How To Properly Strap Two Kayaks To A Car Roof Rack

Kayaking is a great way to spend your free time. It is a low-impact activity that can improve your strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness. Many people love to go kayaking because it is a chance to get out in nature, you can enjoy beautiful scenery, and get some fresh air. You can go kayaking on a lake, river, or in the ocean. Best of all, kayaking is a great excuse to get up off the couch for a few hours and enjoy the outdoors.

Kayaking is a great pastime that you can do alone or with another person. Going alone can be great because it gives you a chance to get away from everything and spend some time alone. It is great with another person because it can be a great bonding experience.

If you are planning a kayaking trip with someone else and you are going to be driving to the water together, you are going to need to attach two kayaks on your car roof rack. It can be a challenge, but it can be done. If you don’t have a roof rack on your car, don’t worry. It is still possible to transport your kayak. All you need is a pool noodle and some straps. This is great news because you can get your kayaks to the water regardless of your situation. If you do have a roof rack, it is essential that you secure your kayaks correctly by following the tips listed below.

Straps

You are going to need straps to fasten your kayak to your car’s roof tightly. When buying straps, you want to make sure that they are a couple of feet longer than you will need. If they are too short, you won’t be able to fasten them tightly. If they are too long, you would have trouble keeping them secure while you are driving. It is a good idea to get straps that are of different sizes. If one kayak is bigger than the other, it will need a different size. If you already have straps, you should inspect them each time you use them. If they are frayed or if the buckles are in poor shape, you will need a new set.

Common Mistakes

There are two common mistakes that people make when they are trying to secure their kayaks on the roof rack. If you make these mistakes, trying to secure both kayaks will be very frustrating, and you may not have much success. When you know the most common mistakes, you can avoid making them.

• Many people mistakenly try to hoist both kayaks on the roof and try to position them on the roof rack with the straps. This will be frustrating because it isn’t the right way to do it.
• Also, many people try to secure two kayaks with just one set of straps. This is another mistake. When you are driving, the kayaks can shift and slip out of the straps.

If you avoid these mistakes and you secure your kayaks on the roof correctly, you will be able to get them to your destination safely without getting frustrated.

Step 1: Placing Your Straps

The first step is to take the two sets of straps on the roof. The straps should be placed on each crossbar on the roof rack and brought to the middle. If you put the straps in the correct place, the straps on the front crossbar will be hanging down on the windshield. The straps on the rear crossbar will be resting in the middle of the back window. If they aren’t you, need to make some adjustments.

Step 2: Placing the First Kayak

You are going to need to place one kayak at a time. When you hoist the first one up, it is going to need to be as close to the driver’s side as possible. You may need to adjust its position slightly so that it sits properly on the roof rack. Throw the straps over the kayak and secure the straps. You don’t want to tighten the straps completely yet, because you may need to make a few adjustments when you put the second kayak on the roof.

Step 3: Placing the Second Kayak

When placing the second kayak on the roof, you need to push it right up against the first one. If you have a large vehicle, there might be room between the two kayaks. If so, you can leave a gap between the two and secure the second kayak as close to the passenger side as possible. If there is no wiggle room, you can set up the two kayaks so that they are touching one another. When the kayak is in position, throw the straps over the kayak and cinch the buckle until the kayak is fastened as tightly as possible. If you don’t, you risk losing it while you are driving.

Step 4: Tighten the Straps

Now you can go back to the first kayak and tighten the straps as much as possible. When you do this, it could loosen the second kayak, so you need to go back and tighten those straps again. It is not uncommon to go back and forth tightening both straps until they are tightly fastened.

Step 5: Wrap Up the Straps

Before driving off, you should wrap the straps around the crossbars. You are going to have straps hanging after you secure your kayaks, and you don’t want them blowing in the wind. This can be very distracting while you drive. It can also be distracting to other drivers on the road.

Now that your kayaks are securely fastened on the roof rack, you are ready to head out to the water. As long as your kayaks are secure, you don’t need to worry about your speed while driving. The straps will be strong enough to hold your kayaks on the roof rack, regardless of how fast you are driving. As long as you followed the tips listed above, and your straps are in good condition, you should have no problem getting your kayaks to the water safely.