BWCA Yakima 78"-80" crossbars for two canoes? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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      Yakima 78"-80" crossbars for two canoes?     
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newguy
distinguished member (321)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/05/2023 06:59PM  
Until a few days ago, I owned one kevlar canoe -- but now I own two, thanks to the fine advice of this forum. My current rack system, a Thule Aeroblade system, is only ~50" wide. I plan on replacing it with a Yakima 78" or 80" bar system, but wanted to check with everyone here on whether that's a good approach. I will be installing it on my 2017 Honda CR-V. I am set on using a roof bar system with towers (i.e. I do not want to DIY the entire system/do not want wood bars). I do not have a hitch and don't plan on installing one.

For those who use a Yakima 78" or 80" for two canoes, how's that going? Anyone using something different?
 
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MidwestFirecraft
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02/05/2023 07:20PM  
Used the Yakima 78 inch on a my tripping partners Pilot for years to haul two canoes. Has worked great. I just ordered the Yakima HD 78 inch bars for my Super Duty. Love them!

 
02/05/2023 08:48PM  
In the 90s I used 78 bars on a Suzuki Samurai with 2 canoes . Drove it from the Chicago area to the BW with no problem
 
CanoeStan
member (9)member
  
02/05/2023 09:24PM  
I have used 78" Yakima crossbars for the last 20 yrs to transport 2 old town penobscots with 34" beams. Have done this on several vehicles including a 2004 CRV and a 2016 CRV. I do not have experience with other brands of racks but always like the Yakima products. My current set-up uses Q towers which are ok but it took a few try's to dial in the adjustments to feel like they were rock solid. In the past I had the tower system with landing pads which I like a lot better than the Q towers.
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
02/05/2023 09:58PM  
I have the Yakima rack system with 78” bars, including the very important L-shaped gunwale load stops. The rack is a HOME RUN when it comes to carrying two canoes. I strongly recommend this system.
 
newguy
distinguished member (321)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/05/2023 10:06PM  
Jackfish: "I have the Yakima rack system with 78” bars, including the very important L-shaped gunwale load stops. The rack is a HOME RUN when it comes to carrying two canoes. I strongly recommend this system.
"


Thanks, Jackfish! What are the L-shaped gunwale load stops? I can sort of see them in the picture. Where do I buy them?

How do you have the front rope tied off inside each canoe? I've already got the hood anchors. And do you just repeat this in the back, tying underneath the bumper instead of with hood anchors?
 
YetiJedi
distinguished member(1449)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/05/2023 10:21PM  
newguy: "Thanks, Jackfish! What are the L-shaped gunwale load stops? I can sort of see them in the picture. Where do I buy them?"


I think these are the gunwale load stops

I've had a set (4) for years and they work great.
 
02/05/2023 11:22PM  
Confirming the L shaped clamps are sold as load stops, I love them.
When my budget was not so positive I found 1/2 in black pipe (gas line) sold at most hardware box stores would fit the Yakima towers and allowed me to carry two canoes.
 
andym
distinguished member(5340)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/06/2023 02:49AM  
Those keel over brackets are too expensive and fancier than needed if you have the round Yakima bars. Look for Yakima Load Stops at Amazon or REI. Half the price and rock solid.

REI link
 
02/06/2023 04:26AM  
Take a look at these from Spring Creek Manufacturing. The work quite well for one canoe or by extending the pull-out sections, two canoes fit.

Canoe racks

The advantage to these is the pull out section that can be hidden so you don't hit your head on them when you are only hauling one canoe. When I got mine they came with padded pieces that wrapped around the pull out to keep the canoe gunwale from scraping on the metal support.
 
billconner
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02/06/2023 07:07AM  
I replaced the Thule 60" bars with their 78" bars and use just cam straps and they work fine.
 
tumblehome
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02/06/2023 07:15AM  
Just make sure you tell your passengers to ‘watch your head’ When entering and exiting the vehicle. Lots of bumps on the forehead with those wide bars.

I had a Thule set-up with my Prius and made my own wide bars out of ash. Lots of bruised foreheads!

Tom
 
MRH
member (24)member
  
02/06/2023 07:20AM  
The Yakima round bar load stops also work great for stabilizing longer boards on your rack.
 
foxfireniner
distinguished member (204)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/06/2023 09:01AM  
I have the round bars and have no problems.

I still have 5-6 inches of bars sticking out both sides. Absolutely zero problems.

The only thing...they howl at speed.
 
YetiJedi
distinguished member(1449)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/06/2023 01:03PM  
andym: "Those keel over brackets are too expensive and fancier than needed if you have the round Yakima bars. Look for Yakima Load Stops at Amazon or REI. Half the price and rock solid.


REI link "


Great option! Saves money and works well.
 
newguy
distinguished member (321)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/06/2023 01:05PM  
foxfireniner: "I have the round bars and have no problems.


I still have 5-6 inches of bars sticking out both sides. Absolutely zero problems.


The only thing...they howl at speed."


Any fix for this? I figure the canoes are making quite a bit of noise too, right? Or do you mean just when they're mounted but empty?
 
jillpine
distinguished member(919)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/06/2023 01:38PM  
tumblehome: "Just make sure you tell your passengers to ‘watch your head’ When entering and exiting the vehicle. Lots of bumps on the forehead with those wide bars.
I had a Thule set-up with my Prius and made my own wide bars out of ash. Lots of bruised foreheads!


Tom"


Tennis balls. :)
These are the Thule square bars, 78”. Wish I could find some to buy. I borrowed these from a friend. They don’t make this length anymore, at least not that I could find. Work really well. Didn’t have noise issues.
 
02/06/2023 03:12PM  
I am on my fourth Subaru Forester and I have used Yakima racks since auto rain gutters went away - my last vehicle with rain gutters was ‘95 Dodge Caravan. Starting in 2000 when I got my first Subaru I have continued to use my Yakima racks with 78” bars when needed. The last 4-5 years I rarely used the 78” bars since I only carry one canoe now. And I ALWAYS use Yakima load stops - look for them used on Craigslist, FB Marketplace, etc. My brother got a trailer a few years ago so when I go with him it is more convenient.
 
02/06/2023 03:58PM  
Jackfish: "I have the Yakima rack system with 78” bars, including the very important L-shaped gunwale load stops. The rack is a HOME RUN when it comes to carrying two canoes. I strongly recommend this system. "


I have a Rhino Rack with blade style cross-bars. They sell L-shaped gunwale stops too but you have to install them almost like a permanent accessory (not really but there seems to be too much mucky-muck involved).

I bought these ones from Thule. They are adjustable.
 
andym
distinguished member(5340)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/06/2023 06:52PM  
My Yakima loadstops definitely get good use at the lumber yard.
 
02/07/2023 11:51AM  
andym: "My Yakima loadstops definitely get good use at the lumber yard."


+1 - I use the loadstops on my rack for many things and much more than I do for holding my canoe. And I have several pr of he older taller style which I think are more useful than the newer low profile stops.
 
salukiguy
distinguished member(597)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/07/2023 02:35PM  
I have a couple 78” bars I’d like to get rid of.
 
02/07/2023 05:27PM  
salukiguy: "I have a couple 78” bars I’d like to get rid of."

Are they the Yakima round bars? E-mail me, I'd like to buy them if the shipping works.
 
jillpine
distinguished member(919)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/07/2023 06:04PM  
dschult2: "
salukiguy: "I have a couple 78” bars I’d like to get rid of."

Are they the Yakima round bars? E-mail me, I'd like to buy them if the shipping works."


And if they’re square Thules, email me. :)
 
02/07/2023 08:53PM  
bhouse46: "Confirming the L shaped clamps are sold as load stops, I love them.
When my budget was not so positive I found 1/2 in black pipe (gas line) sold at most hardware box stores would fit the Yakima towers and allowed me to carry two canoes."


I also used lengths of galvanized pipe with my Yakima rail grabs when I had to haul two canoes on a budget. Worked great - but I advise adding some pipe insulation on the end for when you bump your head getting out of the vehicle because you're not used to the longer bars.
 
salukiguy
distinguished member(597)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/08/2023 11:07AM  
jillpine: "
dschult2: "
salukiguy: "I have a couple 78” bars I’d like to get rid of."

Are they the Yakima round bars? E-mail me, I'd like to buy them if the shipping works."



And if they’re square Thules, email me. :)
"
they are the round ones. How do I get your email address?
 
02/08/2023 02:13PM  
salukiguy: "
jillpine: "
dschult2: "
salukiguy: "I have a couple 78” bars I’d like to get rid of."

Are they the Yakima round bars? E-mail me, I'd like to buy them if the shipping works."

And if they’re square Thules, email me. :) "

they are the round ones. How do I get your email address?"

It's the envelope under my username. I e-mailed you. Thanks.
 
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