Mounting Yakima crossbars on Gobi rack

[Liquidmantis]

Has anyone done this? I'm about to head to REI to surprise my wife with a kayak as an early birthday present which creates the logistical issue of transporting two kayaks. My 66" bars would be wide enough for them to lay down flat. I know that I could use J-hooks or vertical bars, but that's going to be more difficult to load and I'm also not super keen on creating a big sail. The Yakima Timberline towers look like they would probably work on the Gobi rails. Of course it could look like I've got a construction project going on on top of my roof...

 

[JSparky]

Nice, using the 20% off coupon they got right now?

What's wrong with the existing crossbars on the gobi, is the rack too narrow to have them lay flat? I'd try and keep it as simple as possible but that's me, Yakima tower's and rails on top of a gobi seems redundant.

 

[Liquidmantis]

Nice, using the 20% off coupon they got right now?

What's wrong with the existing crossbars on the gobi, is the rack too narrow to have them lay flat? I'd try and keep it as simple as possible but that's me, Yakima tower's and rails on top of a gobi seems redundant.

Yeah, dividend and coupon time! Can't use the 20% on boats but it'll help in a Werner paddle. The Gobi isn't wide enough for a couple of touring 'yaks at about 28" beam each. It might work with them "in" the rack and just over the side rails.

The other issue that I just realized is that the might not be enough clearance under the Gobi crossbars to use actual kayak mounts either. :/

 

[JSparky]

Dang, got it. Well good luck, hopefully someone who's done something similar can help out.

 

[DirtElk]

I believe the Yakima Railgrab has been mentioned as working on the Gobi rack with a medium or large claw. I wasn't sold on the new style towers and picked ip some Railgrab towers to use on the factory rails with my round bars. I haul two canoes without issue. I would think these would work well on a rack like the Gobi.

At some point I will be changing from factory rails to full rack. I had Gobi in mind to use with the Railgrab towers.

 

[Liquidmantis]

I believe the Yakima Railgrab has been mentioned as working on the Gobi rack with a medium or large claw. I wasn't sold on the new style towers and picked ip some Railgrab towers to use on the factory rails with my round bars. I haul two canoes without issue. I would think these would work well on a rack like the Gobi.

At some point I will be changing from factory rails to full rack. I had Gobi in mind to use with the Railgrab towers.

Nice! I have the Railgrabs already. I wondered if they might work but hasn't tried. I did put the crossbars and Railgrabs on the Gobi and it wasn't awful even if it is a bit of a boondoggle. I used the 20% coupon on the Yakima Jaylow so that's an option. It's nice because there isn't anything underneath really so mounting it on the Gobi removable bars without the gap in the mesh would work. I'll have to figure out the best plan for all the crap I want to put up top.

 

[Niteghost]

Nice! I have the Railgrabs already. I wondered if they might work but hasn't tried. I did put the crossbars and Railgrabs on the Gobi and it wasn't awful even if it is a bit of a boondoggle. I used the 20% coupon on the Yakima Jaylow so that's an option. It's nice because there isn't anything underneath really so mounting it on the Gobi removable bars without the gap in the mesh would work. I'll have to figure out the best plan for all the crap I want to put up top.

Did you end up finding a solution? I am looking at getting either a Gobi or an Eezi Awn K9 2.2 but part of my decision will be which is easier to haul our two Kayaks.

 

[Liquidmantis]

Did you end up finding a solution? I am looking at getting either a Gobi or an Eezi Awn K9 2.2 but part of my decision will be which is easier to haul our two Kayaks.

Sort of... I grabbed the Yakima JayLow kayak mount to use my REI 20% coupon and currently have that on the Gobi bars. It works but it's a pain to load two boats on the lifted rig. Between weather and some sort of bug being passed around the family I've only had a chance to try it once. It definitely required climbing up on the rack to manage the straps. Which, admittedly, is easy and the point of the rack and ladder, but it's not so fun while trying to hold a boat upright and not let it push you off. It is manageable though, even if I'd like to find a better solution. Two JayLows, one on each side, so that you can use each in the reclined position rather than the upright "stacker" position, would be about as good as it gets, I think.

 

[Niteghost]

Sort of... I grabbed the Yakima JayLow kayak mount to use my REI 20% coupon and currently have that on the Gobi bars. It works but it's a pain to load two boats on the lifted rig. Between weather and some sort of bug being passed around the family I've only had a chance to try it once. It definitely required climbing up on the rack to manage the straps. Which, admittedly, is easy and the point of the rack and ladder, but it's not so fun while trying to hold a boat upright and not let it push you off. It is manageable though, even if I'd like to find a better solution. Two JayLows, one on each side, so that you can use each in the reclined position rather than the upright "stacker" position, would be about as good as it gets, I think.

I appreciate the update. Thanks for the advice. I am going to hit up REI and see what they recommend and tell them about the back to back JayLows and see what they think. I appreciate it!

 

[JPOVS]

Contacted Gobi a couple weeks ago about straping 2 canoes on there rack and there currently designing a system where it would mount I think they said a 70" bar that you can cut to length. They said the bars would be removable. Didn't get into the details as there still working it out.
Said they would email me some pics when there done designing it in a couple months. Ill let you know more when I receive the pics.

 

[asaintprix]

Contacted Gobi a couple weeks ago about straping 2 canoes on there rack and there currently designing a system where it would mount I think they said a 70" bar that you can cut to length. They said the bars would be removable. Didn't get into the details as there still working it out.
Said they would email me some pics when there done designing it in a couple months. Ill let you know more when I receive the pics.

I would love to hear if they figured something out for this. 2 kayaks here also.

 

[Riparian]

Contacted Gobi a couple weeks ago about straping 2 canoes on there rack and there currently designing a system where it would mount I think they said a 70" bar that you can cut to length. They said the bars would be removable. Didn't get into the details as there still working it out.
Said they would email me some pics when there done designing it in a couple months. Ill let you know more when I receive the pics.

Anyone know if Gobi figured this out? I'm still looking ad have been using rail grabs... but I'd be into getting a better solution. I carry 2 canoes very regularly.

 

[Speedsurfer]

Malone makes some decent aero cross bar and rail attachments that fit the standard roof rails and look like they would fit the Gobi rack no problem. I had them on before the Gobi and they are pretty sold and only cost about 120 or so. I don't think it would be a problem to put them on the Gobi because the Gobi crossbars are so low you can barely get attachments below them. The Yakima Skybox hooks barely make it. Being an inch or two higher would be good. The other benefit is you could order whatever length cross bars you want

 

[A10MileHusker]

I use the Yakima Jaylow's for both of my kayaks on my Gobi Rack no problem



One thing I found that helps is pushing the jaylow all the way to the edge so that the clamp can really grab the bar where it connects to the rack.

It is a slight pain to get up there especially when your arms are super tired after a long day kayaking but definitely doable.

 

[Liquidmantis]

Yeah, that's what I'm doing. I have two sets of Jaylows all the way to the edge of the Gobi's removable bars. That puts the "loading ramp" just over the rack's rail. It's more of a pain than laying them down across a long overhanging bar, especially over the ARB awning, but it's doable.

 

[Hybryd40]

I use the Malone SeaWings with my Gobi rack and crossbars. Load and unload is very easy.