Recommended Roof Rack And Kayak Carrier For 2017 Ford Escape With Raised Side Rails

Question:

I have a 2017 Ford Escape with raised roof rails And a sun roof an factory cross bars Ford advises tha maximum weight which can be accommodated is 45 lbs. I have a neckyKayak which is 14ft long and weighs 54 lbs Is there an aftermarket rack I can use while not Damaging my car. Thank you

asked by: John Y

Helpful Expert Reply:

We do offer roof racks that can work with the raised side rails on your 2017 Escape. All of the roof racks we have will have a higher weight capacity than the 45-lbs you said you have on your roof rack. You will want to make sure the 45-lbs is due to the roof rack and not to the construction of the roof itself. You do not want to exceed the roof weight capacity of your new vehicle.

If you have a higher roof capacity I recommend a rood rack like the Rhino-Rack Vortex roof rack. This system features aerodynamic aluminum crossbars with Vortex strips in the C-channel to help reduce wind noise. The roof capacity for this roof rack is 175-lbs, but I do recommend making sure you do not exceed the roof weight capacity. To order this roof rack you will need part # RRVA126B-2, and part # RRSX100.

If your Escape roof has a higher capacity I recommend a kayak carrier like part # RR570. This is a side-loading carrier that has pivoting saddles that makes it easier to load and unload your kayak. This carrier also comes with a tie-down strap and bow and stern ropes to secure the kayak.

Since it is tough to find a place to secure the bow/stern tie-downs I recommend part # RRRBAS. These attach to your tie downs and can be secured under the hood and hatch and include padding to protect your paint finish.