Low Profile Roof Rack with Kayak Carrier

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KMGHMG

KMGHMG

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Threads
28
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172
Location
San Antonio, TX
Hey Guys,

I know there are a zillion threads on here about roof racks and kayak carriers. But, I haven't found what I'm looking for. So, here goes. We're planning a trip from Texas up to Durango, Moab, Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff, Washington State, Oregon, Northern California, then over to New England and down the east coast. We leave next May. It's an 8 month trip pulling our 1999 LX behind our RV. I want to take two kayaks on the trip and have them on the roof of the LX. Given the thousands of miles we'll be driving, it needs to be tough. Plus, I can't figure out if there will be more wind buffeting or less with the LX being right behind the RV. So, I want to be extra careful to get something that'll hold up to the conditions. Plus, when I'm back home and take the kayak carriers off, I'd like the roof rack to be low profile enough to get into the garage. I've taken off the stock roof rack. One last detail, my stock roof rack had two mounting points on each side rather than three, which I have heard is unusual.

Given the deep pool of wisdom on this forum, I figured you guys would have some ideas!

Thanks,
Matt
 
#justsayin but the Front Runner rack on top has been great. Lots of great accessories including kayak carriers.

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SmoothLC,

Thanks for the response. That looks like a good option in terms of the low profile. Reading the posts on Mud, everyone seems happy with the quality, too! I checked out their kayak racks, but I wonder if I can fit two kayaks side-by-side with their system. Need to measure, but my kayaks are 200 miles from me at the moment. My preference, I think anyway, is to use a j-cradle kayak rack so I can place them on their sides. I figure that'll give me more room for other stuff up top.

Thanks again!

Matt
 
I really love my gamiviti roof rack. Lower profile than the OEM rails.

It did a great job pulling this Christmas tree so I imagine it could handle your kayaks :)

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I really love my front runner. Only 80 pounds total. Sits about (I think) 4 inches from the top of the roof line. Modular design so if any one piece is bent or breaks you can just replace the one piece. A Ton of accessories and very sturdy.
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I personally like the Thule racks. If you want to easily fit 2 kayaks you may need the 78 inch bars. The racks the previous posters have discussed will only work with two kayaks if you mount them vertically. Works great but then you have a big sail that is going to be slapped around by the wind coming off the back of your RV.

Unless you have a taller garage door than standard no kayak rack will fit through the garage door as the saddles stick up too high. That being said, with Thule bars it takes about 1 minute each to remove or install so you can take them on and off as needed.
 
I can't speak to the specifics of what you're looking for, but my family and I have always used Thule products and have been extremely happy with the fitment and quality. I don't have plans right now for anything for the LC, but I had bars, feet, and ski carriers from them when I had my Subaru and was more than happy with how the package held up. I'll definitely get something from them again if needed.
 
The downside to the Thule and Yakima setups is the added height. Seems like their engineers are mostly focused on cars and just don't pay attention to how that added height affects the SUVs. My 100 - with no lift - topped out at 6'7" with a Yakima/Thule rack. That meant all 6'8" parking decks were off limits. That rack had to go.
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Manhattan said:
The downside to the Thule and Yakima setups is the added height. Seems like their engineers are mostly focused on cars and just don't pay attention to how that added height affects the SUVs. My 100 - with no lift - topped out at 6'7" with a Yakima/Thule rack. That meant all 6'8" parking decks were off limits. That rack had to go.
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So how do you carry kayaks on the roof? Saddles take up space.

I just don't park in ramps anymore. Most of the ones around me have clearances less than 6'6".
 
Manhattan said:
The downside to the Thule and Yakima setups is the added height. Seems like their engineers are mostly focused on cars and just don't pay attention to how that added height affects the SUVs. My 100 - with no lift - topped out at 6'7" with a Yakima/Thule rack. That meant all 6'8" parking decks were off limits. That rack had to go.
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Would you quit whoring out that picture, you're making the rest of us look bad! :)
 
Sorry spaber05... fixed it: ;)
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stonepa: I guess no system is ideal - I just don't like that the Yakima/Thule setups are essential a rack on a rack. Yeah, the saddles on any setup will be way over height on a 100. I wasn't thinking the saddles were always up there - that you pull them off when not carrying the boat.
 
Manhattan said:
The downside to the Thule and Yakima setups is the added height. Seems like their engineers are mostly focused on cars and just don't pay attention to how that added height affects the SUVs. My 100 - with no lift - topped out at 6'7" with a Yakima/Thule rack. That meant all 6'8" parking decks were off limits. That rack had to go.
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A couple years ago I bought those universal ski/snowboard attachments for the top of the factory rack and installed them in the garage. Then I was about to back out of the garage when I realized I wouldn't fit :doh: Off they came and went back to REI.
 
Looks like @stonepa and @RND1 got things dialed in pretty nice.

Don't do much kayaking, but if I did, I'd be checking either of those systems out.
 
outdoor7or24 said:
Does the moonroof still work with the gamiviti?
What is the payload of the gamiviti full rack?
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Yes, moonroof works as normal.

@nakman can answer the payload question better, but I've had mine fully loaded with RTT, wood and fuel. We've also sat in the RTT as a family while it rained. RTT, 2 adults, 3 kids, gear strapped to roof. The Gamiviti is STOUT! The low profile mounting brackets are genius. It sits lower than factory.
 
+1 for Thule bars. The added height is a good thing if you have a rear wind deflector/whale tail. It helps clear the top hatch when you open it. A naked rear hatch probably wouldn't see any benefit from the additional height.
Thule bars off for car washes. Thule bars on for kayak days and Home Depot runs. Or spend some money on something fancier. Either way, post up some pics when you figure it out.


...via IH8MUD app
 
This might help. I've not bought my rack, but have been researching--
The Gobi Stealth Rack comes standard with a wind deflector and built in cross bars that are compatible with the wide range of Thule and Yakima accessories.

just differentials said:
Next up was a roof rack, we went with the Gobi rack for a few reasons:

-Low profile (no higher then an OE rack w/ the Thule snowboard carrier)
-Sunroof remains fully functional via a quick release panel, actually runs as quiet as stock (if not quieter) because of the included wind fairing
-They come pre-wired for lights
-Extremely strong, didn't even bend or budge with over 200 lbs on top
-Direct bolt on to OE mounts
-Very lightweight, we have no increased body roll with the rack on top

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