Hiya - I’m new to yakking and got myself, wife, and son kayaks. On the car, I’ve got Yakima’s Big Stack, but I’m not happy with it. The problem is that no matter what I do, I can’t get my straps tight enough without being so tight that I get some indenting of the hull on my Jackson Tupelo on the rack crossbars. I’m thinking of a JayLow to cradle my Javkson, but it only handles two yaks. Is there a good option that doesn’t involve $300?
When I use a stacker, I use a pair of straps for each kayak. That allows me to snug them for each individual kayak. I also put a pad on the crossbar.
Oh yeah, absolutely - 3 yaks, 6 straps. I’ll have to think about the kinda padding I could put on
Pool noodle works fine
Or plumbing insulation. Or you can buy padded things Yakima. Pool noodles on the stackers work fine and cheapest.
Thanks all. I’ll have to see if a pool noodle will fit on my aero bars
You have to slice them longitudinally then use duct tape to secure them to the stackers. The advantage of the ones from Yakima is that they are made to just tie on and untie to remove,and they do last quite a while…
ok thx - to be clear, my problem with the indents is on on the stacker itself, its with the aero cross bars
OK - then pad the cross bars. May just need something other than pool noodles because of the shape of the aero bars. Cruise the aisles of the nearest big hardware store, probably can find something that’ll work in the plumbing or insulation section.
You seem to have mixed products. Aero bars only show up under Thule, though it is not uncommon to put bars Yakima stuff on Thule bars or vice versa. Thule also makes pads for the aerobars. Might be worth the bucks if you don’t need too many of them. https://www.thule.com/en-us/us/sport-rack/surfboard-roof-racks/thule-surf-pad-_-804999
Yeah sorry, Yakima calls them Corebars, but they have an aero shape: https://www.yakima.com/corebar
I’ll do some looking at padding - thanks!
Look for a used flatbed utility trailer for $299.99.
We use our JLow to carry 3 kayaks, following the guidance in the owner’s manual. A little cumbersome but doable and (for the relatively short haul to the river) secure.
To prevent the keels of our kayaks (which have more chine than usual) from pressing on the carrier canoe blocks (https://www.mec.ca/en/search?org_text=canoe%20blocks&text=canoe%20blocks) were velcroed to the carrier. Inexpensive, they come in different shapes and they can be removed. The blocks are secure because the kayak traps the blocks against the carrier.
I use one of these on my “aero” factory bars on the Outback.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/attwood--kayak-car-top-carrier-kit--18462770?cm_sp=Onsite-Recs--DY--Search-Results-Test
The foam blocks have a slot in the bottom that fits over the factory bars.
Or use one of these paddle board pads. Note these have coverings that don’t fall apart like pool noodles will when exposed to the sun , a long time.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/dakine--28-stand-up-paddleboard-aero-roof-rack-pad--16975682?recordNum=29
There is also hook and loope, Velcro, closures.
@Overstreet said:
I use one of these on my “aero” factory bars on the Outback.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/attwood--kayak-car-top-carrier-kit--18462770?cm_sp=Onsite-Recs--DY--Search-Results-TestThe foam blocks have a slot in the bottom that fits over the factory bars.
Or use one of these paddle board pads. Note these have coverings that don’t fall apart like pool noodles will when exposed to the sun , a long time.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/dakine--28-stand-up-paddleboard-aero-roof-rack-pad--16975682?recordNum=29There is also hook and loope, Velcro, closures.
Thanks - I called Jackson and they said to carry it flat. So I got JayLows for the other two yaks, and that foam setup for the crossbars for my Jackson. Should be all set