Riverside Car Top Universal Kayak Carrier
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Provides an economical and simple method for transporting all kayaks, surfboards and sailboards
Shop similar products- 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
Made in USA.
| Best Use | Kayaking Paddle Boarding |
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Works well
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.
Great for Wrangler JK with hardtop!
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!
Easy to Use
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.
Adequate system if you’re in a pinch
This system is good enough if you need to get your new kayak home from the store, as other reviewers have noted. Mesh carry bag is nice, but package is simply not worth MSRP* if you plan to transport kayaks long-term. For example, you can buy the Riverside blocks alone for approx. half the price and get your own set of cargo tie-down straps that might be better suited to your specific environment (a set of 4 with cinches and S-hooks can be had for <$20). And, by the way, I’d recommend always using 2 load-bearing straps, regardless of whether you have roof rails and cross bars, whereas this package comes with only one. * Off-brand “J-racks“ are available for $39-59.
Not Strong Enough for Long Distance Road Trips!
Easy to set up, but not very durable or secure. I bought this product in order to take my kayak from NC to CO this summer. About 60 miles from my final destination the front strap snapped in half and the front of my kayak came unsecured. Yes, it’s affordable, but you get what you pay for. It’s fine for local day trips, but I recommend spending a little more money for something better quality if you’re taking a long journey like I did.
Excellent 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.
Not great on older model Honda CR-Vs
We recently purchased this as my 2010 Honda CR-V did not have roof rails. I also have a sunroof so that leaves very little room on top for the foam blocks to be in the correct position with my kayak. The new kit has different straps so our REI saleperson had to figure it out with us on how to strap to the roof as the instructions had changed. The blocks and straps got us home and I've used it once but I changed out the front straps with rachet style straps for a tighter hold. I think if you have a flatter roof on your vehicle (and no sunroof) then these will work for you just fine. We did get up to 65 mph at one point with minimal strap noise (put a twist in the center strap to minimize noise.)
Eh, it'll get you out there
As others have mentioned, the straps are largely worthless. Just use some thin rope and trucker's hitches. If you're like me and don't have a rack on your car, this will get the kayak to water, but not with confidence. Also, the foam blocks don't adapt to the shape of the kayak, or the car. They tip up on edge instead because the foam is too thick. I cut some of it away to fit the angle of the keel. It helps, but if you can, get a rack to go with this. It indents the roof slightly when loaded, which is gone afterward, but I'm worried it will damage my roof quickly. This thing is the bare minimum.
Not worth the money or hassle
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.
works well enough if no roof rack is available
Seems to work well enough at in-town speeds with no rack, have not had it above 40mph yet. Strap the foam blocks to the kayak, then one strap to attach the blocked kayak to the roof, and one strap each for bow and stern, pretty stable. Also works fine as a cushion for a car rack that has crossbars.