Carrying a Canoe and Kayak on a 2016 Subaru Forester

Question:

I am looking for a roof carrier for my 2016 Subaru Forester with Aero crossbars that will carry a canoe AND a kayak, at the same time.

asked by: JImi O

Expert Reply:

There is a solution for you to transport both a canoe and kayak with your 2016 Subaru Forester, but there are no carriers that are designed to be used with both at the same time. Your best option would be to install a hitch and use a canoe trailer with your kayak going on your roof.

A great option to transport your kayak is the Rhino-Rack J-Style Carrier # S510, which has padded buckles and rubber padding on the cradle arms and comes with a pair of tie-down straps as well as a pair of bow/stern tie downs.

To transport your canoe, you are going to need a hitch, and I recommend the Draw-Tite # 75876, which is a Class III two-inch hitch that has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs, a maximum tongue weight of 525 lbs, and will not require the use of stabilization straps the way the Curt hitch does. I have included a link to a video install on a 2016 Forester for you to take a look at.

With the hitch installed, you can easily transport your canoe with a trailer such as the CE Smith Boat Trailer # CE48810. This trailer will haul canoes or other watercraft that are to 12 feet long and comes with a hand-crank winch to help you load and unload your canoe. It also features galvanized wheels that resist corrosion as well as fully submersible lights. Those lights would need to be powered by Subaru, and for that you would need T-One Wiring Harness # 118467, which simply plugs into your Forester. You would also need a ball mount to go with the hitch, and I recommend taking a look at Ball Mount Kit # 989900.

I have included links to video reviews of each of these products for you to take a look at.