Looking to pick up a rack for my Jeep and am trying to weigh the pros and cons of each. I like the saddle type mounts for aesthetic and aerodynamics, and while I'll mostly be transporting just my own kayak, I can see myself transporting at least one other boat. As a result, I've been looking at the Yakima Kayak Stacker vertical mount as it has the versatility to carry up to 4 boats. Only question I have is how would this form of transportation fare on extended trips? Being that I live in Michigan, I have to look at taking at the very least a 6 hour trip for any sort of whitewater -- any comment as to how the boat and/or mount would hold up on longer trips??

For whitewater boats you can't beat the stackers, great for long trips. The advantage is that if any stress is placed on the boat, it's on the side not the bottom or cockpit. Plus one day you just may need a lot of boats up there, and the stackers are great for big loads.

either that ot look at the Thule j-bars they are about $150 new. They keep your boat secure on its own and with a little ghetto know-how you can stack the hell out of some boats!

IMHO you cant really go wrong with anything specifically as long as you use some common sense.

p.s how is that RPM doing?

we are going to have a fun filled weekend up (well over) here in Wausau this weekend should you feel the need to get out on some guranteed water

I have the stacker on my car and it actually works with Thule bars. It has been a life saver on multiple occasions. And yes it will work great on long trips i have know people to travel cross country with them connected to their boats.

I just got back from a longboat surfing trip in which I carried three 16.5' kayaks for 1000 km (600 miles) from Ottawa to the Atlantic provinces and the stackers I have (Sportrack Kayak Stacker) worked really well on my Corolla.

thanks for all the replies everyone -- kind of a stupid question but can you use the lock cores on the stacker too? AFAIK they're only for the rack feet, but saw mention of using them for some of their rack accessories too.

Either way, I'll probably be picking up one along w/ a rack base rather soon



Laddie wrote:

p.s how is that RPM doing?

we are going to have a fun filled weekend up (well over) here in Wausau this weekend should you feel the need to get out on some guranteed water

Real good -- had it out last weekend, albeit on flatwater, but got a good feel for it/realized where it needs some padding. Only problem I have on it is doing wet exits without demolishing my knees on the thigh braces -- had them bruised black & blue after only a few times. Aside from that, the boat is great... real stable on the water and surprisingly comfortable given its rather primitive seat. Even had my girlfriend's mom wanting to trade me for her GT 7.5


I wish I could make it out and use it on some real water, but with the way things have been at work it's not looking too good -- long story short, I got bumped up from bartender to interim general manager for the time being after the old GM got canned. Fun times

there's a lot of stacker

thule
sporttracks
yakima

it's the way to carry you kayak