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How Many Kayaks

Can You Fit On A SUV Safely?

Published June 14, 2022

Are you an intermediate kayaker, or have you just started your kayaking adventure? If yes, you must learn more about kayaks and tips to improve your kayaking experience. The most common question most people as is how many kayaks can you fit on a SUV safely.

Well, it majorly depends on your SUV that how big and sturdy its roof is, or how big the kayaks are. But, you can fit one or two average-sized kayaks on an SUV. If you use a kayak roof rack, you will be able to load 2-3 kayaks depending on their size and the roof’s capacity.

As I have mentioned above, you can fit 1 or 2 kayaks on your SUV safely, but it depends on your vehicle and the kayak size. So, let’s discuss this topic in detail and understand how you can fit more kayaks on your vehicle.

How Many Kayaks Can You Fit on a SUV Safely? - Summary

How Many Kayaks Can You Fit on a SUV Safely?

putting kayaks on SUV safely

It depends on the size and the sturdiness of your SUV’s roof. If you have a small, sturdy vehicle, you may be able to fit two kayaks on its roof. However, if you have a larger vehicle with a larger roof, it can hold more kayaks.

There are a lot of factors that determine how many kayaks you can fit on your SUV. The size and sturdiness of your SUV’s roof and the size of each kayak will play a major role in determining how many kayaks you can safely load onto your car.

I recommend using a roof rack if you want to load more than one kayak onto your SUV. You can safely load two or three average-sized kayaks with a roof rack. If you don’t want to buy a roof rack, it’s best to stick with one or two kayaks at most and no more than one big one.

Being a beginner kayaker, there are chances that you are not aware of kayak roof racks. So, let’s get to know about them in detail.

Kayak Roof Rack: Safest Way to Load Kayaks on your Vehicle

A kayak roof rack is a device you can use to carry your kayak on top of your car. They are like a stand that is normally mounted on the top of a car, and they have a number of different features that make them ideal for carrying your kayak.

Kayak roof racks provide multiple benefits, and it is important for you to understand them. So, let’s get to know some advantages of using kayak roof racks.

Advantages of Using Kayak Roof Rack on Automobile

Here are some major advantages you can enjoy while using a kayak roof rack on your vehicle.

Make Use of The Available Area:

The biggest advantage of using a kayak roof rack is that it makes use of the available area. The fact that you can use your car’s roof as storage space for your kayak is fantastic. This means you don’t have to worry about how much space your vehicle has and whether you can fit everything in there.

Keeps your Kayak Safe and Secure:

It also keeps your kayak safe and secure, which is another huge advantage. You don’t want to be driving with a heavy load on top of your car because it can damage the roof. A kayak roof rack will spread out the weight so that it doesn’t put too much pressure on one area, which helps reduce damage and ensures your car stays in good condition over time.

You Can Carry More than One Kayaks At a Time With Ease:

Installing a kayak roof rack is the easiest way to carry more than one kayak at a time on your vehicle. There are multiple kayak roof racks available in the market that can hold more than one average-sized kayak with ease.

This is great if you plan on going out on the water with more than one friend or if you want to take your whole family out for a day of kayaking.

Save Money and Prevent Space Problems:

Using a kayak roof rack on your automobile can save money and prevent space problems.

If you are an avid boater, you probably know that boat transportation is expensive and space-consuming, especially when you are going on an adventure trip. You can easily spend thousands of dollars on a boat and then have to spend more to transport it. That’s where kayak roof racks come in.

Kayak roof racks are designed to mount onto your car’s top. They are easy to install and come in multiple sizes so that you can find the right fit for any type of vehicle.

A kayak roof rack will allow you to safely transport your boat or other watercraft anywhere you need to go.

Tips to Transport Kayak on a Vehicle Safely

Knowing the advantages, I’m sure you have decided to safely get a kayak roof rack to transport your kayak on your next adventure tour. But, here are some tips that can help you during the transportation process.

Know the weight of your kayak:

If you are thinking of transporting your kayak on top of your car, make sure you know the weight of that kayak first. If it’s too heavy for your vehicle, you could put yourself in danger and damage your car. Looking at the box or manual, you can find out how much your kayak weighs.

This will help you figure out whether you need any help lifting it, what equipment you need, and whether or not your vehicle’s roof rack can support it.

Choose the right rack according to your car:

It is also important to choose the right rack according to your car.

A lot of people have trouble transporting their kayaks because they don’t have the right equipment. Before buying a rack for your vehicle, it’s important to consider which type of car you have and what kind of rack would be best for it.

If you have an SUV or truck, you will want a roof rack or hitch-mounted rack that can carry multiple kayaks. If you have a sedan, then the chances are that it won’t hold as much weight as an SUV or truck. In that case, consider getting a cargo carrier instead so that you can load up all your gear safely.

Carefully balance your kayak while loading it on the vehicle:

When transporting a kayak on a vehicle, it’s important to carefully balance the boat while loading it onto the roof rack. If you don’t, you run the risk of damaging it and potentially injuring yourself or someone else.

So, make sure that it is loaded in such a way that if it were to tip over, it would not fall off of the vehicle and cause damage to either itself or other vehicles on the road.

Use bright accessories and reflectors for additional safety measures:

Bright accessories and reflectors are the perfect way to add a little extra safety to your vehicle. So, make sure to use these items when transporting kayaks on a vehicle so that you can be seen by other drivers and prevent accidents.

These additions will make your kayak more visible in low light conditions and help you avoid accidents, especially when traveling at night.

Measure the height of your vehicle after loading the kayak on the roof:

To safely transport your kayak on top of your vehicle, you should measure the height of your vehicle after loading it with the kayak. This will help you determine which route you should use to travel.

Besides that, it will also help you stay safe while traveling on an underpass or a tunnel.

Ensure that all precautions have been taken before driving off:

Transporting your kayak safely on your vehicle is an important part of ensuring it’s long-lasting and safe for you to use.

So, ensure that the straps are tightly fastened to both the roof rack and the kayak itself. Tying them off with rope or using clips can help keep them secure during transport.

Besides, make sure that you have a way of securing the front end of your kayak by using ropes or clamps, so it doesn’t slide around in transit.

Conclusion

Loading your kayak on a vehicle is the most convenient way to transport it while going on a kayaking adventure. You can have both peace of mind and money saved by using this method of transportation. But, knowing how many kayaks can you fit on a SUV safely is a must before doing this. So, I have written the above guide to help you know everything about loading kayaks on an SUV or other vehicle.

I hope you will be using a kayak roof rack to load your kayak on your vehicle after knowing its benefits. Besides, I have also given some tips to safely transport your kayak while loading it on the top of your vehicle.

Jay Schwartz author of Kayak Guidance

About the Author - Jay Schwartz:

Hey there kayak lovers! I’m Jay Schwartz, the author here at Kayak Guidance! You know water sports – you know me! My life is all about it. Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Fishing, Snorkeling and so much more. I love to share my passion and knowledge with all of you. 

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