Thread: Sea to Summit Soft Rack

One is better off with a hard rack like a Thule or Yakima. Soft racks rub, rubbing can lead to wear spots in the vehicle paint. With a hard rack, all you need is feet, towers, and crossbars, everything is non-essential. Often times deals can be found on craigslist on towers and crossbars (and then buy new feet to fit your vehicle).

Am weighing all the options won't normally be transporting on a car but car is what we are taking on vacation to Louisiana. Wanting to get on some red fishing down there. May just end up renting a yak after I get there.

How big is your yak? I used to use something like that when I had an Accord. It was several pieces of hard styrafoam, which i put on my car, then ratcheted the kayak down on top of that. It worked OK for me, as long as I ratcheted it down in the front and back of the boat. I never drove cross country however.

Well I bought it don't know if I am gonna use it on the trip yet but will give it a try and let you guys know once I have used it enough to know.

I have a similar inflate-a-rack thingy made by Malone (I believe). I haven't really had it on long trips, maybe 45 min one way, speeds around 65-70 at times, though I try to use less traveled roads with lower speed limits when I can. My truck doesn't have rails for a hard rack, and my 13' kayak is too long to put in the bed.

The paint on my truck is shot so I wasn't worried about that, but yeah, it'd chew it up quickly. You could probably wash the roof and put some towels or something underneath first, which might help.

As far as securing whatever you get, just make sure you've got a lot of straps. The inflatable racks definitely give a bit when you tighten the straps, so the yak will move around a bit at highway speeds if not secured well. I bought some cambuckle (?) and ratchet straps. Gotta be careful you don't ratchet it down too tightly and break your kayak. I looped some rope under my hood and ran a strap through that rope and up through two scuppers; did the same going through the back and into the bed of the truck. I use ratchets for those. I use the other straps (2) around the body, again through scuppers, and then through the inside of the truck. It definitely won't fly off, that's for sure, but I certainly stop to check it every once in a while.


ETA: I just noticed you're in Kansas. Where at? I'm in Wichita.

You might check out the VersaRail from Malone. It is a removable rack for those of us who don't have racks on our vehicles.