Recommended Solution for Carrying 2 Kayaks on 2013 Mazda 3 Hatchback

Question:

My family recently bought me a Rola Sport Series Roof Rack with AP-GTX for my Mazda as a gift. I would like to be able to mount 2 kayaks on the roof rack so that my friend and I can carpool when we kayak. Which J Style kayak mounts fit securely on the Rola AP-GTX?

asked by: Jonathan S

Expert Reply:

SportRack offers a budget friendly J-style kayak carrier, part # SR5511. The carrier will fit roof rack crossbars up to 3-1/2 inches wide, your Rola crossbars are 3-1/8 inches wide, so the carriers will fit just fine. Two of the carriers will fit on your Rola rack. Your crossbars have a 132 lb weight capacity, but you will need to make sure that the weight of the kayaks and the carriers does not exceed the capacity of the rack or the vehicle roof. You should be able to locate the capacity in the owners manual or by contacting your Mazda dealer.

Each carrier includes the retaining straps and bow and stern tie-downs. I would also recommend the Malone QuickLash T-Style Hood Loops, part # MPG308. You can shut the loops in the hood and trunk of your Mazda 3, and they would provide a great, easy to use place to attach the tie-downs.

expert reply by: Mike L