Transporting Kayak on SUV

Hey guys, new Kayaker here...or soon to be. Bought an Ascend FS128T and am just waiting on getting the paddle and PFD and everything to tackle the maiden voyage. Got it home in friend's truck.

With that said, I'm having some trouble feeling comfortable transporting my kayak on my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I ordered some crossbars for my roof rails and have them installed. I've got two tow hooks on the front of the vehicle that I can tie the bow to in addition to strapping it down on the crossbars. My problem is that I don't have any place on the rear of the vehicle to run a line down and anchor the stern. I don't have a hitch..it's all just glorified plastic back there. For those of you that are putting your kayak on racks, do you always anchor both front and back or is it just added protection? The bow rope should prevent the kayak from slipping backwards. The only thing I can think of to anchor it from slipping forward is to maybe put a rope through one of the scuppers and attach it to the roof crossbar. I'm a little worried about putting that added pressure on it but that is my only option at this point.

Really just looking for advice from this community as I'm sure there are those that have been down this avenue before. If I go with a J rack setup, does it still require anchoring bow/stern?

Any info is appreciated. Looking forward to joining the kayak navy.

when i had my suv i just tied down both ends of the rails and it held fine long distances worked fine as well!!!

I would bow and stern anchor no matter what I used to haul it. Unless of course when I put it inside my yukon like I used to do for bass tourneys. Just layed all the seats down and the front passenger all the way back and ran that big old fish n dive from the front window to the back.

I've got an older model 98 Grand Cherokee and I use the factory roof racks.
I padded the bars and just lay the straps over the kayak and around the rack bar and cinch it down. I also tie the bow with a strap attached under the front bumper. I have a hitch so the rear is no problem.
Short distances I don't put the rear strap on.
I've never had any problems even after traveling at highway speeds with the kayak becoming loose.
After lashing down the kayak and if you are still queezy about carrying the kayak on the roof open both rear doors and run a strap all the way around the kayak and through the open doors and cinch it down, then close the doors. The kayak isn't going to go anywhere!

See if you have access to hook it on the frame in the rear, look at some videos for installing drop hitches and they might show some openings in the frame you can hook to.

FYI, I used to put mine on top of my FJCruiser if the cross bars spread enough to get 1/3 the length of the kayak inside the straps I did not use nose/tail unless I was going on the highway for a long distance.

Thanks for the replies guys. I've looked under the rear of the vehicle and there just isn't anything to hook onto. I'm slowly coming to the realization that I'm about to add a drop hitch to the Jeep. It's $115 I didn't intend to spend, but what good is a kayak if you can't transport it safely to the lake/river?

Of course, as I start thinking about adding a hitch...I start thinking about "how much would a trailer run me?"....I get the sensation that I'm on a slope of some kind...and it is awfully slippery

I opted for the FS128T...and that thing isn't light by any stretch, so loading/unloading is likely to become a chore in and of itself.

I got a sweet little 2 kayak trailer for sale. But I warn you, if you get that you will be wanting to buy another kayak before you know it...

A Hobie Pro Angler would fit nicely on that trailer that could go behind that new hitch!

I use the Yamika Evenkeel saddles on my crossbars on my 4Runner. https://www.yakima.com/evenkeel

I then use two straps around the kayak, and a rope on the front and on the tail (but I do not think the tail rope is needed, I just do it for insurance). The straps keep it very secure! I highly recommend the Yakima saddles.

Now, if I could just figure a way to get the heavy kayak up on the roof more easily (I am getting too old)!!

Here you go.

My wife has one on top of her Sequoia and loads her 15 1/2 foot Zephyr by herself with no problem.

I drive a Ford Explorer and have been transporting kayaks on the roof racks for 10 years with no problems. I normally will buy a large pool noodle and cut it in half and put the kayak on top with no bow or stern anchoring. However, now my 12 year old daughter has a kayak and transporting 2 kayaks on the SUV is impossible without buying expensive saddles. So I too am in the market for a small converted Harbor Freight type of trailer. Many times you can find those cheaper than Yakima roof racks, etc.

Plus after an all day paddle, the last thing I want to do is lift the kayak by myself on to the roof.

That Thule assist carrier looks pretty awesome. However, I bought OEM racks for my Jeep, so i'd be back to square one with that. My dad is getting a kayak too and we're wanting to head to to Lower Mountain Fork for some trout fishing...so really, getting a trailer is probably something that was in the long term anyway. The harbor freight trailers look pretty enticing. My dad is a welder, so buying it and augmenting it to fit our needs is well within the cards. For now, I'm thinking...buy a hitch...get some pool noodles, put it on the racks, anchor it front and back and save up a little to ultimately get the trailer set up to make this easier.

Again, that FS128T is just under 100 pounds. Probably after a few trips of loading this on the roof of my Jeep...I imagine the cost/benefit for that trailer is going to tilt significantly into the "buy" spectrum.

That causes my back to hurt just reading that!

My Perception Striker 11.5 weighs 70 pounds bare. I don't enjoy lifting it on top of my Nissan Murano every time I take it out, but it is doable. I can't even begin to imagine lifting a 100 lb kayak that high.

If I were in that situation I would have to seriously consider a trailer. Or just hang it out the [censored]-end of your SUV.

As for front and rear straps, they aren't technically necessary. I use mine strictly as a safety measure, pulled just tight enough to not be loose, but they're not supposed to be holding your kayak on.

If you need a method for securing a rear strap, you might consider getting a hood loop and running it up through the top of your rear hatch, then securing your rear strap to that.

They make them specifically for adding straps to your hood when you're missing a front hook, no reason you can't use one on your trunk.

13$ at academy.
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/yak-gear-ez-loops-1-pair

It's conversations like this that make me glad I have a truck. I couldn't imagine lifted a kayak over and over onto the top of any vehicle. I wish you all the best of luck in finding something that works out well for you.

Be careful with the harbor freight trailers, I bought a light duty with the thought of making a folding kayak trailer and it wound up only having a speed rating of 45 mph. Make sure you check the speed rating on the trailer before you get it. My thoughts, you are better off buying a jet ski or small boat trailer and adding bars or buying one of the malone kayak trailers if you don't want to build one. Mariner Kayaks is a malone dealer by the way.

Personally I am saving up for a space trailer so I can haul the boats and gear at the same time then take the top off and haul lumber and such to work on the house.

My wife's kayak weighs around 40 pounds and feels like less. I put her's up in my J Hooks since I can lift it so much higher and easier than mine.

I only take my kayak out maybe twice a week so it really isn't all that bad. If you're going more often I could see getting old real quick.

That all being said, I won't pretend like I'm not in the market for a truck.

Look for "hood loops" like these ones: Hood loop


You can run them under the tailgate and it'll give you a tie point. Easy to make with some webbing and pvc too.

I don't like the front and back straps! I don't like anything in front of me flapping in the wind. Plus when you tie them down to your bumper the straps rub on your paint. I also use a bathroom floor mat on the side of my Sequoia. Helps slide the kayak up and no scratch everything up. Don't leave it on the side of your vehicle when driving it wont stay I have to get a new one.
I usually flip the kayak upside down but I wasn't going far. The ratchet straps only get pulled tight, then 2 clicks. You would be fine with pull straps around the middle to. Also if I'm not going to far, then I only put one ratchet strap up front and then the bow and stern are always on.

Hope this helps. Plus you won't have to buy anything extra!!!!