Roof Rack for Pop Up Camper That Will Carry a Kayak

Question:

Hello I have a 2015 Rockwood HW277 and would like to carry a kayak on it. Which rack would work for my camper? I do have a A/C unit on top as well.

asked by: Dustin R

Expert Reply:

From what I was able to determine with my research, it looks like you have a fiberglass roof on your 2015 Rockwood HW277. For that reason I would first recommend you check with Rockwood to determine if they recommend you install a roof rack and see what the weight capacity would be.

If you find that you're able to mount a rack on your pop-up, the SportRack # SR1020 is designed to fit pop-up campers and is adjustable all the way up to 86" wide (my research shows that your pup is 85" wide so this will fit perfectly). Drilling is required for installation and the only issue you may encounter is that it will not fits pop-ups with roofs that have rounded or curved edges.

We also have Swagman rack # S80510. It is also considered a universal fit except it will not fit pop-ups with plastic 1-piece trailer tops, but if you have a rounded or curved edge on your roof, this is the best option since you can mount this a few inches in from the edge of the roof.

You'll likely want to mount the bars for your rack in front of your air conditioning unit with at least 24" between them. This distance cross bar spread will allow you to use the Yakima JayLow # Y04073 kayak carrier on your pop-up and would be a great choice since the J-style carriers fold down when not in use. The JayLow has a capacity of up to 80-lbs and can be mounted on either of the crossbars mentioned above.

expert reply by: Erik B