If you love kayaking, we are with you.
And if you think that hauling kayaks is strictly limited to SUVs, we’re here to gently prove you wrong.
And if you have a roof rack, your car, too, can join in on the kayaking fun.
That’s why we’ve selected the 4 best kayak racks for cars:
1. ECOTRIC J-Bar 2 Pairs Universal Kayak Canoe Top Mount Carrier Roof Rack Boat SUV Van Car with One Year Warranty
Ecotric offers a reliable product for your car to safely transport kayaks to your adventurous destination.
Up to four kayaks can be secured in the two racks, so more people can join in on the fun.
And because the racks are universal, you can easily substitute a kayak for a surfboard, for example. Moreover, each rack can support gear up to 36 inches wide and 165 pounds, covering most midsized to large kayaks.
And their steel designs will pleasantly surprise you – not only with sheer looks, but also with functionality. These racks also utilize the widely superior J-bar design, unlocking multiple advantages for your kayak inspired travels.
Namely, there’s plenty of space leftover for other items you may want to bring along and secure on the car’s roof. The wide mouth design of the J-bar enables easy and fast loading and unloading.
Plus, the mounting hardware is easy to install and uninstall – so even if you’re not savvy, you shouldn’t have trouble. Ecotric includes four straps, eight feet in length, for some added security.
Additionally, each rack has adjustable padding to reduce the risk of damage to your kayaks when they’re on the racks. This, combined with rust resistant coating to withstand exposure to moisture, will greatly improve your product’s lifespan.
And with a one-year warranty, we think you’ll find this to be a pretty great set of racks.
2. Lifetime Warranty TMS® 2 Pairs J-Bar Rack HD Kayak Carrier Canoe Boat Surf Ski Roof Top Mount Car SUV Crossbar
TMS offers one of the best deals for anyone hauling small to midsized kayaks aboard their car.
They include a lifetime warranty for mental support; but we’d be willing to bet you won’t have to use it.
The two pairs included can be easily mounted to your car’s roof’s bars thanks to an easy setup process. But rest assured, these carrier racks are especially durable due to their steel designs, making travel a little less stressful.
Once these racks are mounted, place the kayaks on their sides – this frees space for other loads on your roof. And with two kayaks secured within each rack, you ultimately get to bring along four kayaks on your kayak journey.
Keep in mind that this carrier isn’t just for hauling kayaks, it also functions as a universal carrier. Other gear, such as skis or surfboards, can be mounted as well, adding another dimension of adventure to your travelling.
With adjustable padding and a steel design, these carriers are durable and safe. Add to this a rust-resistant coating, and you’ve got a long-lasting product, fit for endless kayaking journeys.
The J-bar design provides plenty of room for your kayaks, making them easy and safe to store. It also helps for unloading and loading the kayaks; not to mention the carriers are easy to install and uninstall!
Even with two racks on your car, there’s still some space leftover for hauling anything else on the roof.
And if you’re looking for some extra security, simply attach the two heavy-duty straps included. Each rack can support kayaks up to 36 inches wide and 75 pounds. So these racks are perfect for small to midsized kayaks.
3. IKURAM Kayak/Surf/Ski Roof Carrier Rack of Bilateral Premier J-Style Folding 4-in-1 for Canoe, SUP, Kayaks, Surfboard and Ski Board Rooftop Mount on SUV, Car and Truck
IKURAM offers another great J-styled rack for transporting your kayaks across great lengths for some darn good fun.
And though this purchase only hooks you up with one rack, there are some notable perks.
They not only protect and support up to two kayaks, but the racks are also designed to protect stand-up paddles. The rack is lined with a padding to prevent damage from rubbing and scratching, extending the lifespan of your kayaks.
The rack’s frame is covered with rust-resistant and anti-corrosion material to lengthen your product’s lifespan. And the thick rubber-saddle design of the rack enables some much-needed resistance from the inevitable moisture on your journey.
Ikuram’s rack is made from high-quality aluminum alloy, making it surprisingly lightweight. But make no mistake – these racks are strong: they handle kayaks up to 42 inches wide and 158 pounds.
The racks are easy to install thanks to some commonsense mechanisms such as safety tie-downs and heavy-duty straps. Moreover, the racks can be easily adjusted to fit the need and shape of your kayaks, enabling some necessary versatility.
What’s cool is you can fold down or raise the rack when you’re not using it. And you can adjust the rack to multiple carrying designs to further accommodate your kayaks and free up roof space.
4. CargoLoc 2-Piece 52" Aluminum Roof Top Cross Bar Set – Fits Maximum 46” Span Across Existing Raised Side Rails with Gap – Features Keyed Locking Mechanism, Silver
CargoLoc is offering another 2-piece set of cross bars for your car’s kayaking journey.
This is the product you will need to buy before getting the mounts, if you don’t have horizontal crossbars.
And where it lacks in warranty, it makes up for in quality.
Each rack is made from a high-quality grade of aluminum to reduce the weight applied to your roof. Still, each rack can handle up to 150 pounds, enabling transport of most midsized to large kayaks.
The rack is 52 inches wide from each end and can support kayaks up to 46 inches wide. Plenty of space will remain on the roof after setup in case you have more items to haul.
Each rack comes equipped with some heavy-duty clamps to ensure maximum safety for your kayaks. Furthermore, clamps enable a strong connection to your roof’s side rails, thereby locking the racks in place.
Each rack is universal, supporting reasonable substitutes such as bicycles. We think that universality and dependability make these racks worth the recommendation alone.