Recommended Roof Rack and Carrier for Kayak and Paddleboard on 2018 Subaru Crosstrek  

Question:

Expert Reply:

I took a look at the owner's manual of your 2018 Subaru Crosstrek and it stated that your roof's weight capacity was 150 lbs, so as long as the combined weight of the rack, carriers, your kayak and paddleboard are less than that you will be able to transport them.

To start you will need a roof rack, and if it has raised side rails I recommend the Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero which consists of crossbars # RRVA118B-2 and legs # RRSX100. This roof rack can accommodate the 150 lb roof capacity of your Crosstrek and has rubber vortex strip to significantly reduce the amount of wind noise you'll encounter. It also has locks included on the rack to protect your investment. I have added a link to a video review of this rack being installed on a Crosstrek for you to look at.

When it comes to transporting your kayak and paddleboard you are going to need two different carriers to accommodate the different styles. To give you enough room on the roof of your Crosstrek to transport both, a J-style kayak carrier makes the most sense and I recommend the Malone DownLoader Kayak Carrier with Tie Downs # MPG114MD which will fit on either of the crossbars I mentioned and can carry a kayak that is up to 36" wide and up to 75 lbs. This carrier simply clamps onto your crossbars and comes with the tie downs you'll need to secure your kayak.

As for your paddleboard the Thule DockGrip Kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboard Carrier # TH895 allows you to carry your paddleboard hull side down and comes with the necessary tie-down straps to secure it. This is a universal mount that is also going to work with either of the crossbars that I recommended for you.

expert reply by: Kyle S

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