canoe kayak racks????

Hi

I am in the process of deciding which van to buy when i noticed that GMC and chev offer a canoe rack and kayak accessories for it. It appears to clamp to the factory installed rack.

Does anyone have any experience in these factory provided racks?

Was going to buy an aftermarket rack as I was under the impresssion that the factory roof rack on most vans is not strong or safe enough to transport canoes or kayaks. Please correct me if I am wrong .

I am intending to transport two sea kayaks or one canoe and kayak, or one canoe. Depending on what is up.

Thanks

I'd be inclined to ask the nice/helpful folks at Auto Racks Ottawa 722-5759 as they tend (in my experience) to offer opinions/suggestions that are accurate, even when it means that they don't get to sell anything.

I've never had problems with standard roof bars for carrying a 16 foot Old Town Canoe.

I also have a set of J-Bars which I can put on and carry a Pyrannah Mountain 300 Kayak at one end of the bars with the canoe.

All this on a small hatchback car. It gets some amazed looks but really hasn't been a problem to drive with or particularly noticeable on fuel consumption.

The only dodgy moments I have had are when it is very windy and there is a tendency to start 'sailing'

Just make sure the bars are wide enough. I got a new car last year and the garage supplied manufacturer's bars FOC. Unfortunately they are a lot shorter than my old ones and can only carry one boat. If I put the canoe on there is not a lot to spare!

If you are using roof bars don't forget to secure both ends to the towing points on your vehicle. I had a friend who didn't and the load came adrift on a UK motorway! As he looked out of his window he saw 4 kayaks peel off and bounce down the hard shoulder!! Amazingly no one was hurt and the boats only had minor scratches!

Carol

I had a bitty little Champ (almost exactly like the Dodge Colt) with factory rack. Often carried my 80 pound Old Town tied to it. Never had any problem. Until Alzheimer's or death I'm going to despise the drunken broad who hit and ran it, totaling it. But at least about 10 of us got her plate numbers. Then I had a small Chev with factory rack. Same as. Just fine.

Naturally you're going to have tie downs front and back, too, just in case. I never needed them, but they made me (and other drivers) feel more secure.

Phone in, or wander around and ask the service dept., or the body shop, of your dealer. They can tell you if the rack is mounted to structural members (as many are today) or merely rivetted to sheet metal as they were 6+ years ago. The latter was a problem if the wind got under the boat (roof zippers!).

I have often posted the answer I got about 8-9 years ago. Salesman says no problem to carry a canoe, as long as you don't go over the weight limit on the rack. Go home and call in to the service dept. Service manager says something like: 'Welllll, you can if you tie it down well to the bumpers. But I wouldn't myself. We had one in here, oohhhh about maybe 18 months ago.... The wind got under the canoe and peeled the rack right out of the roof. Cost him about $1500 or so for a new roof.'

Easy for *us* to laugh!

You are most welcome!