| Author | Message | ||
     Jeff DiDonato (Tuna_colada) New Member Username: Tuna_colada Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2003 |
I have a new Range Rover and have the roof rail system and cross bars installed. I am looking for the best racks to transport a couple of sea kayaks. I would like a set-up that allows me to have the kayaks side by side with hull facing roof. I do not want to have to run straps from the bows and sterns to the front and rear of the vehicle. Unfortunately, the dealer doesn't have much knowledge on their accessories (found out the hard way with my ski racks) and it doesn't look like Thule or Yakima make anything that fits the Range Rover. Thanks. | ||
| Peter (Pete) New Member Username: Pete Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2003 |
There's some info in the archives about different brands. I can't remember the most popular one people mentioned, but I'm more than happy with the Yakima Hully Rollers and Saddles. Put the rollers in the back to make loading easier and then the cheaper saddles up front. Or you could do 2 sets of rollers. Yakima has adapters for all kinds of factory racks. I think the other brand were Mako Saddles that people liked. For safety sake, you should still tie down the bow and stern. If you only rely on strapping it to the bars/saddles you won't usually have any problem. But you are also relying on one point of failure. Probably not a big deal if where you're going paddling is close by, but if you are going to be hitting the freeway, it's best to firmly attach the kayaks to the car itself as well as the rack. I've had friends have the racks come off with everything attached too. If you lash the bow and stern, they ain't going anywhere. REI had some simple straps with a bit of felted covering where the strap contacts the hood to make sure there isn't any bad rubbing. Yakima also has something to attach under the body http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=2423&storeId=8000&catal ogId=40000008000&langId=-1 Now that I look a little further Yakima also has a padded strap: http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=4185806&storeId=8000&ca talogId=40000008000&langId=-1 pwc | ||
| Jeff (Tuna_colada) New Member Username: Tuna_colada Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2003 |
I have checked both Thule and Yakima sites fit guides and neither one has anything for the 2003 Range Rover. I guess I need to know if the factory cross bars are the same on the 2002 and new Range Rover. If not, I guess I will be limited to the Land Rover offerings with which I have not been very impressed. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1927 Registered: 02-2002 |
I'm gonna second Pete's suggestion. I have seen kayaks not stay on a vehicle because they were only secured in the middle and not on the ends. Airborne kayaks are NOT a good thing at interstate speeds. However, if you insist, the only way that I would even chance it would be to forget the factory roof-rails, and go with a secure roof-rack, like a Saftey Devices rack. The factory rails could very likely fail with a sizable boat up there acting like a wing, generating lift. In addition to your normal middle-lashing, run tethers from the bow and stern back to the roof-rack, just to act as a capture if the middle bits were to fail. That way, the whole roof-rack would have to come off to lose a boat. IMHO, FWIW..... -L | ||
| Jeff (Tuna_colada) New Member Username: Tuna_colada Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2003 |
I would most likely use the tie downs if transporting longer distances on the highway however most of my trips will be 5 to 15 minutes down back roads. The real challenge is to find something that will fit a 2003 Range Rover.... | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) Senior Member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 513 Registered: 10-2002 |
I haven't looked that closely, but does the 2003 have rain gutters... If not you can get thule or yakima "feet" that grip/fit onto the existing rack. Some of the guys with Discos use these on their front factory bars. http://www.yakima.com/products/dynamic/8000118_7.html | ||
| Tuna Colada (Tuna_colada) New Member Username: Tuna_colada Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2003 |
No rain gutters, unfortunately. I paid alot for the factory roof rails and cross bar system so I'd like to be able to use it if possible.... | ||
| Peter (Pete) New Member Username: Pete Post Number: 9 Registered: 03-2003 |
Just called the local dealer parts counter and after much looking up, he found they were the exact same part on the 2002 and 2003 so you should be good with what fits the 2002 crossbars. Also, since you have the roof rails Yakima also makes attachments which clamp onto most type of roof rails. These are usually more secure than the factory crossbars (read: more metal). I had a set of the Yakima ones on my Jeep GC and it worked fine for 5 years. Even drove with a kayak, 2 bikes, spare tire and box of camping gear on top the entire length of the Pacific Coast Highway and then back up I-5 to Seattle with no problem. pwc | ||
| Tuna_colada (Tuna_colada) New Member Username: Tuna_colada Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2003 |
Thanks alot! | ||
| Greg French (Gregfrench) Senior Member Username: Gregfrench Post Number: 282 Registered: 11-2002 |
I have always liked this one  | ||
| Tuna_colada (Tuna_colada) New Member Username: Tuna_colada Post Number: 7 Registered: 03-2003 |
Nice set-up. Looks great on the Discovery. My kayaks are 15'-16' touring models so not sure I could accomplish the same thing on my Range Rover- at least not as economically as just using attachments to fit factory racks... | ||
| Jeffrey DelVecchio (Jeffreydv) New Member Username: Jeffreydv Post Number: 14 Registered: 01-2003 |
You might want to try purchasing a couple of sets of foam kayak roof blocks. The blocks are cut out so they should fit over your roof bars. The kayaks fit nicely in the "V" shaped cut out of the blocks. All you need to do is strap the kayaks down to the cross bars. The blocks are available from most kayak suppliers and come in sets of 2. I hope this helps. -Jeff | ||
| David (Dave) New Member Username: Dave Post Number: 34 Registered: 02-2003 |
Greg, Nice set-up. I have a LR adventure rack on my 97 Disco and would love to be able to transport two kyaks as shown. Any idea where to get the brakets and parts shown that allow one to carry two kyaks (as in the pic?) Thanks! | ||
| Greg French (Gregfrench) Senior Member Username: Gregfrench Post Number: 294 Registered: 11-2002 |
No idea. It's not mine. I kept the pic because I was going to do it too. I would say Lowe's. |
