Copper S, or better yet S with Works package, have plenty of power.
They are goofy though - and that dash is too much. Fun to drive though.
Honda Civic
I’ve got a 4 -door Civic outfitted with standard Saris racks. No problems on long road-trips, at highway speeds, with a 15’ plastic yak, or solo canoe. (or that oak dresser I had to haul once…)
I’ve had 2 solo boats on several occasions, and even 2 tandem aluminum canoes up there with no problem - but I didn’t need to transport them long distances so I can’t comment on that.
Power, of course, is a little lacking…but heck, it’s low on power with NO boats on top. I can’t tell much of a difference with a single boat up there. I felt a little more resistance with 2 boats on top.
Stability of the car, or the racked boats, has never been a problem (well, except when I had about 160 lbs of aluminum canoes up there- I could feel that, but it was more a concern of weight and power rather than stability …)
-jarvis
Honda Element
Just FYI to all you folks looking at those Honda Elements…
We were recently looking at replacing one of our worn-out cars and were excited with what we saw in the Element - roomy, easy to clean interior, reasonable(?) price, decent mileage, etc.
Then we saw the load ratings! According to the specs it’s max load is around 600 lbs! That’s LESS than a Civic. A couple adults with camping gear and their dogs would be OVER the rated load limit. We passed…
One other thing…If you have a small car and you are considering getting a trailer for it; be sure the car is rated for pulling. My Civic, and I’m guessing other small cars, are NOT rated for hauling a trailer of ANY kind. Again, just something to keep in mind…
-jarvis
hmm
Honda Gold wing & a Trailer…
http://www.castlecraft.com/images/Trailex-SUT-200-Motorcycle-Canoe.JPG
I’ll have pics on Sun or Mon
of our xB with two 16’ sea kayaks on it. We did get some pretty confused stares when we drove down to San Diego July 3rd weekend.
Even with the high profile of the box and the boats, she hauled at 70 with no complaints. Not to mention, one boat is in saddles and the other in a hullraiser, so it’s up on its side, giving us an even higher profile. I was pretty conservative driving on the way down, but hit 75-80 on the way home (it was getting late, I had to pee). LOL
Love the lil’ boxcar (aka Boxcar Willie)
-Tracy
Cayenne!
Yup, I traded in the Expedition (room for 6 sea kayaks) for a Cayenne (tight fit with 4 seakayaks).
But it looks good
I used to carry two kayaks on…
…a Hyundai Excel. The Accent is the newer, more powerful replacement for the Excel and should haul kayaks just fine. With a manual transmission, it should get you over 30 MPG with two kayaks on the roof at reasonable speeds (65-70 mph). You can get one for under $10K.
If you want something more powerful and luxurious, consider an Elantra. I’m currently driving an Elantra GT hatchback with a 5-speed. It gets me 30-32 mpg combined city/highway, 34-35 on the highway (at 65 mph) and ~30-31 with a kayak on the roof. It hauls a lot of gear inside. It’s loaded (leather, alloys, cruise, A/C, CD, sunroof, 4 wheel disks, power everything, etc.) and cost me under $14K.
2x4’s
My boat bowed a little bit with my roof racks on my Saturn SL so I added some 2x4’s to the rack. The rear rack has a homemade roller bar. The front rack had a foam block with notches cut out of the corners to fit the 2x4’s. Two 2x4’s sit parralell to the boat on top the rack/foam block mount. I use two straps per rack (pulling in opposite directions) and the 2x4’s stay secure with the strapping. I can crank down the straps and not worry about damaging the boat.
If I had a smaller car, I would probably make a cradle out of 2x4 with notches cut out of the board to fit the roof rack. It would be butt ugly but very secure.
scott
The perfect small paddling car, IMO
With thule bars mounted on the siderails, I have a 40 inch spread between the bars, ability to carry 2 SK’s or one SK and a canoe, and as much cargo room as a small SUV.
50 MPG means I can still travel a bit to paddle & not break the bank. Very happy with mine.
Wayne
mini
The Mini Cooper S can carry a good amount.It has a
good deal of power and the roof seems strong.I am
not sure if there are restrictions on how far a kayak extends in the front and rear of the car.
John
My ‘95 Toyota Corolla
carries two 17’ Curritucks with no problem. I think the Yakima racks are worth more than the car now, but it gets us from A to B with 30 mpg.
Greyak, did your Neon have 150 H.P. ?
Good luck on Audi Resale. To use your word L