Cross Bars

skywarn · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:41 am

Ive got to carry 2 kayaks this weekend and i have no idea what cross bars i need. Im also looking for cheep as this is the only time i will carry something on top before i buy a roof basket. im just out of time as far as shopping goes...

how much are they and where can i get them?

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

I bought the Thule rack system a few years back via the internet to carry my canoe. The same basic cross bar set up can be put together for kayacks by getting the kayack cradle instead of the gunwale bracket.

Since you appear to be out of time for an internet buy, try local sports shops and/or REI/Easter Mtn Sports, etc. The liberty cross bar system is fairly standard, but I opted for the longer bar (80 inch?) as I have a wide beam canoe.

Good luck

bugnout · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:08 am

Check this link out for what looks like cheap but sturdy cross bars for $29. I think I'm going to try this out for canoe hauling.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... hp?t=20952

dgeist · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:11 am

skywarn wrote:

Ive got to carry 2 kayaks this weekend and i have no idea what cross bars i need. Im also looking for cheep as this is the only time i will carry something on top before i buy a roof basket. im just out of time as far as shopping goes...

how much are they and where can i get them?

So, for cheap and temporary, I'd say get some galvanized electrical conduit or PVC (your preference, but neither will hold THAT much weight) at your local home-improvement store and either use some U-bolts or possibly lash them to the factory rails with quality twine boy-scout-manual-style. total cost probably < 10 bucks.

Alternatively, Yakima crossbars are really nice quality and you can forgo the official yakima mounts if you don't want the spend the mulah. They are already PVC-coated, so they're also less of a risk to scratch anything on your roof. I think the crossbars themselves are 30/40 for a pair, and you can find retailers at yakima.com. Most better outdoor stores stock them (REI/Dicks, etc).

Dan

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

I bought the Thule rack system a few years back via the internet to carry my canoe. The same basic cross bar set up can be put together for kayacks by getting the kayack cradle instead of the gunwale bracket.

Since you appear to be out of time for an internet buy, try local sports shops and/or REI/Easter Mtn Sports, etc. The liberty cross bar system is fairly standard, but I opted for the longer bar (80 inch?) as I have a wide beam canoe.

Good luck

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:12 am

On short notice I would say Thule or Yakima. I have the Yakima Lowriders and 48" crossbars, no Kayak cradles. I have never seen the MOPAR but others have spoken positively of them. I believe the MOPAR are a little more aerodynamic.

skywarn · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:37 am

thanks for all the quick replies... the yakma is $200 at REI... not what im wanting to spend for a one time shot... im going to swing by my lowes store and grab some pipe on the way home.

by making some phone calls, i think i might have just stumbled onto a project...

does anyone know the measurements of our racks? like IF i were to build my own roof basket... how wide and how long should it be? would it fit between the rails? (for a low profile look?)

Ive got 20' of 1x1 steel stock and 10' of 1/8" round stock - - i should be able to make something out of that right????

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:57 am

Look in the "Fabrication Section"...there are some nice homemade racks there with pics.

I would think for a temporary kayak Rack you could actually use wood. That way you could even cut out any curves you would need to get them to fit properly. Easy to add padding too for protection.

skywarn · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:56 am

DarbyWalters wrote:

Look in the "Fabrication Section"...there are some nice homemade racks there with pics.

ok just went through every post... nobody posted the measurements... does some one have a mopar rack that they could give me the measurements?

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

I've got Thule bars on my rig...

If you are only going to use it once, why bother with any kind of fancy fabbing? Go old school -- a pair of 2x4's and some U-bolts. Thats what folks did before the advent of Thule and Yakima.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:01 pm

Bamboo and vines :idea:

dgeist · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:20 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

Bamboo and vines :idea:

I was thinking branches with boughs to hold the kayaks up with leather thongs to tie them on made from tanned hides

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:24 pm

Or just go to the river and make a canoe out of a felled tree

onthehunt · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:22 pm

I've used 2x4's and ratchet straps. Looks bad but it works!

skywarn · **Posted:** Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:24 am

well thanks again for all the help... after much thought i have decited to put my GF up there and hold them down. She loves riding on the motorcycle so much i fig she would be ok with this. :lol:

(btw IF i dont make it back :shock:

.... the CRD will go to the highest bidder!)

I used some 1x1 steel stock cut them to 60" and put plastic end caps on em. Got 4 U bolts sprayed them black and called it good! total cost:

1x1 steel - free scrap
primer/paint - $1.00 ea = $2 bucks
4 U bolts - $1.25 each = $5.00
6 pack of Shiner Bock Beer - $7.00

Grand total $14.00!! Life is good!

dgeist · **Posted:** Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:24 am

skywarn wrote:

1x1 steel - free scrap
primer/paint - $1.00 ea = $2 bucks
4 U bolts - $1.25 each = $5.00
6 pack of Shiner Bock Beer - $7.00

Grand total $14.00!! Life is good!

Man! you went outside the original premise of the project... Shiner-bock? that's WAY to hoitey-toitey for the utilitarian nature of the rest of the work. Get some Natty-light and you'd cut the budget nearly in half.

Dan

Cross Bars

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