Can i strap my kayak to the rollbars of my jeep or do i need a rack?

Question

Can i strap my kayak to the rollbars of my jeep or do i need a rack?

Answer 1

Should work fine. You might want to protect the boat a bit tho. if you can get roofrack pads that would be great. otherwise get a bicycle inner tube, slit it down the middle and strap it on with cable ties.

Answer 2

You need to have two support points/bars for your kayak. If they are wide enough you may not need padding. Try winding carpet strips around the bars. You need a bow line and a stern line fastened to the front and rear bumpers. You need two non-stretch straps or ropes securing the kayak to the support bars. Check the tautness of your rigging after a mile or two. Never use 'bungee' straps.

Answer 3

Depending on the material of your boat and how resilient it is, the roll-bar will work as long as your ties are secure.  The advantage of a rack is that the boat will be more protected, probably more secure (depending, I suppose, on your tying skills), and quicker to put on and take off.  A lockable rack will give you some peace-of-mind while you're in that Diner near the take-out...  I use lockable Yakima racks myself that attach to the Jeep hard-top 'gutters' (such as they are).  Works pretty well.