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Show us a pic of how it looks after 20yrs!I can lift my 42# Pygmy Coho kayak to the top of my VW Passat wagon, and the Model 3 is MUCH lower than the VW. Still, I would hesitate to put roof racks on the Tesla, because the crossbars apparently take a bit of time to put on and off, with the risk of cracking the glass each time, and I don't want them up there permanently.
FWIW, I built my Coho 20 years ago, and it's still in great shape!
Dear TMC,
My boss, The Wife, wants two kayaks. She plans to awaken, check the weather, then impulsively zoom off in her Model 3 to go kayaking. Along with our 15-year old... a car full of sass & moxie.
Please tell me your thoughts on:
(1) Trailer -- what trailer would you recommend? I'm assuming a trailer would be a better choice than a roof rack, because a kayak would be hard for my wife to heave up on to the roof, even with help from sass-child. I'll be asleep. Or hiding. Or drunk. Or some combination.
(2) Hitch -- Torklift Eco hitch? Something else?
(3) Can Model 3 handle this job?
(4) Kayaks -- my ignorance is boundless and certainly includes kayaks (animal, vegetable or mineral?). Please, if anyone has recommendations for kayaks, speak up.
Thanks in advance!
Alan
P.S. Don't know if it matters, but I think she's also thinking "camper mode" with a mattress in the back.
P.P.S. If I could convince her to wait, I'd try to solve this problem with a Cybertruck. But no waiting allowed.
P.P.S. Moxie & Sass with their loyal partner in crime, who often shows up in kayaks or carried in a special backpack when he finally exhausts himself.
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That front tie line, rubs? How long is the kayak that you tied down? Just wondering what the minimum kayak length would be to avoid rubbing.
If you look closely you'll see that there is a piece of black rubber or foam in place to prevent rubbing in that picture.That front tie line, rubs? How long is the kayak that you tied down? Just wondering what the minimum kayak length would be to avoid rubbing.
Trailex makes a couple trailers for multiple kayaks: SUT-500-2BC and SUT-450-M6 - Small Boat Trailers (SUT) - Trailex, Inc.. Note that the big number (450 or 500 here) is the total capacity of the trailer in pounds.Not that it's critical, but one thing I don't think I'm seeing in these responses is anyone transporting THREE kayaks at a time. (Say, if I am somehow convinced to accompany both wife & kid.) Maybe that's possible with an inflatable, which then gets us into the tradeoffs of the performance and handling of inflatable kayaks versus other types. But it sure looks like a roof rack won't handle three kayaks and even a trailer might be hard-pressed to accommodate.
. . .
One thing I'm now more worried about are the references to capsizing kayaks. The Wife loves to take one or both of our chihuahuas along for the ride... which they seemingly love to do as well. Life jackets for humans but no life jackets for chihuahuas. Huh!
Yep, lots of outdoor stores sell a sleeve that goes over the line to protect against rubbing, but I was still interested in the length of kayak that would avoid having to use a sleeve to begin with.If you look closely you'll see that there is a piece of black rubber or foam in place to prevent rubbing in that picture.
Yep, lots of outdoor stores sell a sleeve that goes over the line to protect against rubbing, but I was still interested in the length of kayak that would avoid having to use a sleeve to begin with.
This is a 14’ kayak and the front line does touch the car. The line came with some rubber protectors that “stick without glue” to the car and don’t let it move.That front tie line, rubs? How long is the kayak that you tied down? Just wondering what the minimum kayak length would be to avoid rubbing.
Thanks for all the detail!This is a 14’ kayak and the front line does touch the car. The line came with some rubber protectors that “stick without glue” to the car and don’t let it move.
the lines are from a kayak carrying kit from my 2009 Mini Cooper
Still, I would hesitate to put roof racks on the Tesla, because the crossbars apparently take a bit of time to put on and off, with the risk of cracking the glass each time, and I don't want them up there permanently.
FWIW, I built my Coho 20 years ago, and it's still in great shape!
Question...what j-bars were you using for this setup? Trying to locate some and want to make sure they're compatible. Thanks.I used to haul two kayaks on the roof of my Mazda 6, and this picture from a google search confirms that it's also possible on the 3. The roof rack is supposed to be good for 150lb and two standard kayaks with mounting hardware would be well within that limit. I'm not sure I would risk it personally because of the horror stories I've heard about glass cracking with the roof rack, but in theory it should work. I would be super leery about using a trailer to tow kayaks; it can be dangerous to tow something long and lightweight like that, especially on the highway. Would also be pretty tough to turn corners.
I also haul 2 kayaks on the roof of my Model 3 with J-bars on the cross bars. Everything fits just fine. Any J-bar should work. I use the JayLow (JayLow).Question...what j-bars were you using for this setup? Trying to locate some and want to make sure they're compatible. Thanks.