Recommended Method to Carry Kayaks on 2015 Toyota Highlander XLE with Factory Roof Rack

Question:

I just bought the vehicle and it came with two fixed black crossbars on the roof..they would be fine for some roof carrying needs but they are only about two feet apart and not the best for carrying kayaks or anything longer than a bag...My vehicle has the nice chrome pieces running front to back that have additional unused mounting points on them forward and aft of the current crossbars, that would suggest that I could mount another elevated front to back rail on them that would in turn allow me to purchase more adjustable transverse rails in turn on them...I am looking for those elevated front to back rails and a system to carry kayaks can you advise.

asked by: David

Expert Reply:

There are several ways you can go to rig your 2015 Toyota Highlander with fixed factory roof crossbars for transporting kayaks. Adding a secondary roof rack is not an option, however, since aftermarket racks would have to use the same mounting points as your OEM bars. I confirmed this with my contacts at both Rhino-Rack and Thule. But there are also other ways you can carry kayaks that might give you additional cargo-carrying capabilities and/or possibly save you some money as compared to adding a secondary roof rack.

If your Highlander has a 2-inch rear trailer hitch like the Curt # C13200 you could use a load support/load extender like one of the items shown on the link provided, such as the Rhino-Rack T-Load # RTL002. The T-Load adjusts vertically from 42-inches to 64-inches and it includes two adjustable load stops on its 49-inch crossbar to help secure your kayaks. The benefit of using this type of carrier is that the Highlander's roof does not bear the entire weight load of the kayaks; only about half of the total weight of the kayaks rests on the roof with the hitch handling the rest. As you noted, having this kind of wide-stance support under the kayaks will keep them more stable than closely-spaced roof rack crossbars alone.

I can also offer you a very cost-effective option which is to use your existing roof rack along with foam block kayak carriers. Foam carriers like the Rightline Gear # RL100K10 are inexpensive, lightweight, easy to install and remove and they do not alter the appearance of your Highlander except when you are hauling the kayaks. The linked page will show you all such carriers. These can be used on existing crossbars but can also be placed directly on a bare roof surface. You could use a set on your bars and add a second set on the bare roof to give you a total of 4 support points under the kayaks. You could also skip putting a set on your crossbars and simply add one set of blocks on the outsides of the bars; this again would give you a total of four support points under the kayaks: the two crossbars plus the two foam blocks. Please refer to the linked photo for illustration. Although this method puts the entire kayak weight load on the roof the blocks themselves will add no significant weight to the total.

No matter which way you decide to go, you'll want to use some sturdy ratcheting tie-down straps to help secure the bow and stern ends of the kayaks. I suggest the Erickson Re-Tractable Ratchet Straps with Push Button Releases, part # EM34415. A pair of these on each kayak will give you excellent stability. A video is linked to show you their operation.

Please feel free to let me know more about your kayaks - weight, width and length - and whether you have a hitch on the Highlander and I'll be glad to refine my recommendations based on your preferences.