Roof Rack and Stand Up Paddleboard Carrier for a 2008 Audi A4

Question:

I am looking for a roof rack for a 2008 Audi A4 with no existing rails or crossbars. I would like to be able to add a SUP kit to the rack I purchase.

asked by: John B

Expert Reply:

One of the better kits we have for SUP boards are the aero-style crossbars. These assist in carrying Stand Up Paddleboards by being aerodynamic themselves, and their wider bases providing more stability for the boards.

I recommend the Thule AeroBlade Traverse kit, consisting of:

Thule WingBars, 47 inches, Silver, part # TH711200 or Black, TH711220
Thule Rapid Traverse Foot Pack, part # TH480R
Thule Fit Kit, part # THKIT1212

Thule is compatible with a wide range of accessories and also makes several great carriers for this application that are directly compatible with these bars.

For the SUP carrier, you have a wide range of options.

If you're looking to carry a single board, and don't want to spend a lot on the carrier itself, a kit like the Rhino-Rack Pad, part # RRRWP05 is a good match, providing padding to the crossbars and the tie-downs to keep your board safe on the road. This fits Aero or Round crossbars and uses your vehicle's frame as tie-down points to keep your board secure.

If you're looking to carry more than one paddleboard, consider the Yakima SUPDawg, part # Y04075. This rack can carry up to two SUPs in one carrier, and mounts to round or aero bars. It also includes integrated locks to keep your rack secured to your vehicle, plus all of the tie-downs for your SUP's.

A final option, if you are intending on only ever carrying a single SUP on your vehicle, or have an Avant Wagon model, is the SeaSucker Surfboard Carrier, part # 298-BX1806. This is a solution that doesn't require a roof rack at all, and instead lets you attach the rack for the SUP directly to the roof of your vehicle with vacuum cups. This then lets you use the included tie-downs to secure your SUP to the vehicle. I've included a video that demonstrates the strength of these vacuum cups in the bike rack model of the SeaSucker so you can get an idea of how strong this rack is.