show us your kayak/canoe mounts or methods

[landcruiser3DP]

I removed my factory roof rack and did a wet install with sealant with new fasteners to keep water out. This will give you better space allocation for some solid gutter mounted crossbars from Yakima or Thule.

thanks man. so you unscrewed the OEM rack, pulled it off, cleaned it up. then you put down NP-1 (which i guess is metal to metal?) or something basically...?
let it sit for 24 hours?
any idea on what type of screw? stainless? zinc galvanized...?

 

[ZackR]

Yakima racks on mine - tough and easy to remove when not needed. I only install my rack if I'm using it, then I take it off (5min) and hang it up in the garage. These are widely available used, I got a nearly new tower and crossbar package on craigslist for $100.

I also mount my roof top tent to this rack (130lbs) and it works just fine. Next step is long crossbars so I can mount the stand up paddlebaords in addition to the tent, similar to @icorradoi .

 

[retrofive]

Same here. Been running the yakima setup for years on all my cars/trucks. Cheap and easy to find on CL around here.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

I think I understand what you are asking, but I am not 100% sure. Yes, the 1A Raingutter Tower like you show in the picture fits the 80 series and most other vehicles with actual raingutters. A few cars need the "high rise" extender blocks to make the tower taller to clear a bubble top or something like that, but on an 80 Series, those aren't needed.

A quick search on eBay shows that there are lots of used ones available. They are pretty tough, but the one thing that can happen is that the hand wheel to tighten the tower to the gutter can get stripped out so be aware of that when buying used. They can also accept a lock cylinder and many of the sets on eBay have them. The keys are all still available from Yakima along with the lock cylinders(they are numbered on the back side of the lock cylinder).

There is no real consensus between Yakima and Thule, at least for this application. Square bar vs. round bar but really, they are about the same in terms of quality. Most Yakima accessories like bike racks, kayak cradles, etc. will fit on either Yakima or Thule.

I have had both but I have had several sets of the Yakima towers over the years and I have never had a problem with them.

thanks a lot for all the help. got it. going to keep my eyes open for the 1A style and maybe redo the OEM.
APPRECIATE IT.

 

[Red Merle]

thanks a lot for all the help. got it. going to keep my eyes open for the 1A style and maybe redo the OEM.
APPRECIATE IT.

There are some great threads regarding removing the factory rack if you search.

Good luck!

 

[landcruiser3DP]

There are some great threads regarding removing the factory rack if you search.

Good luck!

thanks for everything and for the heads up. here is the first result from google for “repair” for anyone interested but i’ll post an R&R when i find it:

Factory Rack Removal Options?

I picked up a roof rack recently. And would like to remove my stock system completely. What are other options besides welding and a repaint/liner methods. I know they have a cover up kit for the 100s now. I was thinking of some large color matched rivets/washers possibly. My paint is good and is...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Red Merle]

Same here. Been running the yakima setup for years on all my cars/trucks. Cheap and easy to find on CL around here.

I kinda think the Yakima set-up is better than a lot of the basket style full roof racks that I see. Those look cool, but in terms of using any of the available accessories from other companies they seem lacking. Plus, the width of them makes it tough to get anything wider than the roof up there which is a no go if you want more than one thing up there.

I will say though that buying a hitch rack for my bikes was a good decision vs. trying to hoist bikes up on top of the 80. I am only 5'9" though and I need a step stool to get them up there without running the risk of driving a handlebar into my eye or something.

I can reach to load boats though from the ground, which is mainly what I use the roof rack for.

 

[LC4LIFE]

I use Thule gutter mounts with their load bars and some cheapo Ebay kayak saddles for the single person, a foam saddle for the two person kayak. Works like a champ.

 

[jaymar]

agreed. But if you want to set it and forget it; add a tie at the bow. triangulate it with both tow points under the front bumper.
Then you confidently say, 'that SOB aint going anywhere'.

View attachment 1921751

And don’t stick your head out the window trying to adjust if things go wonky. Ask us how we know...

 

[landcruiser3DP]

anyone know if this thule traverse is a good option and fits the 80 series? i’ve got a line on a pair used but don’t want to buy it if it sucks or won’t fit...

 

[Red Merle]

anyone know if this thule traverse is a good option and fits the 80 series? i’ve got a line on a pair used but don’t want to buy it if it sucks or won’t fit...

Looks like a different style of towers which clip to the contour of the roof in the aircraft style door that that car has.

The 80 has a raingutter. Use a tower that was designed for those. They are way better than any of the Q-clip, Q-tower type sets(I forget what Thule calls theirs)

It probably won't fit and trying to rig it to the raingutter somehow is sketchy as hell.

 

[Twinair]

I have the Front Runner load bars and gutter mounts. Two ratchet straps hooked onto the adjustable eyebolts on the rack are all that's needed to secure a 16' aluminium canoe to the top. It becomes a part of the truck and is quite stable at highway speeds in excess of 70 mph.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

Looks like a different style of towers which clip to the contour of the roof in the aircraft style door that that car has.

The 80 has a raingutter. Use a tower that was designed for those. They are way better than any of the Q-clip, Q-tower type sets(I forget what Thule calls theirs)

It probably won't fit and trying to rig it to the raingutter somehow is sketchy as hell.

thanks a lot RM. still on the search here then. those yakima 1A towers seem a tad hard to find.
and i gave away a set about three years ago after they didn’t sell at a yard sale to boot.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

I have the Front Runner load bars and gutter mounts. Two ratchet straps hooked onto the adjustable eyebolts on the rack are all that's needed to secure a 16' aluminium canoe to the top. It becomes a part of the truck and is quite stable at highway speeds in excess of 70 mph.

hey TA.
thanks for that. so you are talking these?
should i think of them as MORE durable than the yakima 1A’s?
and are these as strong and will they hold as much weight as anything else out there?
or is there something even more durable?
now that i think about it getting something for heavier loads would be a good idea too...
THANKS

Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Load Bar Kit / Gutter Mount - by Front Runner

A set of Gutter Mounted Load Bars used to transport gear on the roof of your vehicle when there’s no need for a full Front Runner Roof Rack. This low profile, smaller footprint solution includes 4 120mm Gutter Mount legs, 2 1345mm Load Bars, 1 10mm Roof Load Bar Wind Deflector and fitting...

www.frontrunneroutfitters.com

 

[Twinair]

hey TA.
thanks for that. so you are talking these?
should i think of them as MORE durable than the yakima 1A’s?
and are these as strong and will they hold as much weight as anything else out there?
or is there something even more durable?
now that i think about it getting something for heavier loads would be a good idea too...
THANKS

Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Load Bar Kit / Gutter Mount - by Front Runner

A set of Gutter Mounted Load Bars used to transport gear on the roof of your vehicle when there’s no need for a full Front Runner Roof Rack. This low profile, smaller footprint solution includes 4 120mm Gutter Mount legs, 2 1345mm Load Bars, 1 10mm Roof Load Bar Wind Deflector and fitting...

www.frontrunneroutfitters.com

Those are the ones. They appear to have redesigned the gutter mounts. These bars are quite stout but lightweight.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

Those are the ones. They appear to have redesigned the gutter mounts. These bars are quite stout but lightweight.

so if i wanted to pull the trigger on something is there a reasonably significant upgrade with these over the yakima towers?

 

[Sc0-]

Custom flat aluminum tube rack with pool noodles using 8ea gutter mounts.

 

[SweetTNFJ80]

I picked up some Frontrunner Loadbars and have Yakima towers. You will probably want to keep yours flat. NRS cam straps are the trick for roof loading any boat. They are a prominent raft supply company. If you need a tutorial of how to use them to secure your boat, there is probably some good resources on the YouTube. But hey, as long as its secure, who cares! Have fun!

 

[SweetTNFJ80]

also if you go for a gutter mount crossbar system, I like these:

Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Load Bar Kit / Gutter Mount - by Front Runner

A set of Gutter Mounted Load Bars used to transport gear on the roof of your vehicle when there’s no need for a full Front Runner Roof Rack. This low profile, smaller footprint solution includes 4 120mm Gutter Mount legs, 2 1345mm Load Bars, 1 10mm Roof Load Bar Wind Deflector and fitting...

www.frontrunneroutfitters.com

Made specifically for the 80 by a trusted overlander brand. I have been kayaking a long time and have had every system but Thule. I think this is my favorite so far.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

I picked up some Frontrunner Loadbars and have Yakima towers. You will probably want to keep yours flat. NRS cam straps are the trick for roof loading any boat. They are a prominent raft supply company. If you need a tutorial of how to use them to secure your boat, there is probably some good resources on the YouTube. But hey, as long as its secure, who cares! Have fun!
View attachment 1969556

can you walk me through what you mean by “frontrunner load bars and yakima towers”? and then what is the point about keeping them (the cross members?) flat?

you are saying you bought reinforced front runner cross members and are using 4 yakima 1A towers?!