Having just got my Tequila kayak, about 2 weeks ago, and the first time I took it out I was not happy with how much effort it took for me to get my kayak onto my vehicle and to secure it in place. My vehicle is a Toyata Landcruiser, 80 series and even though the kayak does come apart, I can’t put all the “bit” in the back of my vehicle and still take the 2 kids, my wife and all the other stuff we seems to always take with on a family outing..
Tequila kayak on roof of landcruiser, supported all the way along.
I needed a way to put all 3 pieces (or the kayak in the tandem configuration) up on the roof, in a secure mounting and have it so that I don’t damage my vehicle in the process.
So after watching a bunch of Youtube videos on how other people do it, I came up with what i believe to be a simple way to get the kayak up there and secure it on properly.
The concept involves 2 pieces of 70 x 45mm time, each 3 meters long placed length ways on top my my existing roofrack and act as runners. The kayak slides up on the “runners” from the back of the vehicle and support the kayak all the way along it.
To keep the timbers in place, I fastend some cross timbers (100mm x 20mm x 500mm) and these sit between roof rack stopping the entire rig from moving forward or backwards.
This make it look like a ladder.
Roof rack, showing "ladder like" appearance. Looking from front to rear.
Once the kayak is on top, I use a set of tie-down straps that not only hold the craft in place, but stop the rig from moving left or right.
Vire from the front of my vehicle showing kayak resting on runners
View from the rear of the vehicle.
I like the approach, becuase it means I can take the assemply off the vehicle when not required and still have my roof rack to carry stepladders, table tennis tables etc.
