Homemade cartop kayak carrier

[reservoirdawg]

Have any of you made a kayak carrier for your vehicle? I drive a tahoe and didn't want to spend $100+ on a carrier. Thanks!

[bfish]

Does your tahoe have a luggage rack?

[reservoirdawg]

Sure does.

[bfish]

you should be good to go. If you kayaks touches the roof, you can always use 2x4 as crossbars and have the wood lashed to the side rails of the luggage rack. I suggest using cam straps in this fashion: http://www.nrs.com/kayaks/tiedown.asp

[crappiecrazy]

I carry kayak on a Tahoe luggage rack. I split swim noodles with pocket knife and zip tied to cross bars. Keeps yak from sliding around as bad.

[Greenwood]

Just make sure to tighten it properly, because it's a very serious safety issue. There is a special mounting on that hold the yak on kayak carriers like yakima or tule, so it doesn't have a chance to slide whenever you brake or turn.

[ILRiverRat]

$100? really? I bought some J bar racks off Amazon for less than $30 and they work great. Here they are showing my Old Town on my Cherokee. Most of the time I just throw them in the pickup bed.



Just search Amazon for Kayak Carriers and you'll see a bunch.

[canebreaker]

I caught the cam straps at Harbor Freight 2-pk 15 ft. for $2.99. I couldn't find them in a search. I have an unopened pack in the truck. I'll get the part number later.
These don't have hooks on the ends, this style.
Metal Cam Straps w/ 3/4 inch Polyester
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Strapwork...5-ft./48013976

[wolfhnd]

I welded up my own because the original cross bars are convex. I now have nice flat cross bars for carrying lumber. The after market cross bars are dangerous I would stay away from them. In any case never tie you ropes to the cross bars I use 6 ropes all tied to the rails and my cross bars cannot come lose even if they lose their bolts.

[SeaRay]

I saw a double one made of PVC and it was a simple build. Regret not taking a couple of pictures, cause I never seen it again.