Kayak racks and load ratings

[Jackmove]

I love to kayak, but I’m having doubts about the load rating on my ‘17 JKU hardtop.

I used to haul two kayaks with my 2007 CRV. I bought two cross bars that bolted into the OEM integrated roof rails and then applied kayak j-hooks. I’m trying to replicate the same thing for the jeep.

Admittedly, I didn’t think about any of this when I bought the jeep. I thought: it’s a rugged outdoorsy vehicle with a huge aftermarket, I’ll deal with that later. However, I’m seeing cross bars that CLIP to the rain gutter. The hardtop is only rated for 150 lbs. Each kayak is 50-70 lbs, plus I have to factor in the weight of the bars and the j-hooks.

But the real uncertainty I have is factoring in wind resistance. I’m concerned that wind at highway speeds (70) are going to rip off the clips at the rain gutters. The configuration makes me uneasy.

Now, I’ve hauled a single kayak on the jeep already with some foam pads and secured it with bowlines fore and aft along with ratchet straps across the middle and the hardtop was fine. It’s the additional hardware I’m worried about.

I’m really not interested in those overlanding exoskeleton rigs that bolt onto the frame, but maybe that’s my only alternative besides a trailer. Anyone have experience with the crossbars that clip to the rain gutters?

 

[Jackmove]

J

 

[Anybodyhome]

Say hello to the SmittyBilt Defender rack, Model 45555. It has a 500lb weight capacity and it has served me extremely well for almost 6 years now.

The mounting kit for the JKU includes gutter mount over the rear windows and hinge mounts which require the rear window hinges be loosened, not removed. I am 6'6" and weigh close to 300lbs. When I load the rack, I open the rear tailgate and pull myself up on the rear bumper holding onto the rack. I access the sides by climbing on the step and onto my back wheel, again pulling myself up by the rack.

I occasionally check the mounting brackets to see if they've loosened, which has occurred once after a trail run. I have a Reese rooftop cargo bag which fits perfectly and I use the adjustable rubber straps equipped with the S-hook for securing the bag or other stuff.

I've had upwards of 200lbs on mine, not to mention me putting my 300 lbs of pull on it when I climb up to use it.
Rack was around $400, mounting brackets kit another $100. Took me about 2 hours to install alone. Much easier of you have an extra set of hands to manage it from either side of your JKU when mounting.

 

[JeepJeezy]

Here's my setup. Zero issues! I've had 3 kayaks up top doing 65. 2 in the J hooks and 1 in between. I'm supposed to be going on a kayak camping trip this weekend. I can try to take some pictures with kayaks up top if ya want.

 

[Jackmove]

Here's my setup. Zero issues! I've had 3 kayaks up top doing 65. 2 in the J hooks and 1 in between. I'm supposed to be going on a kayak camping trip this weekend. I can try to take some pictures with kayaks up top if ya want.

View attachment 122690

That’s exactly the setup I’m talking about. Looks like yours connects to the gutters too. Have the cross bars ever shifted after a trip? Do you have to frequently retighten them?

 

[JeepJeezy]

That’s exactly the setup I’m talking about. Looks like yours connects to the gutters too. Have the cross bars ever shifted after a trip? Do you have to frequently retighten them?

They've never shifted and I've never had to retighten them either. With a 6" lift and 37's, I've literally thrown the kayaks up top dozens of times.

 

[SteveF]

That’s exactly the setup I’m talking about. Looks like yours connects to the gutters too. Have the cross bars ever shifted after a trip? Do you have to frequently retighten them?

Use a little lock-tite on the threads if its loosening

 

[Speartip]

Here's my setup. Zero issues! I've had 3 kayaks up top doing 65. 2 in the J hooks and 1 in between. I'm supposed to be going on a kayak camping trip this weekend. I can try to take some pictures with kayaks up top if ya want.

View attachment 122690

What brand is your kayak racks?
I've been thinking about this as well

 

[JeepJeezy]

What brand is your kayak racks?
I've been thinking about this as well

I honestly don't remember. I got them on eBay. I tried to look them up but it's been well over a year and eBay won't let me view the listing anymore. I know I paid $156. That's all I can see.

 

[Speartip]

I honestly don't remember. I got them on eBay. I tried to look them up but it's been well over a year and eBay won't let me view the listing anymore. I know I paid $156. That's all I can see.

Ok . Well you took a good pic of the mounts so will check eBay and see if I can find .

I can’t remember where I heard. Somewhere I read that the fibreglass gutter isn’t very strong and can break off using a gutter mount .
You obviously hadn’t had any problems with that so maybe wasn’t an accurate story or somebody reefed on them causing breakage

 

[JeepJeezy]

We're only going for 2 days this time, so I loaded up the 8 footers. I use the 10 ft kayaks for longer trips. Plus, the 8 ft kayaks are easier to throw up top too! From the ground to the top of these kayaks measures just over 9ft tall.

 

[Jermbob28]

When you look at roof racks look at the dynamic load rating, not the static… static doesn’t matter if you want to move…

@Anybodyhome the smittybilt does not have that load rating with gutter mounted brackets, not even close. It is rated for 150lbs. I know a guy that overloaded it and cracked his hardtop. Be careful.