Best Kayak, Canoe & SUP Car Racks
The DownLoader is our latest innovation in fold-down design thatdelivers convenient overhead clearance and large kayak transport capability. JAWZ mounting hardware fits round, square and most factory oval cross rails, includes both 60mm and 70mm pre-coated mounting bolts;Cam style load straps with buckle protectors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Not knowing, I attached the brackets directly to the bars, loaded the kayaks, strapped them in, and went on a three hour drive across Idaho. On the trip home driving 65mph there were strong crosswinds pressing on the kayaks, so strong that the front aero bar bent up on the left (see photo) and the continued force of the wind caused the right aero bar bracing to slip off the side rail. Thankfully the brace jammed on the inside edge of the side rail instead of flying completely off, and thankfully the Malone racks held strong, and the kayaks remained strapped tight. I pulled over, re-fit the left jammed side brace, moved the rack further out over the right bar bracing, and drove the rest of the way at about 50mph due to the prevailing winds and concern that the bent rack would slip out again."
"I have never had kayak carriers before. From reading reviews about the Malone Load Assist, it seemed to me that individuals that happen to post pictures & had problems did not use Malone kayak carriers."
"Long story short not only did I get it home in one piece but while unhooking it I realized my dad who helped me strap it down had put the tie down strap on the back carrier through a little wire bracket that is only there to keep the tie downs out of the way while loading it and unbelievably it didn't break off. (the tie downs are supposed to go around the actual bar on the rack, it will make sense when you see it in person). And with the convenience of never having to remove them sense they fold down there a definitely worth the extra $50 over the stationary ones."
"I installed these in the dark, with a large number of mosquitoes nipping at me. But I had some very nice Thule straps that have the little "mitten" for the cleat."
"Really wanted to give this a positive review, but the product showed up missing the clamps and bolts needed to actually attach it to my crossbars."
This Kayak Carrier designed mounts to virtually all crossbars and load bars on the market. Authentic TMS products are shipped in labeled boxes with item description (as shown in picture).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, you might need to have some kind of lubricant on hand to help some of these pieces to fit together more easily, a metal file, and you might have to (as I did) get some extra bolts that have a screw slot on the head instead of the round headed bolts that come with the unit. Take the shorter curved tube (part#2) and insert it into the square rubber piece (part#3). Next take the long tube (part#1) and insert it into the rubber part from the other side. NOTE: part#1 and part#2 have male/female endings so one tube slides into the other. Before you begin to put the bolts in place, you have to fit the large metal plate (part#4) snugly against the bottom of the rubber part#3. In my case, several of the bolts would not seat properly as they were supposed to, so that when it came tome to tighten down the nut on the bottom, the bolt's head would not "grab" into the square hole of plate #4 and the bolt would simply turn without tightening. The bolt heads are round (yes they look good, but...) and so there was no other way to keep the bolt from turning while I was trying to ratchet the nut from the bottom. Later after these are all bolted in place you can insert the two longer bolts (part#8) into the middle holes. Once the bolts are all inserted and the nuts tightened down (If your experience is like mine, you'll really enjoy this part) you are practically done with that part of the assembly that only has to be done once. You slide the narrow metal bracket (part#5) with the concave side facing the bottom of the larger metal plate and attach the wing-nuts (part#7), just to keep all the parts together."
"I needed some racks to haul my kayaks, so I went to a local big box store, and found a set of J-Racks for about $80 (a few cents less), plus tax. They work like a charm, hold securely at highway speeds, and do what they should do. I'm only going to gig my rating because of the length of the straps, and the lack of front and rear tie downs. Some have said (and there's a good Youtube video showing it) to put the blocks in boiling water to soften them up. I was about to do that, but I didn't feel like digging out the pot and firing up the stove (besides, with my luck I'd burn myself). The blocks are stiff, but you can pry them open while put the tubes in; it's really not that hard. (A ratchet box wrench is a great tool for assembly and mounting.). I can't vouch for round or square cross bars, but they work great on the Rola 59836 Hyundai Tucson Cross Bar I've got on my Tucson. They're wide, and not real thick, and the J-rack clamps tighten down just fine."
"larger kayaks catch a lot of wind sheer from semi trucks and make it scary to carry my Hobie Outback on this rack."
"As far as stability goes it's just about as good as the Thule rack mount, almost doesn't fit my square bars unless it's really tight though."
Compact: Folds for easy storage and transport; Tires can be easily removed with the lynch pin; Entire carrier can be stored in a large backpack or in your vessel while on the water.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I finally grabbed the stem with some needle nose pliers and pulled it up enough to attach my compressor hose. The cross bars that support the canoe are V shaped, and like the other carts, the V isn't deep enough for my Coleman Scanoe's keel. I cut off the foam padding and screwed 2X4's across the support bars to raise them so the keel didn't touch first. My Scanoe with the electric motor, battery, outriggers, throttle, steering, paddles, PFDs and other items weighs just under 160 lbs. I mount the cart near the center so it bears most of the weight and makes it easy for me to pull it around."
"Easy to use."
"Love it now a little rough @ first didn't realize I had a moveable kickstand."
"It's a good solid item but I had to leave it in the box taped up when not in use."
"Better than dragging your kayak on the sand."
"Sturdy build quality, will do the job just fine."
"Assembly was quick and easy; the tires smell like a refinery and so I could not have it in the house."
"I had a hard time getting my small kayak to stay on this."
Best Paddlesports Foam Block Rooftop Carriers
Includes four supporting foam blocks that snap on boat's gunwale and help prevent scratches on car top. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This worked great for my kayak for 1200 miles."
"Only downside is if the wind is blowing it can blow the foam blocks off the car before you get the yaks on."
"I would recommend this product for an inexpensive mounting product for your kayak."
"Had to add section of foam float noodles to the straps to reduce extreme wind sound."
"It worked great in spite of the fact the vehicle lack front or rear tie downs under the bumpers."
"Bought the first one for our kayak on my husband's Honda civic, this one is for our paddle board on my Focus."
"Easy to use, works well."
"I am looking for a better carrier now, a cheap carrier isn't so cheap if it damages your car."
Best Kayak & Canoe Car Trailers
Eliminate the headaches of loading boats, bikes and luggage onto your vehicle's roof, and save on gas by having your gear ride in your slipstream. This reliable MicroSport Trailer Package is perfect for transporting four kayaks and save you almost $79 over buying the items separately. 78" coated steel cross rails (fits most attachments), 2" hitch.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Malone Customer service stepped up to the plate and expedited all items that were missing. The only reason for the 4 stars is the initial lack of parts, but make no mistake, this trailer and the company behind it are top notch. Malone definitely strives for great customer service and I would not hesitate to recommend this trailer or any other product by this company. The convenience of the trailer is awesome and makes it easy for the wife and kids to just hitch up and go."
"Malone's J-Pro carriers are better built than competitors and have fabric surrounding the foam cushions, can be snugged up with the sewn-in velcro straps. I forget who the manufacturer is but the wiring to each light is a push in blade."
"If you are looking to make your life easier, save time and reduce lifting, this trailer is for you. Proof of purchase, VIN # and other documentation shipped separately and arrived 1-2 days after the trailer. Only negative comment is that the manufacturer should include more clips that hold the wires to the frame."
"However, I'd recommend Malone to replace the blue quick splice connectors attaching the wires to the amber side marker lights with a different option. Also the heat shrink connectors would be better options as this trailer and wires are exposed to water and weather."
"When the Texas DPS gave us a little trouble during the registration process the representative at Malone helped us get it resolved within hours."
"This has been a great investment and I've had a lot of compliments on my trailer."
Best Kayak & Canoe Car Racks
The J-DownLoader with Bow and Stern includes everything you need to carry one kayak vertically on your roof top. JAWZ mounting hardware fits round, square and most factory oval cross rails, includes both 60mm and 70mm pre-coated mounting bolts;Cam style load straps with buckle protectors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Not knowing, I attached the brackets directly to the bars, loaded the kayaks, strapped them in, and went on a three hour drive across Idaho. On the trip home driving 65mph there were strong crosswinds pressing on the kayaks, so strong that the front aero bar bent up on the left (see photo) and the continued force of the wind caused the right aero bar bracing to slip off the side rail. Thankfully the brace jammed on the inside edge of the side rail instead of flying completely off, and thankfully the Malone racks held strong, and the kayaks remained strapped tight. I pulled over, re-fit the left jammed side brace, moved the rack further out over the right bar bracing, and drove the rest of the way at about 50mph due to the prevailing winds and concern that the bent rack would slip out again."
"I have never had kayak carriers before. From reading reviews about the Malone Load Assist, it seemed to me that individuals that happen to post pictures & had problems did not use Malone kayak carriers."
"Long story short not only did I get it home in one piece but while unhooking it I realized my dad who helped me strap it down had put the tie down strap on the back carrier through a little wire bracket that is only there to keep the tie downs out of the way while loading it and unbelievably it didn't break off. (the tie downs are supposed to go around the actual bar on the rack, it will make sense when you see it in person). And with the convenience of never having to remove them sense they fold down there a definitely worth the extra $50 over the stationary ones."
"I installed these in the dark, with a large number of mosquitoes nipping at me. But I had some very nice Thule straps that have the little "mitten" for the cleat."
"Really wanted to give this a positive review, but the product showed up missing the clamps and bolts needed to actually attach it to my crossbars."
Best Canoeing Equipment
This Kayak Carrier designed mounts to virtually all crossbars and load bars on the market. Authentic TMS products are shipped in labeled boxes with item description (as shown in picture).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Also, you might need to have some kind of lubricant on hand to help some of these pieces to fit together more easily, a metal file, and you might have to (as I did) get some extra bolts that have a screw slot on the head instead of the round headed bolts that come with the unit. Take the shorter curved tube (part#2) and insert it into the square rubber piece (part#3). Next take the long tube (part#1) and insert it into the rubber part from the other side. NOTE: part#1 and part#2 have male/female endings so one tube slides into the other. Before you begin to put the bolts in place, you have to fit the large metal plate (part#4) snugly against the bottom of the rubber part#3. In my case, several of the bolts would not seat properly as they were supposed to, so that when it came tome to tighten down the nut on the bottom, the bolt's head would not "grab" into the square hole of plate #4 and the bolt would simply turn without tightening. The bolt heads are round (yes they look good, but...) and so there was no other way to keep the bolt from turning while I was trying to ratchet the nut from the bottom. Later after these are all bolted in place you can insert the two longer bolts (part#8) into the middle holes. Once the bolts are all inserted and the nuts tightened down (If your experience is like mine, you'll really enjoy this part) you are practically done with that part of the assembly that only has to be done once. You slide the narrow metal bracket (part#5) with the concave side facing the bottom of the larger metal plate and attach the wing-nuts (part#7), just to keep all the parts together."
"I needed some racks to haul my kayaks, so I went to a local big box store, and found a set of J-Racks for about $80 (a few cents less), plus tax. They work like a charm, hold securely at highway speeds, and do what they should do. I'm only going to gig my rating because of the length of the straps, and the lack of front and rear tie downs. Some have said (and there's a good Youtube video showing it) to put the blocks in boiling water to soften them up. I was about to do that, but I didn't feel like digging out the pot and firing up the stove (besides, with my luck I'd burn myself). The blocks are stiff, but you can pry them open while put the tubes in; it's really not that hard. (A ratchet box wrench is a great tool for assembly and mounting.). I can't vouch for round or square cross bars, but they work great on the Rola 59836 Hyundai Tucson Cross Bar I've got on my Tucson. They're wide, and not real thick, and the J-rack clamps tighten down just fine."
"larger kayaks catch a lot of wind sheer from semi trucks and make it scary to carry my Hobie Outback on this rack."
"As far as stability goes it's just about as good as the Thule rack mount, almost doesn't fit my square bars unless it's really tight though."
Best Vehicle Cargo Carriers
Smart, rugged mesh floors make clean-up quick and easy. Durable powder coat finish resists the elements, scratches and rust. Optional light kits available: ROLA #59516 LED Light Kit or ROLA #20174 Incandescent Light Kit; Optional Bike Clips available: ROLA #59904 Dart Fork Mounted Bike Clip. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After researching many other hitch racks, I bought this Pro Series rack for a long trip from Georgia to Utah and back. The "stinger," which is the part that slides into your vehicle receiver hitch, has an upward bend that gives the rack more ground clearance. Another advantage of the extra ground clearance is that the rack sits high enough that it is totally protected by the vehicle. As you drive, the rack is in the vehicle's slipstream, so there's no additional drag that reduces gas mileage as you drive. With some racks, you might risk having the exhaust melt your cargo bag. Buy a locking hitch pin on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009V1WS4/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_10), which is helpful to keep the rack from being stolen while you're spending the night in a hotel. The hitch tightener will prevent that wobble, so as you're driving down the road and hit a rough patch, you won't hear a bumping sound from the hitch rack behind you. Buy a quality cargo carrying bag to use with your rack. The bag also comes with built in lashing straps so you can secure the bag to the cargo rack. If you are looking at other hitch racks, don't get caught up in how much weight they will hold. You will also want to check the tongue weight rating on your vehicle to see if your vehicle can even withstand 500 lbs of tongue weight. As I was driving across the country, I saw many other vehicles with hitch racks."
"This is a very rugged rack."
"I like the tight mesh floor, but if you use the Pro Series 7330 Stretch Net Cargo Net it is hard to get the large plastic hooks into, so I got creative with a combo of hooking to rails and wrapping under to hooks from other side of net."
"12460 TELESCOPIC SAFETY FLAG. For legality reasons, rear side markers in the form of 1" red reflector tape trimmed to height of vertical side supports (Purchased at local hardware store but similar to the product below). Salzmann Waterproof Diamond Grade 3M Scotchlite reflective stickers. StowAway Hitch Tightener. License plate relocation with light for DOT compliance: LAMPHUS Cruizer Horizontal Bar Clamp Mounting Kit 1"/ 1.5"/ 1.75" (Includes 1 clamp). Peterson M436B Clear License Plate Light with Steel Bracket. The mounts/clamps for the license plate did not fit snug enough over the square tube, but this was fixed with a small 1-1/2" long piece of serpentine belt placed into one of the side of the mount before placing over the bar."
Best Vehicle Sports Rack Parts & Accessories
Size: 6pk Black. Features silver protectant finish that offers a rich appearance and 3x more corrosion resistance.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The straps themselves are fairly heavy, compared to some thinner straps I purchased not long ago at Harbor Freight."
"I use them to tie down my 18 foot hobie tandem island to the trailer.I was a little concerned that they wouldnt hold on a long trip but performed beautifully.They,re a great time saver verses ratchet straps.I was always worried about over tightening with the ratchet straps."
"Ordered 1 box last Christmas and when I bought more ornament boxes I ordered another set of these straps."
"I have been using these straps to carry my heavy canoe on my mini van on more than 2 dozen highway trips and this has held on quite well."
"Anyone who has memory foam mattress, this tool is ideal for packaging when you move. it bends the mattress and makes everything easy, but if you have 12-in thick memory foam, you probably need to vacuum your mattress."
"I was looking for some straps to use on sleeping bags so these seemed to fit the bill."
"easy to unlock that is why I chose them the service was excellent as well I received them very fast this is the 2nd time I have bought some of these tie downs I needed more and they are easy to use."
"These Cartman 1" x 12' Lashing Straps are real handy for lashing and binding all sorts of things."