Gobi Stealth with Yakima Kayak Saddles?

[CatskillsRunner]

Hey all,

I should have my Gobi sometime next month and am wondering what kind of system you use for kayaks. I want to make sure the kayak clears that front bar. I am looking at the Yakima Sweetroll but think the Mako saddles might be taller.

Thanks for any info. you may have, Kristy

 

[CatskillsRunner]

Bueller? Bueller?

 

[Honu*]

I had a gobi on a FJC
the downside was that front bar in height got in the way of a canoe upside down ? never had Kayak in saddles
also got in the way going to get lumber or junk at ikea that was long etc...
bikes and stuff no worries but anything long the front bar always seemed to be in the way


if you use saddles like in your pic
it might be tight ? but might work depending on length of yak and other things the saddles might put it tall enough ?

wish I could tell you more from a 4runner buy my 4 runner is new and this time around I wont get a gobi just stick to the yakima stuff if I go with a big rack or get the eezi awn
there is one of those for sale here I noticed

Eezi-Awn K9 2.2 Meter Roof Rack System for Toyota 5th Gen 4Runner

I loved the gobi great rack after having one for over 5-6 years I think I would prefer this eezi awn style much more

 

[Hellamatic]

I've just got cheapie saddles that hold my yak pretty much sideways. I have a Baja Rack, but my lightbar sticks up farther than the rack - the curvature of the hull keeps it miles away from the front of the rack. Now, if I could only find a way to fit a yak AND a RTT......

 

[The Waco Kid]

I've just got cheapie saddles that hold my yak pretty much sideways. I have a Baja Rack, but my lightbar sticks up farther than the rack - the curvature of the hull keeps it miles away from the front of the rack. Now, if I could only find a way to fit a yak AND a RTT......

There was an adventure trailer thread not too long ago... :bounce:

 

[Hellamatic]

There was an adventure trailer thread not too long ago... :bounce:

Yep, I cried about the same problem in that thread too, haha

 

[Honu*]

I used to have a conqueror conquest trailer !
that was a freaking awesome trailer

only a few in the US so hard to come buy but if you go trailer route I like that style over the AT guys for easier to get in and out etc...


now that I am into kayaks and canoes more I kinda want to do something with a trailer for mellow camping and boating so wont have to be off road type but chances are I will make it that way

 

[CatskillsRunner]

Evenkeel Kayak Racks on Gobi Stealth

Hi guys, so I have my Gobi and bought Yakima Evenkeels for it. I used the rack on my factory rack while I waited for the Gobi, and this kayak rack is really versatile because it can be used with round, square, or oblong factory crossbars.

I have a sea kayak that is almost 17 feet long and I was really concerned that the bow would not clear that front bar on the Stealth, but I worried for nothing because it clears it with room to spare.

I almost didn't get the Gobi for this reason and I'm really glad it turned out fine and I didnt have to invest in a more expensive system just to lift it enough to clear that bar.

Just FYI: the Evenkeel is a hundred dollars cheaper than the other Yakima rack I almost went with and having had Yakima racks for the past 20 years I know it will last me 15 years or more. Paid about $100 and got it through Amazon Prime.

 

[1traildriver]

+1 on the above...
I have 2 sets of cheap kayak foam saddles that I use for 2 kayaks on my gobi. Its a really tight fit side by side but the natural curve of the bow clears the front bar. I have the side saddles as well (both boats lay on their sides) and those are no issue. I don't think transporting them upside down would work, but I am seriously thinking about cutting the horizontal bars off of my rack, since they only limit the size of stuff I can put up there, and run 2 yakima or thule bars when I take the boats out. I know they are meant to compartmentalize the rack, but I think they get in the way more often than not. I believe duckmonsta cut them off and never looked back...

 

[CatskillsRunner]

My husband and I kayaked today. This is the first time he's kayaked with me in years, so I am not buying him a rack and he's slumming it with the foam blocks.

I'll tell you what. I'm a pretty tough woman but I am incapable of moving his kayak up the rack. At least with the Evenkeel or other Yak system, the boats roll, more or less, up the rack when you push them from the ground. My boat is 63 lbs. I can get the front on the first rack without difficulty, and stand on the rack and pull the boat up, but I can't do that with his.

Maybe it's not an issue if you boat with other people or are stronger than I am, or have a lighter boat. I'm almost always alone and am happy I didn't have to spend a fortune on something that would work for me.