Racks for kayaks?

[VicnStew]

Hi all, I unexpectedly found two kayaks in my Christmas stocking this year, well chuffed about that as I've been considering having a go for a while. The problem I'm facing now is how I transport two kayaks on a high top T25, haven't been able to find anything even remotely suitable on tinternet. Feeling confident some of you guys have solved this problem and are keen to pass your snippets of wisdom to a poor ignorant soul!

Happy new year!

Stew

[Ian and Lins]

I was interested in this as I had an old long kayak. On high tops most U bars are mounted on the side of the high top. Not sure how you'd fix them; I think you would need a bit more than pop rivits! I'll see if I can dig out some pics.
My solution was to get rid of the kayak! Must get another one...

[VicnStew]

Some pics would be great, thanks. From what you said it seems that j bars attached to the side of the high top is something you've seen more than once so must be a common technique, there's hope yet! Lol

[ricicles]

i use a small trailer for mine.

[VicnStew]

Trying to avoid trailers, seems to me you loose a lot of the convenience of having a camper then plus expense of trailer and fitting a tow bar

[KamperKev]

Watching this with interest as I have not solved this myself yet on my High top! I have x2 kayaks but resort to using the Wifes Panda with roof rack.
Found this when looking into it :-
http://www.karitek.co.uk/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In Kayak handling, high lift roof rack.

but at £498.75 is out of my budget.

Kev

[pauly8888]

An inflatable roof-rack
http://www.handiworld.com/HandiRack

[VicnStew]

Watching this with interest as I have not solved this myself yet on my High top! I have x2 kayaks but resort to using the Wifes Panda with roof rack.
Found this when looking into it :-
http://www.karitek.co.uk/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In Kayak handling, high lift roof rack.

but at £498.75 is out of my budget.

Kev

Gad I'm not alone Kev! That rack you linked is out of my price range too. That inflatable rack mentioned by Pauly seems like a great idea although i still cant see it working with a hi-top. I may have to DIY something at this rate and as I cant weld it could be an "interesting" challenge! lol

Very much keeping my fingers crossed that someone has a solution

[VicnStew]

just found this,still pricey though

http://www.reimo.com/en/41001-reimo_hig ... ack_set_2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[VicnStew]

another possibility?

http://www.car-roofracks.co.uk/camper-v ... -racks.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

i'm thinking maybe you could fit j bars to those support struts so no need to haul onto roof all the time

[VicnStew]

I'm basically answering my own query here but found this very interesting offer on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roof-Rack-Bes ... 2eb528021e" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[1664]

Didn't someone on here fabricate their own a couple of years back? I seem to remember a thread about it....

[KamperKev]

I'm basically answering my own query here but found this very interesting offer on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roof-Rack-Bes ... 2eb528021e" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Its just the issue of how do you get the Kayak up there?

Especially if you are a short a*** like me lol
Kev

[VicnStew]

yeah that's an issue for me too, not that i'm that short but i have a very high top! lol Anyway, I have messaged that seller on ebay to ask his opinion on mounting kayaks on the sides of the hi-top and whether his racks were suitable for that or if he could fabricate them so that they would be. Fingers crossed I get an answer soon!

[jed the spread]

Their are German racks available that hold a kayak on either side of the hightop and they slide down to waist hight then they push up when the Kayak is strapped on. Lots of Westfalia high tops are fitted with them and I had one on my old, none Westy high top and they are really rather good. I use my sit on kayak a few times a month in the summer and if I am going to be honest the dripping sea water down the side of the van got into the seems and started to bubble my mint original bodywork so bad that I wasnt to disappointed when I chopped the van up three years later. I still carry the Kayak but I now have a pop top Westy and it goes on the fiberglass roof, any sea water runs along my greased gutters and I keep an eye on the water that runs off.

Old van



New van



jed