Thule Kayak Stacker
The Thule Kayak Stacker offers room to transport 4 whitewater kayaks on their sides to take up the least amount of roof space.
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- 4 boat maximum capacity
- Upper strap loop design makes tying down boats easier than ever
- Universal hardware makes carrier transfer between vehicles a snap
- Fits Thule standard and Xsporter load bars, round bars and most factory-installed cross bars without the need for costly adapters
- Stacker folds down when not in use
- Includes one pair ratcheting tie downs, two straps and buckle protectors
Imported.
| Best Use | Kayaking |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.5 pounds |
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Works Great
I own a 14 ft. flat water kayak and this works great for me. Took some time to get the routine down to get it perfectly secure. It comes with straps but I wouldn't trust them over ratchet straps. The bow and stern straps are an absolute must use. I drove from Denver to Michigan on I-80 going an average of 80 MPH and my kayak hardly moved. My only complaint is the rack is secured by four screws that tend to slide. They don't move much, only a couple inches at most, but it is very easily fixable. Very good product overall and easy to install. They do fold down when not it use, making garage parking a breeze. They also double as a bike rack.
Not windproof.
I had was driving with my kayak mounted to these racks. A strong gust of wind came and snapped them off of my roof rack. This blew my kayak off of my roof and snapped it in half. not an experience I would recommend. REI would not refund me for the kayak or the rack because they were bought over a year prior. Very disappointing experience all around.
Very Good Product
Purchased this product to bring 2 kayaks home. A trip of about 150 miles. Did not notice that recommended kayaks were white water models but when installed on my Jeep Cherokee with Thule crossbars the rack holds my longer kayaks quite securely, in the past 4 days these racks have carried two touring kayaks on over a thousand miles of twisting single lane roads and at freeway speeds in excess of posted limits. No problem with loosening or shifting of the load. The frontal area of the kayaks has dropped my gas mileage 10 mpg so there is a lot of stress put on the rack with no problem. Will be buying another 2 sets for other vehicles and possibly a set to mount on my trailer.
Very nice
Bought these when I bought our kayaks (Wilderness Systems Pungo 100, Dagger Blackwater 120). We already had a factory roof rack on our mini van so these worked very nice on the existing rack bars. The nice part is the fact that they lay down in between the bars of the rack when not in use so the van still fits in the garage - SWEET!! Simply loosen the wing nut and lay the support down parallel with the roof top and tighten the wing nut. The supplied straps are plenty long enough. I haven't used the ratchets (ropes). Nice product and reasonable when compared to the other racks we priced.
Gets the Job Done; Durable
I've used the stacker on a Ford Fiesta hatchback for about two years now with great frequency and through a variety of weather conditions. Not once have I had any trouble or frustration with the product. My car isn't wide enough to stack four boats but it carries two 8-9 foot kayaks beautifully. Once you figure out the routine of tie downs, your boats will fit snugly even at high speeds. I use two straps for each boat, so you'll want to pick up some extra tie downs. I don't ever use the bow and stern ties on my boats. When I'm not hauling kayaks I actually take the stackers off instead of folding them down. Set up and take down is fast enough that it isn't any inconvenience to me to remove them when not in use, and doing so saves me just a little bit on gas mileage.
Works Like a Charm!
I own a small sea kayak guide service and school and have used the Thule Stacker on our company vehicles for years to transport sea kayaks. The best way to transport a kayak is on its side; it's not only space efficient, but reduces the likelihood of causing distortion to your hull. Prior reviews note problems keeping the boats in place to tie them down. That's avoided by using a rack pad (e.g., Thule makes inexpensive sets), a closed-cell foam block, or--for the poor man's solution--a section of a foam pool noodle cut to slip over your bar. I find it easier to load than a cradle, because you only have to lift the boat to the rack height, not over and up into a J-cradle; it also works great with Thule's Outrigger boat lift system. If you use this for longer boats, you'll need to make sure you have a wide enough bar spread. If you have a short roof line and a long boat, this may not be your best choice. Those with composite boats should note that the rack component is not padded. Use foam noodles or rack pads to prevent unnecessary grinding and gouging on your gel coat (it's a lot more fun to get those battle scars from the sea!). Happy paddling!
BEAST of a kayak carrier!
I've had this carrier for many years, and it's still in use. I've had up to five boats attached to this thing, and probably could have gotten away with six, but we didn't have another one to throw up top. My current vehicle is limited to only three kayaks due to the design of the vehicle's roof rack. As long as the roof rack is wide enough, it will handle four kayaks. As a side note, I only carried the five kayaks for a few miles under 35 mph! But with four up top, it'll handle freeway speeds just fine so long as your roof system can handle it. Thule, keep making this thing!
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on the Thule Stacker! I'm happy to hear it met all your boating needs. I should mention that the Thule Stacker is approved for carrying up to four boats, with each one secured by a mid-line, and an individual bow and stern line to ensure a secure fit. Carrying additional boats is not advised or covered under Thule's limited lifetime warranty. When used safely, though, the Thule Stacker is a great option for those wanting to transport multiple boats!
Good but should be better
I bought this to load two sit-upon kayaks on the roof rack of my Tacoma pickup. The racks are quite sturdy, are easy to install/remove, and easily fold down when not in use. However, there no included pads upon which to rest the kayaks, which must now rest upon the rack's load bars- unless you buy separate/make pads yourself. For the price, such pads should be included or at least be made available from Thule. Also, the top of the stackers is a closed loop through which the load straps must be passed- an awkward at best situation when two kayaks are loaded, and standing in the bed of the pickup. A competing brand utilizes large "hooks" to hold the straps, a much easier method. That brand also includes contoured pads for the load bars, to fit the kayak hulls
A miracle of modern science!
This kayak rack is very intuitive. I can fit four kayaks of any size on the roof of my vehicle with ease, and when we arrive at our destination, they unload even easier! The only bad thing about these racks is the price. You also have to have the crossbars already installed on your existing rack before you can use this one. I can't resist saying "Nice rack!"
The Stacker is only good for rec kayaks.
We bought the Stacker so we could buy kayaks and safely transport them home, but our boats don't work with them. We have a Chesapeake 14 Wood boat & a Hurricane Tampico, both of which do not stay up on their side- out of the water. So loading the boats became a balancing act & they would slide down and off. If your boat is the same depth from front to back (like a surfboard, paddleboard)and lacks a keel line or curves, you can probably use this rack just fine.