I'm going to be making some 2x4 racks using the Spring Creek suction cup kits. The reason for going this route is that when in MN we rent a car and we never know exactly what we are going to wind up with and how big it will be. The 2x4 racks are very adjustable. I had been using foam blocks but we want to be able to carry 2 canoes.

On my Yakima racks I use the gunwale brackets. Are those just not necessary on the 2x4 racks or does anyone have an idea about how to set up an adjustable gunwale stop?

I could just screw down a bit of 1x2 in the right places and move as needed but that requires a drill each time I set up for different boats or a different crossbar spread.

Alternatively, I've thought of having a 1x2 above and below the 2x4 with bolts and wing nuts on each side clamping them together. It wouldn't take too long to make up 8 of those for two canoes.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

My cousin actually just used a couple of wood clamps, and they worked great.

Before you strap your canoe down loop the strap around the 2x4 once and the up through the buckle. It gives the canoe a bit of material to sit against and almost anchors the strap to the bar.

I built a two-canoe rack for my van using the exact kit from Spring Creek. Works like a charm. I could drive to California and back with two canoes on top with no worries whatsoever.

Here's a photo of the gunwale stops they offer. I thought they came automatically with the setup but maybe I had to buy them separately. Either way, they should have them.

I have four stops on my 2x4 crossbars - just on the outside of each crossbar. Gives me flexibility for carrying other canoes.

I've never used any stops when I used my 2x4 racks. Just tie it down tight to the crossbar like RainGearRight said. If you carry two canoes, just strap each one down separately and you should be good to go.

Back when I did that, I put Eye bolts towards the ends, but that's it.

Great help, everyone.

Amhacker: do you these sort of clamps?

RainGearRight and Boonie: simple and I can see that working well. The extra bit of friction between the strap and wood will help hold a lot.

Jackfish: oh, that's what those black pad eyes are for. They do come with the kit but don't call them gunwale bracketrs. They just say to put them on the outside of the 2x4s. I had not quite figured them out. Could be them outside the boats and the extra loop in the strap inside. They should stop a boat from walking off the end.

Ozarkpaddler: seems to be the same as the those other eyes. But might be a bit taller. I could see using some as stops.

Thanks!

That's them. Good luck!

quote andym: "Jackfish: oh, that's what those black pad eyes are for. They do come with the kit but don't call them gunwale brackets. They just say to put them on the outside of the 2x4s. I had not quite figured them out. Could be them outside the boats and the extra loop in the strap inside. They should stop a boat from walking off the end. "

Yep... them are those. :)

I'm not sure what you mean by "the extra loop in the strap inside", but using your straps to securely lash the canoe to both crossbars and tying some support lines from the bow and stern to the bumpers (or some such place) will get your canoe safely to it's destination and back with nary a wiggle.

I usually just pass my straps under the crossbars. I was understanding RainGearRight as making the straps do a loop all the way around the bar. That's what I meant. I guess he meant on the outside before going through the buckle.

And don't worry. I always use bow and stern straps.

I put the black pad eyes almost at the ends of the 78" 2x4's, looped the strap an extra time around the 2x4's just inboard of the pad eyes and it worked great. Nary a wiggle and the straps on the inside kept the two canoes apart.

I did buy a bunch of the plastic jaw clamps but didn't use them this time.

Thanks for all the advice.

quote andym: "I usually just pass my straps under the crossbars. I was understanding RainGearRight as making the straps do a loop all the way around the bar. That's what I meant. I guess he meant on the outside before going through the buckle.


And don't worry. I always use bow and stern straps."

Yup. Right before you pass it through the buckle snug the strap up to the gunnel, loop it around the bar and up to the buckle. Any side to side movement is pretty well eliminated. I also always use bow and stern ripe tie downs.

I saw Adam from Piragis do this a few years ago and if it's good enough for him it's good enough for me!