Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:32:47 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy roof rack for two kayaks?
In-Reply-To: <4E41487D.4000403@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I carry two kayaks on top of my westy often; I carry one very often. I don't
use a rack at all. I don't even use a ladder or stool although it makes it a
bit easier. I just take as few things as possible.
I am about Rocky's size. I approach the vehicle with the bow of the kayak
(mine's a 17 foot sea kayak) and rest the bow on the rear edge with about a
foot and a half of overhang. Then I walk backwards, holding onto the kayak
so it won't slip back, and at the right point lift the boat and shove it on
the top. Then I locate the boat where I want it and lash it down for and
aft, and I use the luggage rack cleats to keep them boat(s) from moving side
to side. I have probably done this activity 100 times since I began working
for the Alabama Scenic River Trail three years ago. No mishaps or regrets so
far.
My aversion to racks (I have a nice Yakima) is that they prevent me from
pulling into urban parking garages or even my own garage. Not acceptable. I
live in tornado and storm country, there are times that my westy is coming
inside.
Jim
On Tue, Aug 9, 2011 at 9:47 AM, Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@gmail.com
> wrote:
> Seeing that Rob brought up a similar question, I am prompted to ask for
> suggestions on carrying two kayaks on a Westy roof.
>
> I see plenty of folk carrying two kayaks on their cars, using
> purpose-built racks that carry the boats at a tilt so they ride
> bottom-to-bottom, taking up less width.
>
> Westys are tall, however, and I'm not a tall man -- 5' 6'', which puts
> the roof out of reach. So solutions from men over 6' are probably not
> going to be very helpful.
>
> And I'm thinking that even if I did find a suitable rack from the likes
> of Thule or Yakima, I cannot envision how I'd get the boats up there and
> back down. First climb on top then haul the boats up on ropes?
>
> My guess is that with two boats up there, raising the roof would be
> difficult if not impossible without first removing them, were I to want
> to just overnight. So any method I use to get the boats up and down
> would want to be pretty darn easy.
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> Bend, Ore.
> 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer from a defunct company in San
> Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westralia.
>
> Sent from my kitchen.
>
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