:welcome: to the Forum..:wavey:

 

Hardtop or soft top?

 

Well, both, actually. I have a hard top on it now, but will switch back to soft top in the spring.

 

The Mopar JL hardtop crossrails are 82215387 and the Mopar kayak adapter is TCKAY883. A Walmart foam kayak holder should do fine on the crossrails, though.

 

Do you want to carry the kayak with both the soft and hard tops?

I carry a 100 pound 9' cataraft in the summers with a hard top on the Rhino Rack Backbone. If I ever go with a soft top I want the RR Exo-Top. I dont want the full expedition jungle gym style rack

 

I just bungee a couple 2x4's to the roll bars and throw my canoe on top. But of course it only works in good weather. I wouldn't actually put it on the soft top.

 

Depending on the time of year you kayak the most being in VA. The top down with 2x4s is a very inexpensive method, as full cage-style racks are not cheap and then all the other add ons required.

If you have the hardtop on, Proline has rain gutter-mounted racks for $75 shipped, add in kayak carrier, if you want, or just use swimming foam floaties.

 

I have the Rhino-rack backbone installed into my hardtop. Pricey but works great with my kayaks.

 

I have a SmittyBilt rack on our JKUR. Takes two kayaks. Haven’t tried it yet but It looks like the top can be removed with the rack in place, just remove the cross bars.

 

I gave up and purchased a Malone kayak and mountain bike trailer. I keep 2 bikes and 2 kayaks on there and it fits in my garage with the jeep side by side. No messing with mounting bars and lifting stuff. Very happy with it.

 

Pool noodles and ratchet straps

If you want to get fancy, they make foam cradles that are like thick pool noodles

This works equally well with and without top on

 

have you thought about a utility trailer? I bought one of those cheap carry on trailers from lowes, and used unistrut as crossbars with pvc bunks... works great. no more loading my 75lb kayak on and off the jeep. it stays on the trailer when not in use, plus I can load camping gear under and around the kayak.

 

pool noodle across the windshield header and a hitch mounted truck bed extender (mounted backwards) in the back.
I run my straps to the front bumper and tie directly to the bed extender in the rear.

 

I built one myself for about $100-120 Canadian. It is hitch mounted.

James

 

I built one myself for about $100-120 Canadian. It is hitch mounted.



James

James, realize it's hard water time in Canada, but do you have any other pics showing more detail, or closer images for your setup?

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I have a Rhino Rack Backbone for the hardtop. It works well.

If I didn’t tow my Jeep behind the RV I would add a front hitch receiver and get the Boonedox Yak Bone.

With a soft top or topless I’d use a Yak Bone on one end and a Harbor Freight goalpost on the other.


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When I had a 2dr I used this.