15' Kayak on my 2015 LX570 roof rack?

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marcfj60

marcfj60

15 Year
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Threads
211
Messages
4,522
Location
Sandia Park, NM
I have a 2015 LX570. It has the stock, really short side rails, roof rack. I'm talking like maybe 4' long. On my '99 LC100 the stock rack was more like 6' long. I'd like to put some Yakima load bars and side rail clamps on the LX570 to carry my Native Watercraft Ultimate FX15 Tandem but I'm kind of concerned about how short the factory rack is and that I won't be able to get the Yakima bars far enough apart to adequately support the kayak. I use the Yakima Hully Roller system secured to the Yakima Load bars to hold the kayak in place. But with only ~4' between the load bars and the whole rack being biased toward the rear of the vehicle, I'm kind of concerned about the 5-6' overhang off both ends of my ~100 lbs kayak. Has anybody else had success (or failure) with these short factory roof racks? A full length roof rack like the Gamiviti @nakman I've got on my LC100 is probably in the future but not for a while. But I need to tow my travel trailer and haul my Kayak to the lake next month and the LC100 isn't up for the task of towing my 5K travel trailer very well.
 
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marcfj60 said:
I have a 2015 LX570. It has the stock, really short side rails, roof rack. I'm talking like maybe 4' long. On my '99 LC100 the stock rack was more like 6' long. I'd like to put some Yakima load bars and side rail clamps on the LX570 to carry my Native Watercraft Ultimate FX15 Tandem but I'm kind of concerned about how short the factory rack is and that I won't be able to get the Yakima bars far enough apart to adequately support the kayak. I use the Yakima Hully Roller system secured to the Yakima Load bars to hold the kayak in place. But with only ~4' between the load bars and the whole rack being biased toward the rear of the vehicle, I'm kind of concerned about the 5-6' overhang off both ends of my ~100 lbs kayak. Has anybody else had success (or failure) with these short factory roof racks? A full length roof rack like the Gamiviti I've got on my LC100 is probabaly in the future but not for a while. But I need to tow my travel trailer and haul my Kayak to the lake next month and the LC100 isn't up for the task of towing my 5K travel trailer very well.
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Here's a picture of my two Pygmy Boats Cohos, 16.5 feet long on the stock roof rack. I have foam blocks that they rest on. They weigh about 50 pounds each, ready to put in the water - safety gear and all.

_RX10875.webp

No problems during some six-thousand miles of travel at speeds up 80 MPH. I wish I had a rear tie-down though. That would have kept them a bit more stable during high cross-winds. I don't know if this rack is the same as what is on your LX570, but hope it helps anyways. No, the rear gate does not open with them on. That is a pain. A really big one. 🤬
 
LCH21 said:
Here's a picture of my two Pygmy Boats Cohos, 16.5 feet long on the stock roof rack. I have foam blocks that they rest on. They weigh about 50 pounds each, ready to put in the water - safety gear and all.

View attachment 4132201
No problems during some six-thousand miles of travel at speeds up 80 MPH. I wish I had a rear tie-down though. That would have kept them a bit more stable during high cross-winds. I don't know if this rack is the same as what is on your LX570, but hope it helps anyways. No, the rear gate does not open with them on. That is a pain. A really big one. 🤬
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This is a good data point but a little bit of an apple to orange. The OEM rack on my '15 LX is only secured at the ends (2 support points), no center support like your LC rack, and is about 12" shorter with the front mount sitting a little aft of the B-pillar. I am hoping the extra height the Yakima load bars and Hully Roller system adds will allow me to open the rear lift gate. I'm going to do some test fits this weekend to see how it all works out. Image stolen from the internet but I have the same setup.

1777571071620.webp
 
LCH21 said:
Here's a picture of my two Pygmy Boats Cohos ...

No problems during some six-thousand miles of travel at speeds up 80 MPH. I wish I had a rear tie-down though. That would have kept them a bit more stable during high cross-winds.
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@LCH21 What about using an EE Low Profile Recovery Hitch as a tie down point?
 
You can probably pick up a stock LC200 rack for cheap or free from a member upgrading to aftermarket. That would add an extra 2' or so to the length of the rack and the LX has the mounting points for it. I know @nakman usually has some lying around, but if you're making the trip up to his place, you might as well get the real deal Gamiviti rack :cool:
 
yeah Marc come on up! But it's really only about 1' difference.. the mount locations in front are really close just like they are on the 100 series, and they taper the front mount back a ton so the rail doesn't start until pretty far back.

One other option though is to add a set of roof channel towers and a single cross bar in front of your stock rack? Could be something you only mount up when hauling the canoe.. just put bolts in those open holes when not using it. You'd just have to remove that rubber channel cover in front of the forward mount. and if you wanted a second cross bar in back, we'd do that with our wing brackets across your stock rails.. ;)
 
Heckraiser said:
You can probably pick up a stock LC200 rack for cheap or free from a member upgrading to aftermarket. That would add an extra 2' or so to the length of the rack and the LX has the mounting points for it. I know @nakman usually has some lying around, but if you're making the trip up to his place, you might as well get the real deal Gamiviti rack :cool:
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I had the exact same thoughts.
 
nakman said:
yeah Marc come on up! But it's really only about 1' difference.. the mount locations in front are really close just like they are on the 100 series, and they taper the front mount back a ton so the rail doesn't start until pretty far back.

One other option though is to add a set of roof channel towers and a single cross bar in front of your stock rack? Could be something you only mount up when hauling the canoe.. just put bolts in those open holes when not using it. You'd just have to remove that rubber channel cover in front of the forward mount. and if you wanted a second cross bar in back, we'd do that with our wing brackets across your stock rails.. ;)
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Yeah, I saw how the front mount is only an extra foot. ‘nice’ thing about my new LX is all the rubber channel trim is long gone. I’m guessing blown out after 11 years of high pressure car washes.
 
marcfj60 said:
I have a set of Yakima bars and brackets. I’m just worried about how close together they will be when mounted to the short LX rails.
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Take a look at the picture of my white LX. No problem with an 18’6” sea kayak and a canoe. You are over thinking it.

Load up and have fun!
 
stonepa said:
Take a look at the picture of my white LX. No problem with an 18’6” sea kayak and a canoe. You are over thinking it.

Load up and have fun!
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It all depends on the weight and how well you can grab the kayak or canoe.

A 19ft HobTandem Island weighs in at around 135lbs and has no good square surface to grab onto bow and stern.

Per a Google search a 18,7ft canoe weighs around 45lbs and certainly a canoe upside down has a good edge to grab onto bow and stern. Handled those in and out of the water, they are indeed not heavy.

So it all depends weight and shape. Not considering this can be quite a surprise or worse lead to back issues.

All in all good luck in getting a suitable setup.
 
2021 LC200 said:
It all depends on the weight and how well you can grab the kayak or canoe.

A 19ft HobTandem Island weighs in at around 135lbs and has no good square surface to grab onto bow and stern.

Per a Google search a 18,7ft canoe weighs around 45lbs and certainly a canoe upside down has a good edge to grab onto bow and stern. Handled those in and out of the water, they are indeed not heavy.

So it all depends weight and shape. Not considering this can be quite a surprise or worse lead to back issues.

All in all good luck in getting a suitable setup.
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Good thing there are lots of ways to slide a kayak up the back if needed. I throw a life jacket on the rear spoiler and slide the kayak over that and onto the rack. Works great even with my 95lb Old Town Loon tandem.
 
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