Kayak tie-downs

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 6, 2018 | 07:43 AM

Texaswilliam

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Dec 2017

Posts: 69

Likes: 1

From: Fort Worth, TX

Kayak tie-downs

I'm getting ready for a trip where I plan to take our very long (18') kayaks. I have a Thule XSporter truck rack and plan to use the front most rack along with a Yakima roof rack on the truck cab. I have some Thule tie-downs to tie down both the front and back of the kayaks, but the tow hooks are huge on the F250. What hardware do you guys use to tie down the front and back of kayaks or anything else you may have on the roof?

Mar 6, 2018 | 07:58 AM

dksmith17

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 305

Likes: 1

Long time kayaker here

I always simply ratchet strapped on to the rack itself. Simply hooked around a base to keep it from sliding side to side. No hardware needed. Never did anything on front and back. If you really tighten down I think you will feel comfortable without.

Mar 6, 2018 | 09:06 AM

Texaswilliam

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Dec 2017

Posts: 69

Likes: 1

From: Fort Worth, TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksmith17

That's just too risky for me. In fact, I just bought a Yakima rack off of Craigslist from a guy you was also carrying kayaks. He said the clips he got for his truck (different truck) did not work and he found the only thing that was holding the kayaks to the car were the front and back tie downs. The rack had come loose.

Mar 6, 2018 | 09:17 AM

jergle

Mountain Pass

Joined: Aug 2017

Posts: 169

Likes: 7

Not sure if I'm following your question correctly or not, but what would be wrong with just using a rope to tie the front of the kayak to the tow hooks and the back to the hitch? Don't see why you would need any hardware for that part. Google "trucker's knot" to see how to get the rope nice and tight. I would also ratchet strap to the rack as above.

Mar 6, 2018 | 09:20 AM

dksmith17

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 305

Likes: 1

Well if you have a loose rack you a have huge problem whether or not a kayak is on top of there

Sure, always better to be safe than not. One thing to consider, that webbing stuff will make an awful loud noise if you run it on the front of your bow. If I was to tie down the front I I'd use rope and hardware is irrelevant with rope.

Mar 6, 2018 | 09:45 AM

amartz02

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 115

Likes: 3

From: SE Michigan

Here's an idea.

Amazon

Mar 6, 2018 | 10:23 AM

GPBurdell

New User

Joined: Jan 2018

Posts: 21

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksmith17

this is generally the best way to go. It does seem scary at first but with decent straps it really is the safest. We are in to rowing and at the regattas this is how everyone ties town those boats as well. Two straps directly on the rack is all you need even on very long, very expensive boats. I wouldn't recomend strapping the ends because of the weird stresses it puts on the boat

Trending Topics

64 and 63 f100 4x4s

31

727
BREAKING: Ford Drops 6.8L V8 and Standard 6.7L Power Stroke from 2027...

223

16.5k
This is prolly a 1 page thread at most

110.1k

6.0M
Looking at ordering an F-250. Questions on what I should be able to get...

17

524
Mustangman7 Restores A 1975 F150 Ranger XLT Supercab

16

327

Mar 6, 2018 | 03:04 PM

KMP44

Cross-Country

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 92

Likes: 8

From: Central New York

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPBurdell

I use 2 straps around kayak right at the J cradles on my rack, but I still throw a ratchet strap around the bow and stern handles for an extra layer of safety. The straps at the cradle will hold the kayaks, but I feel much better with the extra straps (especially since most of the time if one of those gets loose its going into the front of my camper). I don't put a ton of tension on them because if you do, you can actually see the kayak start to bend. Just snug them up so they aren't flapping and I know the kayak isn't going anywhere if something happens with the straps.