Recommendation for Carrying a 12 ft Kayak on a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac  

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Expert Reply:

If you do not have a roof rack on your 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Track, then you could use the Rightline Gear Foam-Block-Style Kayak Carrier, # RL100K10, that you referenced to mount the kayak directly to your roof.

I would recommend carrying your 12 ft kayak on a roof rack because a roof rack will provide more space between the roof of your vehicle and your kayak and limit the possibility of your kayak or vehicle being damaged while loading and unloading. We have many different roof rack options that will fit on your vehicle, but choosing the correct roof rack will depend on what type of roof you have on your vehicle.

I have attached a link to all of the roof racks that we carry for your vehicle. Simply choose the style of roof that you have and it will list all of the roof rack options for you. If you feel that two crossbars will not be enough support for your kayak, then you could add the Rhino-Rack T-Load, # RTL002, if you have a 2 inch trailer hitch on your vehicle. The T-Load will slide into your 2 inch receiver and provide a third load bar for your kayak.

Once you have chosen a roof rack, you will want to choose the style of kayak carrier that works best for you. You could still use the Rightline Foam-Block-Style kayak carrier with a roof rack system by mounting the foam blocks to the crossbars. Another popular option would be to use the SportRack J-Style Kayak Carrier, # SR5511. I have attached a video of the J-style kayak carrier for you to check out.

expert reply by: John H

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