How to Lock Yakima JayHook Kayak Carrier # Y04084 to Trailer Crossbars

Question:

Thank you for the quick reply earlier Chris. I had asked a question about a j rack that would work on round cross bars on my trailer. You answered all my questions and recommended the Yakima Y04084 J rack as it is known to work on round cross bars. My question is now regarding the Y04084. I am not going to be taking the j-racks off and on they are going to stay attached to my kayak trailer. Are the clamps plates that screw down and attach the rack to the cross bar made of metal? I do not want a quick screw on and off for the rack easy to steal so I would like to use standard bolt with nut and washers. Can I use standard nuts and bolts or is the plate made only for the bolts and screw knob that come with the J rack? Hope the question is not confusing not sure how else to describe it. I really appreciate that your company answers questions. Hope to order my racks soon and get the trailer ready for vacation.

asked by: Jay B

Expert Reply:

The mounting brackets for the Yakima JayHook Kayak Carrier # Y04084 are made of a durable plastic, so I'm not sure replacing the included hardware with standard bolts and nuts is the best idea.

If you're worried about theft, what you could do is loop a standard cable lock like the Yakima # Y07233 through the mounting bracket and around the crossbar to secure it into place. This would make it pretty difficult (and time consuming) for a passing stranger to remove the carrier.

expert reply by: Chris R