Hauling Kayaks/Bikes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clamps
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Clamps said:
Sounds like a project beyond my scope. I will look for the thread and check out the details. I guess the salesman was right, it's best installed at the factory.
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It is the sort of thing that someone mechanically inclined ought to be able to do without too much difficulty.

The interesting thing in the thread was reading how tough the roof was to drill through. That surprised me a little, but I guess the roof itself is probably common to all markets, and they need the trough to be strong enough to hold the weight of whatever people put up there.
 
Clamps said:
Thanks, ericy, I found the thread and it has answered all my questions.

It's here in case anyone else comes looking:

https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/roof-rails-or-racks.5120/
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Did you look at Yakima or Thule to see what they have that might work? It looks like Yakima has something for a "naked roof". Thule is a little harder.

In any event, if you remove the racks when not in use, you don't have the aerodynamic penalty, and you don't have the wind noise.
 
ericy said:
Did you look at Yakima or Thule to see what they have that might work?
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Yes, I looked. I don't like those naked roof solutions. I had one on my MX6 years ago and they attach by clamping between the roof and window. I contacted a local installer to find out if they have experiences with the Kona EV. Waiting for a reply.
 
Clamps said:
Nope! Not even the Ultimate.
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Agreed, I have the ultimate (here in the US) and it does NOT have any rails installed, a relatively flat roof.
However there are grooves and a ridge on the roof that works very well to clamp a rack on.

I got the Yakima BaseClip and BaseLine with a 50" jet stream crossbar.
Good luck!
 
If you got one of these kayaks, might not need roof rack.
img_20190713_155743-jpg.32226
 
R P said:
If you got one of these kayaks, might not need roof rack.
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I've never seen a kayak like that before.

The local rack installer contacted me and told me the only solution they have for the Kona is the Yakima Baseline which is essentially clamps on between the roof and window frames. Not really ideal.
 
I also have a point65 three-section sit-on... I can get all 3 inside the Prius; I have
yet to try the Kona but I expect at least the two ends for single-person mode will fit.

_H*
 
As neat as those kayaks are I already own two kayaks so not really thinking about replacing. Would like to try one out to see how they compare performance-wise to a traditional kayak.

Anyway, I've kinda cooled on the kayak hauling for now. I talked it over with Mrs. Clamps and she seems cool with using her Audi as the kayak carrier. It's a good plan B solution but I had hoped to use the next electric car.
 
If you already have and like a traditional 1-piece 'yak, I'd say stick with it unless
the ability to take it apart is compelling somehow. Sit-ons are dog-slow and
will take a lot more work to paddle the same distance. This one fell into my
lap for free so I went with it, but recognize the downsides. And I don't have
a roofrack.

Good for exercise either way!

_H*
 
IMG_20200531_155905.webp


I tried ordering the rails from the dealer and they found out they wont fit. they are also right about adding this to our US version KonaEV, it will involve at the minimum, welding or drilling. This is what it looks like under when the rain gutter is removed. It just have a few metal tabs that holds the plastic trimmings. the roof rails from ICE version Kona has screw holes which will need to be welded at the precise spot. the screw tabs from an OEM Sonata might seem to work, but still needs to be welded. the OEM rails looks cleaner than the Rack attack version. seems scary to me to have holes drilled on my car.

Either way, I just have the Yakima base clips system works just fine.
 
Pobre said:
View attachment 8730

I tried ordering the rails from the dealer and they found out they wont fit. they are also right about adding this to our US version KonaEV, it will involve at the minimum, welding or drilling. This is what it looks like under when the rain gutter is removed. It just have a few metal tabs that holds the plastic trimmings. the roof rails from ICE version Kona has screw holes which will need to be welded at the precise spot. the screw tabs from an OEM Sonata might seem to work, but still needs to be welded. the OEM rails looks cleaner than the Rack attack version. seems scary to me to have holes drilled on my car.

Either way, I just have the Yakima base clips system works just fine.
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6 holes would have to be drilled, details here c/w part #s
https://insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/roof-rails-or-racks.5120/page-2#post-63289
no welding required
 
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So I finally got my kayak rack on the Kona. While I considered the Yakima base clips I already owned a pair of cross-bars with landing pad mounts so all I needed to order was the landing pad strips. This did require the installer to drill holes in the roof of my car. I cannot tell you how awful I felt as I watched him drill but these guys did a wonderful job, very professional. Here are some pics of the finished work.

konakayak1.jpg


konakayak2.jpg


konakayak3.jpg


You can see in the close up on the last photo that the actual landing pads are inside the gutters. I don't necessarily like it from an aesthetic point of view but it's not terrible. On the plus side these bars pop off relatively easily leaving just the base strip so when I'm not hauling kayaks my efficiency won't be harmed.
 
Clamps said:
So I finally got my kayak rack on the Kona. While I considered the Yakima base clips I already owned a pair of cross-bars with landing pad mounts so all I needed to order was the landing pad strips. This did require the installer to drill holes in the roof of my car. I cannot tell you how awful I felt as I watched him drill but these guys did a wonderful job, very professional. Here are some pics of the finished work.

konakayak1.jpg


konakayak2.jpg


konakayak3.jpg


You can see in the close up on the last photo that the actual landing pads are inside the gutters. I don't necessarily like it from an aesthetic point of view but it's not terrible. On the plus side these bars pop off relatively easily leaving just the base strip so when I'm not hauling kayaks my efficiency won't be harmed.
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Hey, that's great. good thing you already had bars and landing pads. I certainly appreciate the anxiety of drilling holes! but I guess that's what the pro's are for. have a great weekend!
 
Kevin Roughton said:
Hey, that's great. good thing you already had bars and landing pads. I certainly appreciate the anxiety of drilling holes! but I guess that's what the pro's are for. have a great weekend!
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They did do a nice job, looks awesome as well as provide some effective advertising for the installation shop in the first 2 photos;)
 
Here are a few more pics. One with the kayak on top of the car and then showing what it looks like with the racks removed, plus a close-up. This is turning out to be a great solution because the crossbars literally pop right off when you want to remove them. Two, maybe three minutes if you are extremely cautious.

konakayakoncar.jpg


konakayakrackoff.jpg


konakayakrackoffcaps.jpg


The landing pads have nice covers over so the latching point isn't exposed for a neat and tidy look.
 
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