Q: I would like the dual kayak system as shown in the  picture below for my 2010 GMC Canyon 4 Door Crew Cab. Can you please provide a required material list?

A: Here is what you will need for this set up on your 2010 GMC Canyon 4 door crew cab:

Thule 480 Traverse Half Pack Rack (includes 480 Traverse half foot pack, single LB58 load bar & 1461 fit kit) – This will be the single bar that will mount to the top of your truck cab.

Thule 997 GoalPost T-Bar Hitch Rack – This is the rear bar that will attach to your receiver hitch.

Thule 883 Glide & Set Kayak Rack x 2 – These are the kayak saddles and tie downs.

Q: I am planning on buying a 2011 or 2012 subaru outback.  I have the Thule 45050 Complete railing rack with feet, locks and 50″ bars

 I hope to buy a hullavator for my kayak,the thule says it will work on this car but I can’t figure out how I can get the hullavator far enough apart to properly fit around my cockpit. The racks need to be 36″ apart.  From the pictures I’ve seen, the rack seems “fixed” and unable to accommodate rack placement this far apart and, I can’t find any dimensions on line.

 Do you have any experience mounting a thule hullavator system on a 2010 subaru or newer?? If so, what rack combination worked for you? How far apart were you able to place the Thule crossbars?

 A:  We do not necessarily have any direct experience installing the 45050 on the vehicle you mentioned, but we do know that is does fit and as you stated the Thule Fit Guide states the Hullavator will work on this car.

 Here is a link to the Hullavator Instructions to maybe help clear things up a little.

 Please note on page 2 that “Load bars must be at least 24″ (610mm)apart for safe use.”. But you do not need to clear the boat’s cockpit in order to use the rack.

 Also note on page 2, the first step in #1 states that “Load bars must extend equally between 4″ and 8″ beyond foot. Adjust as necessary. In rare instances, longer load bars then those recommended in the Thule Fit Guide may be required for your vehicle.” This is to make sure the kayak and rack do not make contact with the car when the rack is pulled out and down. There is no way to know in advance if this will be an issue. Often times it is best to buy longer bars and then cut them down if they are too long or there is not risk of interference with the side of the car.

Q: I’m wondering does anyone (either Thule or Yakima or whoever) sell a carrier that supports surfboard/kayak/bike all-in-one?   I’m going to be buying a new SUV soon and wanted to find out this info first and would rather just get it all-in-one.   If not, what’s the best product for just surfboard/kayak?

A: The INA-444 is a great carrier for kayaks, stand-up paddleboards or surfboards.  It works very well with plastic recreational boats, but probably isn’t the best choice for Kevlar or fiberglass touring kayaks. 

And with a base rack system by Thule, Yakima or Inno, you could simultaneously use both the surf/kayak carrier and any of a number of bike carriers offered on our site. With wide enough crossbars, it will likely be possible to carry two bikes alongside your watersports carrier.

Q: I am looking for a replacement knob for a a Thule 520 Kayak Stacker. If you can help me with this part, I’d appreciate it.

A: The current part number for the Thule 3 wing knob is 753 0745 and we do have them in stock. You may view/ order this item on our site here, http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-7530745-knob-3-wing-high-m6-x-1-nut-spare-part.html The 3 wing knob is Thule’s jack of all knobs, as it works with most of their accessories.

Q:  We have a Honda CRV 2011 with factory installed roof rack.  We would like to get a J style kayak rack for two sea kayaks.  Yakima has always worked well for us — we have also had some Thule products.  We like the Yakima Bow Down Kayak Rack (and it folds) but wonder if it will work on our CRV racks.  Before ordering, I’d like some confirmation that they will work.

Also, what is your experience with Rack and Roll trailer for kayaks — we’ve heard mixed reviews.

A: I confirmed, through the Yakima fit guide, that the Yakima Bow Down will fit on your 2011 Honda CRV with factory rack and cross bars. The only thing you will want to double check whenever you are using factory cross bars as a base set up is the maximum load for the bars. Besides the weight of the kayaks, the Bow Downs weigh 15 lbs each.

If you like the Yakima then stick with that. There are other similar options from Thule (Hull-a-Port Pro) and Malone (DownLoader) with similar features and pricing. You can learn more by using the links.

And lastly, yes, we have had excellent experience and feedback with the Rack and Roll Trailers. One thing to consider whether you plan on using the trailer at higher speeds on the highway and/or for long distance trips. If this is the case then you would want to go with the Rack and Roll Trailer with 72” bars as it will be more stable.

Picture of the all-new INA446 Inno SUP / Kayak / Canoe Locker for use as a stand-up paddleboard rack, kayak rack, canoe rack and more. Universally fits factory roof rack crossbars as well as base rack systems from Inno, Yakima, Whispbar, Thule and more.

Image of the INA445 Inno SUP / Kayak / Canoe Locker - an economical version of the INA446 and does not include the car rack cross bar pads.

Now available from Inno Racks dealers in the United States and Canada are the new, improved versions of the famously popular Inno INA444 SUP / Kayak / Canoe Locker – the Inno Racks INA446 SUP / Kayak / Canoe Locker and the Inno INA445 SUP / Kayak / Canoe Locker – both feature innovative updates that allow for even more factory roof rack cross bar fits, more robust theft prevention and better protection and stability of equipment during transport. Instead of a pair of foam blocks (included with the INA444), the INA446 version now includes a pair of crossbar pads that deliver superior ease of loading and unloading and wear-restistance that’ll last a lifetime. The INA445 version does not include rack pads and is targeted as a more value priced option for users that do not need rack pads for added equipment protection, ease of loading / unloading or increased prevention of lateral shifting of gear during transport (also a great option for users that already own a pair of car rack cross bar pads or foam blocks). Both models feature redesigned locking rack straps that deliver increased protection from theft of gear or the rack itself when left unattended. They also feature universal clamp hardware that fits even more factory racks as well as any after-market base rack system crossbars from Inno Racks, Yakima Racks, Whispbar Racks, Thule Racks and more. The Inno INA446 Locker and Inno INA445 Locker are the most versatile watersport carriers available on the market today and work equally well for hauling any canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard ( SUP ), surfboard (both short and long boards), windsurfer, wakeboard etc. Works great as a ladder rack as well. The integrated ratcheting mechanism makes it an effortless process to tighten the straps around the gear, and the included Inno locks and keys ensure everything is safe and secure from anyone stealing your gear or the rack itself. They both also adjust to any width along the cross bars to custom fit the item(s) you are carrying.

Nice image of a Scion Xa kayak rack system using the Yakima Q Tower base rack system with Q120 and Q7 Q-Clips. One kayak is being carried with the Yakima HullRaiser J-Style kayak rack and the other is using the combo of the Yakima Mako Saddles kayak saddles and the Yakima HullyRollers kayak rollers.

Here is a great example of how even a smaller car can carry the gear you need, even if it is two full size kayaks. This Scion Xa kayak rack system is using the Yakima Q Tower base rack system with the recommended 48″ crossbars and one set of Q120 Q Clips and one set of Q7 Q clips. One kayak is held in place with the Yakima HullRaiser kayak carrier which tilts it on its side in a J-style cradle. This allows for the other kayak to be carried flat using the Yakima Mako Saddle and Yakima HullyRoller kayak rollers combo.

Great shot of a Honda fit kayak rack with roller system using the Yakima Q-Tower base rack with Q99 Q-Clips and the Yakima Showboat kayak/canoe roller system.

Here is a shiny red Honda Fit kayak rack system with an extension roller for easier loading and unloading using the Yakima Q-Tower base rack system with Q99 Q-Clips and the Yakima Showboat kayak roller with what I assume (I didn’t have my tape measure on me!) are 58″ extension bars, but could possibly be 66″ bars. If you have a Fit, you can measure and decide which bars will allow for enough extension so that the roller overhangs the bumper and feel free to let us know which size worked for you. Thanks!

Image of a Nissan Frontier 2 Door bed mounted truck rack kayak rack system using the Outdoorsman 300 Compact truck rack with LB58 58" cross bars and two Yakima HullRaiser kayak J-cradles.

This Nissan Frontier 2 Door truck rack for kayaks is sporting the Yakima Outdoorsman 300 Compact truck rack and two Yakima HullRaiser kayak racks.  Sadly, in this picture, the Yakima kayak rack system for trucks is not sporting any kayaks.

The Yakima Outdoorsman truck racks are available in two sizes–Full Size and Compact–and are sold as half sets without cross bars. This allows you to select the appropriate cross bar length to suit you needs and to order a single set of towers and a single cross bar to be paired up with a cab mounted crossbar using the Yakima Q-Tower Half Pack system. In this image, we see two half sets of Outdoorsman 300 Compact towers and a pair of 58″ cross bars.

Great shot of a Toyota Tacoma hitch bike rack and roof top kayak rack system using the Yakima SwingDaddy hitch mount bike rack. The rooftop rack system consists of a set of Yakima 42" tracks, the Yakima Control Tower System with Landing Pads #1, two sets of Yakima Mako kayak saddles, and the Yakima BoatLoader kayak lift accessory.

Here is a nicely racked up rig that I recently spotted on my way to somewhere.  This Toyota Tacoma hitch bike rack and roof kayak rack system is using the Yakima SwingDaddy hitch bike rack mounted to the 2″ receiver and is ready to carry up to four bikes.

On the roof, a set of Yakima 42″ tracks has been installed and is supporting the Yakima Control Tower system which uses two sets of Landing Pads #1 to connect to the tracks. 

For transporting kayaks, two sets of Yakima Mako saddles are attached to the Yakima crossbars, and the Yakima BoatLoader kayak lift assist accessory, which integrates into one of the crossbars, is ready and waiting to help with the job of loading and unloading the kayaks.