Kayaks on the roof

[pag04]

It's freezing here in NH and I'm looking towards Spring. I need some suggestions for getting a couple of kayaks on the roofrack of my '04 Limited. On my old vehicle I had a Thule rack with saddles and roller coasters to carry two kayaks. The roller coasters were great because I could put the bow of the kayak on the rollers and then just lift the stern and roll the boat onto the rack. That's not going to work with the 4Runner because the rear rack cross member is too far forward and the rear spoiler interferes with the rollers. Anyway, I like the look of the 4runner factory rack and would hate to have to replace it with the Thule bars.
I was thinking that maybe I could rest the bow of the boat in the "V" created by the open front door and the body and then lift the stern but that doesn't look like it will work either.
So, how do people get their kayaks up on their 4Runners? Just lifiting it up on the rack from the side is not an option. Any ideas for me?

 

[lin]

I recently purchased an '03 Limited and have also been trying to solve the kayak loading challenge. I have all of the Thule accessories (the saddles, hydroglides, hullaport) from my car, but I have not figured out what to do with the 4Runner. Thule has a couple of options for adding their bar to the factory rack. I was considering adding the Thule bars to the factory rack and trying the Thule Outrigger. The net is, for me it may be a two person effort with one of us standing on the running board swearing at the other. If I want to paddle alone, I figure it will have to be close to home-- I'll be the one with the kayak sticking out the back window.

 

[leftyrb]

I had a Yakima system on my Pathfinder, and have purchased the Yakima crossbars and attachments for the 4Runner. As the Yakima has round tubes. I found a piece of heavy pipe that would fit inside the round tube of the rack cross bar, and use it as an outrigger on the front rack. I cover the pipe with 3/4" pipe insulation to protect the bottom of the hull.

I lift the nose of the kayak so it rests on the outrigger, then lift the rear onto the rear kayak chock. I then lift the front over to its chock, remove the bar and away I go. I have a piece of rubber backed carpet that I hang between the cross bars that protects the side of my truck from scraping. I have had this setup for 6 years and it worked well on previous vehicles.

Up here in the great white north, lakes are frozen and snow on the ground, so don't have the ability to provide a photo at this time.

Hope this helps

 

[o9stealth5]

Does this work? Well, then again, these are ocean kayaks; but still. What we have here are rack pads for cushion, and cargo webbing purchased from the kayak dealer which strap down tight enough to dent the kayaks. Been kayak-fishing since June 2003. No problems transporting the 'yaks yet*

I'm not a very big guy (5' 9", 140lbs), and I just pick up my kayak sideways, step on the running board, and place it on the racks. Nevertheless, they do weigh 52 pounds; I don't know how much your guys' kayaks weigh, but this is how I do it.

 

[diggy619]

before i bought the thule hullavator, i would place a big piece of bathroom carpet over the spoiler and let the carpet hang down the rear of it. then i would lean the stern of my kayak over the carpet, holding the bow end. slide the bow end up and over the carpet and spoiler til it reaches the rack. the carpet will keep the spoiler from getting scratched up, plus the rubbery material under the carpet will prevent it from sliding around..... but now thule came up with the hullavator...i really love this thing but its really expensive but its save my back from going out on me.