[Zakkeus]

Hello,

We have recently acquired a roof rack for our Sportage and I'm wondering what people use to tie down a canoe or kayak to the front & back of the car (as an added safety precaution, the roof rack itself handles most of the weight).

I can't seem to find much (really, anything at all) to tie rope to. I've considered screwing in the tow hooks at the front and back and just using those, but I think it may be awkward as they both pull in different directions.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[ricbrk]

Hello,

We have recently acquired a roof rack for our Sportage and I'm wondering what people use to tie down a canoe or kayak to the front & back of the car (as an added safety precaution, the roof rack itself handles most of the weight).

I can't seem to find much (really, anything at all) to tie rope to. I've considered screwing in the tow hooks at the front and back and just using those, but I think it may be awkward as they both pull in different directions.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

We use bow & stern ratchet tie downs. Also we use a under hood strap on my wife's as hers isn't very long.
Link to the straps we use - Malone Sentry Bow & Stern Ratchet Tie Downs
You Tube video on the straps and the under hood strap we use -

 

[Zakkeus]

We use bow & stern ratchet tie downs. Also we use a under hood strap on my wife's as hers isn't very long.
Link to the straps we use - Malone Sentry Bow & Stern Ratchet Tie Downs
You Tube video on the straps and the under hood strap we use -

Hi!
Thanks for the response. I watched that video and found a few others, and it looks like Thule has loop straps that can bolted in under your hood. It also seems as if there are a few more options to test! Are your straps the bolt ones, straps looped around the frame, or the ones that have a rubber tube and sit free under the hood/behind the trunk?

Thanks for your input!

 

[ricbrk]

Hi!
Thanks for the response. I watched that video and found a few others, and it looks like Thule has loop straps that can bolted in under your hood. It also seems as if there are a few more options to test! Are your straps the bolt ones, straps looped around the frame, or the ones that have a rubber tube and sit free under the hood/behind the trunk?

Thanks for your input!

We have a trailer hitch, so I had a buddy who owns a body shop make me a tie down bar out of square tubing. It slides into the hitch and extends out around 18 inches on both sides with 2 tie downs on each side. That takes care of the rear of both kayak's. The front of mine I strap to the front tow eyelet. My wife's I use a under hood strap. I got a small piece of thicker clear 3M body wrap and put it on the edge of the hood and fender where the strap comes up. Can't really notice it. The strap centers nicely in the hood/fender gap, but just in case. We have the trailer hitch to haul our 2 bikes on our bike rack. Trying to figure out how to use T mount for Kayak's and bike rack at the same time. Hitch is 1 1/2" and our bike rack is 1 1/4". We have to use 1 1/2" to 1 1/4" adapter. The T kayak mount is 1 1/2". I'm hoping to be able to slide the bike rack into the kayak mount and use the same pin in the hitch for both. Should work fine. Winter project.