Can I bungee strap a kayak to my factory luggage rack on an 05 pathfinder?

Question

Do I have to buy a kayak carrier? Won't straps work?

Answer 1

People who buy expensive rack systems for kayaks, surfboards, or skis crack me up.  Sometimes I see elaborate racks on top of the factory cross bars and just laugh to myself at what kind of ... would buy that.  I surf and usually throw my boards inside my car (Suburu Outback) but if I'm going with a bunch of people, I wrap towels around the factory bars and bungy 5 boards on each side.  I spent $10 on bungies.

For a kayak, make sure you pad the area that the kayak will sit on.  This avoids damage to the kayak and the rack, and at the same time it gives you something to pull against when you tighten it.  Do bungies and ropes too, so that you have an outer limit.

Answer 2

Yes you can with a few proviso's. Use 13mm [1/2"] minimum Ocki/Bungee strap. It is recommended that the max speed for transporting a kayak is 80kph [about 50mph] so if the strap is near max tension its safe. I used 13mm Ocki straps with 'Tygel locks' [basically a jam cleat] in Australia, one trip we travelled 2,500 kms averaging 100kph with x2 4 m kayaks on a Jeep Wrangler without a problem; though I did add a spare Ocki strap from the kayak to the front Bull bar. My Ocki straps were still in use after two years but getting close to replacement time.

Answer 3

NO. Go out and buy some cheap straps and use them to strap them down. If it is anything but a short playboat make sure you tie down the bow and the stearn.

Answer 4

I wouldn't go with bungee.  Use ratcheting tie downs (2-3) across the kayak and then run a rope through the carry ropes on each end of the kayak and tie to front and back of vehicle.  Will look like a "v".  You can buy some inexpensive foam pieces/blocks that will go over the luggage rack and keep the kayak up off the top  of the truck a bit better. or, you may be able to make something that works just as well.  If you don't tie it down front and back, either the wind will push it out the back or a sudden stop will have it on your hood.  I only went to the fancy carrier after we got the second kayak.  Be careful loading and off loading the beast - - have scratched up more than one suv by not being careful.

Answer 5

i dont see why not.  i duct taped a couch to the top of my 96 accord and it all worked out fine.