Recommended Kayak Carrier for Ford Edge with 21 Inch Crossbar Spread

Question:

The manufacturer cross rails on my ford edge are 21 inches apart. Everywhere I look it says they should be a minimum of 24 inches apart for transporting a kayak. Is the 21 inch distance going to be an issue??

asked by: Linda

Expert Reply:

As you mentioned in your question, most kayak carriers have a standard minimum crossbar spread of 24 inches.

With the 21 inch spread on your Ford Edge roof rack, I recommend looking at the Thule Surf Pad # TH845000. These pads feature a split-bottom design that will simply wrap around the crossbars on your roof rack to provide a soft padding for your kayak. You will then be able to load the kayak hull side down/upside down without harming the kayak or crossbars. This will work just fine with the 21 inch crossbar spread on your Ford Edge. I then recommend adding the Thule Express Surf Strap # TH531 to secure your kayak to the roof rack.

expert reply by: Chris R