I know there are other posts about roof mounting systems, roof racks, roof top tents, etc., but I am not finding anything that directly address what I am trying to do.
I'm trying to determine what my limits are in carrying multiple kayaks on the stock roof rack (or possibly the stock side rails with aftermarket cross bars).
I have four Jackson Riviera Kayaks that weigh 58 lbs each. The sticker on my stock roof rack says 150lbs limit (other online postings have said 165lbs). From what I have read on mud and other places, the weak point on the stock rack is the cross bars, not the side rails (fyi my 2000 LC side rails mount in 3 spots on each rail, but my wife's 2004 LX470 side rails only mount on 2 spots). I would presume the side rails with 3 mounting spots each on my 2000 LC is better than the LX.... All questions here are related to my 2000 LC side rails mounted in 3 points each (hope that makes sense)...
The Jackson Riviera kayaks will stack on top of each other, and "lock" together (the top one upside down and front to back); and I can actually fit all four kayaks on the stock roof rack flat and side by side (2 stacked on top of each other). When I put only two Kayaks on top (sitting on top of each other), they are sitting exclusively on the factory cross bars and the cross bars are pretty "bouncy" and flex (I have done this many times and it works well); but when I put all four kayaks on the roof (2 stacked on top of each other, and side by side), the kayaks are closer to the side rails with a good portion of the kayak actually sitting on the side rails and not as much on the bouncy cross bars, and it is really fairly evenly distributed and seems really sturdy and less bouncy. I'll try to post some pictures in the next day or two.
HOWEVER, this would put the total weight at 232lbs (82lbs over the limit), albeit very evenly distributed, with much of the weight on the side rails as opposed to the cross bars.
Is this a really bad idea? I wouldn't really be doing any serious off roading loaded like this, but I might be going 70mph on a highway for an hour or so. Is this a structural weight limit, or would that much weight compromise handling?
I have considered getting Thule or Yakima towers and cross bars to mount on the factory side rails, but their websites still say that the weight limit would still be 150lbs, so it really only seems like I would be getting less bouncy cross bars, but not really any additional weight capacity?
Anyone have any thoughts, advice, or experience. Anyone have cross bars fail, or side rails fail, or ripped off the roof? I could see the cross bars failing, but honestly the side rails seem pretty stout?
Hopefully someone has some experience here.
Lee
I'm trying to determine what my limits are in carrying multiple kayaks on the stock roof rack (or possibly the stock side rails with aftermarket cross bars).
I have four Jackson Riviera Kayaks that weigh 58 lbs each. The sticker on my stock roof rack says 150lbs limit (other online postings have said 165lbs). From what I have read on mud and other places, the weak point on the stock rack is the cross bars, not the side rails (fyi my 2000 LC side rails mount in 3 spots on each rail, but my wife's 2004 LX470 side rails only mount on 2 spots). I would presume the side rails with 3 mounting spots each on my 2000 LC is better than the LX.... All questions here are related to my 2000 LC side rails mounted in 3 points each (hope that makes sense)...
The Jackson Riviera kayaks will stack on top of each other, and "lock" together (the top one upside down and front to back); and I can actually fit all four kayaks on the stock roof rack flat and side by side (2 stacked on top of each other). When I put only two Kayaks on top (sitting on top of each other), they are sitting exclusively on the factory cross bars and the cross bars are pretty "bouncy" and flex (I have done this many times and it works well); but when I put all four kayaks on the roof (2 stacked on top of each other, and side by side), the kayaks are closer to the side rails with a good portion of the kayak actually sitting on the side rails and not as much on the bouncy cross bars, and it is really fairly evenly distributed and seems really sturdy and less bouncy. I'll try to post some pictures in the next day or two.
HOWEVER, this would put the total weight at 232lbs (82lbs over the limit), albeit very evenly distributed, with much of the weight on the side rails as opposed to the cross bars.
Is this a really bad idea? I wouldn't really be doing any serious off roading loaded like this, but I might be going 70mph on a highway for an hour or so. Is this a structural weight limit, or would that much weight compromise handling?
I have considered getting Thule or Yakima towers and cross bars to mount on the factory side rails, but their websites still say that the weight limit would still be 150lbs, so it really only seems like I would be getting less bouncy cross bars, but not really any additional weight capacity?
Anyone have any thoughts, advice, or experience. Anyone have cross bars fail, or side rails fail, or ripped off the roof? I could see the cross bars failing, but honestly the side rails seem pretty stout?
Hopefully someone has some experience here.
Lee