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Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier

$64.95

(11)

Item # 662048

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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

View all Riverside products

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Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier

3.5

(based on 11 reviews)

64%

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 (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (3)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 11 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Sep

2007

(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Excellent product

By Skibum

from Southeastern MA

About Me Weekend Warrior

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy to learn
Easy to Use
Lightweight
Well Constructed

Cons

Best Uses

For any kayaksmall boat

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

I have had this system for 3 years, and it hasn't shown any signs of ware. This system is a great alternative for those who don't have the money/don't want a roof rack system. Works well with the rack system as well. Can be difficult to setup when its really windy, or if your short (depending on your car/setup/boat), once the boat is on the blocks, its easy make adjustments, and tie down.

Sep

2008

(7 of 7 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

May

2010

(1 of 1 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.

Oct

2007

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

inadequate "universal" carrier

By pozerr

from Minneapolis, MN

About Me Beginner

See all my reviews

Pros

Sturdy foam

Cons

Un-universal hardware

Best Uses

Comments about Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier:

This system needs real universal hardware to ensure secure attachment to all vehicles. Attaching the s-hook to a frame rail and having to sinch the straps over the doors basically means this is not universal.

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!