Yakima off-the-shelf solution

[gascolator]

So here's the off-the-shelf Yakima solution for carrying kayaks on the
FJ. Fastens up to the OEM bars.

Very easy loading, boats can be carried upright or inverted for long trips
(the saddles flatten out nicely). Might be room for one more boat on its
side in between, of a mountain bike.

Parts list:
1 sets Lowriders towers
1 set of 4 lock inserts
1 set of 2 58" crossbars
4 Mako kayak saddles

The airdam is a 44" Yakima airdam mounted on an under-mounted 48" bar
using Snap-Arounds and stainless U-bolts--- makes for a handy way to actually use the OEM rack for trips to Home Depot
and such, and to get some use out of the front.

The boats are Old Town Dirigo 10'6" and Necky Manitou 10'11"; no bow and
stern straps required with this set-up. I think you probably could carry up
to a 13-footer without straps. For larger boats, I'd use 'Hully Rollers' in
back, but these boats are quite short and only about 40 pounds each.

[djm2008fj]

I believe REI is going to have Yakima 20% off starting October 5. I plan on getting the same setup.

[GOBOGIE]

Cost?

[Bostonian1976]

correct on the REI 20% off

Makos coupled w/ Hullyrollers is ideal for the FJ because you can slide it on from the back by yourself...

[gascolator]

Bostonian1976 previously said:

correct on the REI 20% off

Makos coupled w/ Hullyrollers is ideal for the FJ because you can slide it on from the back by yourself...

No personal lubricant required

As far as I can tell, the rollers are really intended for the higher-end
fiberglass kayaks which we all hope to be able to afford and beat up
one day.

The fact is, the saddles will fulfill the function of not having the
boat go sliding off sideways during the loading process, and that
is really all you need with the normal, run-of-the-mill plastic boats
that we all love, but don't care about too much.

Yeah, if you have a big tandem or some 15-foot beast, the rollers
will make sense. But for flipping a work-a-day 8-to-12-foot single
up on top--- use saddles.

An advantage of all Mako saddles is that they conform to the deck as
well as the hull, which means that on long trips you can invert the
boats. Much better for the boat, and lower wind-resistance. To say
nothing of the advantage if it has the nerve to rain on you while
you're on your way. Also...the newer boats have seats like Barcoloungers,
which are actually subject to UV and getting crap on them.

We're finding that, from practical experience, the saddles are very
satisfactory. They were the right choice for the application.

[Bostonian1976]

very cool! I think my boat is about 14'5 (a Perception Carolina) so I think the rollers might make a little more sense on the back of the truck for me, especially after a long day of paddling..

Fiberglass - such beautiful boats but I'd have to worry about it so much

[gascolator]

GOBOGIE previously said:

Cost?

Phew! Not cheap. Go to Amazon.com and check out the prices. I already
had the Lowriders, which I used on my AUDI Avant.

The Mako saddles SEEM expensive, but they have this really cool
thing where the integrated straps just lock into little slots in the
saddle. Big time-saver.

Of course, the bars are generic--- once you have them and the
bars, you have the basis of a really nice system, an adjunct to the
OEM rack.

WAY cheaper, though, than the Toyota enhancements, which are
very specific and kinda junky.

They seemed expensive when bought, but they seem cheap at the
price when it comes to getting boats on and off the truck quickly
and with very little extra effort at the beginning and (especially)
at the end of the day of paddling.

[gascolator]

Bostonian1976 previously said:

very cool! I think my boat is about 14'5 (a Perception Carolina) so I think the rollers might make a little more sense on the back of the truck for me, especially after a long day of paddling..

Fiberglass - such beautiful boats but I'd have to worry about it so much

I'm with you there...I love strip-planked and other wooden boats, and
will have some when I can afford to have boats that I just use as
display items in my great room.

The Carolina is just 14'... you might need bow tie-downs.

Anyway, maybe meet us up on the Pushaw or elsewhere in Maine
next season. You can run rings around us with that long waterline.

Once you have her nose in the back saddles, she ain't going anywhere.

If you're carrying only one boat, then put it either in the middle or
2/3 of the way to the passenger side.

But hey, you need a second boat. 14' is too long to turn around
in a little creek when the water runs out. I can't say enough good
things about either the Manitou Sport or the Dirigo 106, depending
on your personal style.

Honestly, I don't like the concentrated force the rollers put on the
hull of a plastic boat.

We were up at Old Town in August, and of course went to the factory.
Where we saw the fiberglass/composite version of each of their boats,
and drooled. But for running rivers--- I can't afford to cry each time
I prang a rock.

[spanky]

I had all the gear from my Tacoma and all I would need would be the Lowriders to attach my gear for the kayaks. I discovered that with just the Lowriders, not to mention the rollers and saddles, I could no longer get into the garage! I did not want to add/remove the Lowriders with the bar and gear attached everytime I wanted to go kayaking! So I did the next best thing for me - I bought a trailer. Both of my kayaks fit in with a very simple tie-down procedure - I'm good to go!

[padre1964]

any pics of your trailer set up spanky?