Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier

$64.95

(12)

Item # 662048

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gear and Advice You Can Trust

This item ships for free! Learn more

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Provides an economical and simple method for transporting all kayaks, surfboards and sailboards

Pair of closed-cell foam blocks are made from cfc- and hcfc-free foam
Re-usable mesh storage bag has printed instructions stitched to it for convenient reference

Includes two 18" waterproof, sunproof closed-cell foam blocks, two 18' bow/stern tie-down straps, one 15' center lash strap, two 9' block straps and 4 S-hooks for easy attachment under bumpers. Fits most any factory or after-market car-top rack system.

Made in USA.

Item 662048

$12.99

with coupon code ANNV13
May 17-27 Details

Not a member? Add a Membership

View all Riverside products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier

3.5

(based on 12 reviews)

67%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Lightweight (7)
Compact (4)
Functional (4)
Easy to use (3)

Cons

Not durable (3)

Best Uses

Kayak / canoe / rafting (6)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Beginner (4), Intermediate (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (4)

Reviewed by 12 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

Mar

2012

4.0

Works well

By Wave Tramps Go

from Hermitage, TN

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Install
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Small Cars

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

I didn't realize until I got it home, but it says it's for no rack or factory rack. I think it's really geared for a no-rack roof. I have an aftermarket rack, so I ended up having to buy a couple of ratchet straps to strap the kayak to the bars.
However, I'm still recommending this because the rest of the kit is sound. The foam blocks are durable as long as you're careful when you put them on and careful when you place the kayak on them.

Comment on this review

Sep

2011

1.0

cheap and temporary

By samurai-kitty

from Bremerton, WA

About Me Beginner

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Use

Cons

Unstable
Weak Construction

Best Uses

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

Do not buy this if you can at all afford to buy something better. I have Honda Civic sedan with a rack on it, and I bought these the end of May 2011 because I didn't want to pay the price of the Thule or Yakima kayak racks. After less than 10 uses these foam racks started cracking where they go around my crossbars, and they can pop off at any time. Tonight I tried to slide my kayak off my car, as I've done many times before, and instead of sliding straight off the back, one of these foam braces popped off and the kayak slid off the side of the car, twisting my wrist in the process! This is a good temporary solution for a quick use, but do not rely on them for more than a few uses!

Comment on this review

Jul

2011

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great for Wrangler JK with hardtop!

By svanronsele

from Berkeley, CA

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Install
Easy To Use
Lightweight
Stable

Cons

Best Uses

Wrangler JK w Hardtop

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

We recently purchased a 14.5 feet tandem kayak (Perception Prodigy II 14.5) with this foam blocks kit. It took us a while to figure out the instructions but once we did, the kayak was strapped on top of our jeep and ready to go. We drove about 600 miles roundtrip without any problem. At first I was skeptical so I wouldn't go beyond 60 miles/hour but since the kayak seemed to be very steady, I drove 65 miles/hour on our way back. Make sure you set up the pads so the kayak is well balanced on the roof and you're good to go. The straps are fine but with the wind, the middle strap can get pretty loud so I put a piece of cloth between the strap and the car on each side and it seems to do the trick!

Comment on this review

Sep

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Not worth the money or hassle

By KayakTim

from Pittsburgh, PA

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Lightweight

Cons

High cost per use
Not Durable
Time intensive to use

Best Uses

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

I was foolish and was suckered in by the price and the assumption it would be simple to use. It took AN HOUR to secure my kayak to the car. Instructions are conflicting and assume you have a 12 ft. plus kayak on a very short car. Does not work well with Subaru Outback wagon. Never felt very secure. Have used it once and foam blocks are already ripped. Not worth the money at even half the price. Given the time it takes to use this product, I can't imagine ever using it again - so I just ordered a J-rack. If you want to go cheaper, use some old pillows and buy your own straps for a third of the price. High price for what you get.

Comment on this review

May

2010

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Works OK

By FollyFrog

from Winchester, Virginia

About Me Beginner

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Functional
Lightweight
Rugged

Cons

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

Got my Kayak home OK - 1.5 hour drive at 65 miles per hour - but I think I'm going to get some ratchet ties for the front of the car, as the wind unloosens the front when I move down the highway. Probably I'm not doing it right, but I'm pretty sure ratchet ties ($12.88 at [...]) will make it so I don't have to keep stopping to tighten down in front again.

Comment on this review

May

2010

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great product

By Texas Roadwarrior

from Morro Bay CA, Woodland Park CO, Dallas

About Me Advanced

See all my reviews

Pros

Functional
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

We bought our original pair for a tandem kayak in 1998. I still have them and 2 more pairs for fishing kayaks. I like these better than the Yakima cradles because you don't have to mess with unbolting them when your done.

Comment on this review

May

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Excellent carrier

By waters

from Oakland, CA

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Functional
Lightweight
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

I bought this system because I wanted a sturdy kayak carrier that would function at freeway speeds and that didn't require a roof rack. This one fits the bill. I use it weekly to carry my 9-foot Dagger over freeways and through a tunnel to get to my favorite lake. The system is redundant, so no worries. The high-friction pads make it possible to use the straps as kayak hangers when the boat is not in use --- a benefit that I certainly didn't anticipate. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a simple non-rack system for carrying and storing a kayak.

Comment on this review

Sep

2008

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Easy to Use

By Goliath

from Annapolis, MD

About Me Recreational Rider

See all my reviews

Pros

Compact
Flexible
Functional

Cons

Not Durable

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

This product is great if you have a car with no rack. I put it on top of a Toyota Corolla and drove 250 miles at 70 mph with a tandem 14.5 ft kayak on top without an issue. The only thing that I didn't like was the strap setup for the bow/stern. These straps were a bit less than what I wanted. I brought along some ratchet ties (HD) and used them.

I find myself now using a combination of the foam/straps and the ratchet ties. The thing that I really like about this setup is that it doesn't matter what vehicle I use. I can use my pickup or my car. With my pickup I put one foam piece on the roof edge, and one on the back tail gate (down). Then tie it through the cab with a tie-wrap around the tail with no issues.

Comment on this review

Jun

2008

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Worked great!

By David196

from Bullhead City Arizona

About Me Recreational Rider

See all my reviews

Pros

Low cost works well

Cons

Takes a little time

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

I bought a Ocean Prowler Trident 15, and needed a way to get it home from Henderson Nevada to Arizona, about 100 Miles. I got this, strapped the Kayak to my roof and started driving. Ran into a rain/wind/hail storm and the Kayak stayed on my roof with no adjustments or stops to re secure. I have no complaints!

Comment on this review

May

2008

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

And so the Strap Breaks........

By pedaldog

from Brentwood, CA Norcal

About Me Beginner

See all my reviews

Pros

Lightweight
Not worth the coin

Cons

Not Durable
To say the least

Best Uses

Kayaking

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

I bought a 10 foot perception Kayak and needed a way to haul it home when I picked it up in store. [...]As I drove home about 30 miles away. About 7 miles into my journey home I noticed the bow strap came undone. I pulled over to reapply it and noticed that the cam buckle had been sheared off and my Kayak had floated left of it's center point. I got the boat home safe, but decided to take this system back and look at aThule or Yakima System.

Comment on this review

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »