Does anyone have a good setup for the lr3 for two 12' kayaks? I have been researching and it seems if I go OEM crossbar than I need the J shaped racks but I would prefer for them to lay flat. I measured my kayaks side by side and at their widest is 58 inches leaving a couple of inches in between. So has anyone preferred lay flat with wider cross bars? I am fully open to both setups

thanks!

 

This isn's specific to the LR3, but I've owned several kayaks measuring up to 19', and IMO loading them from the rear of the vehicle, which is to say, carrying the entire kayak behind the vehicle, propping the bow up onto the rack, and then loading from behind, is a lot easier than trying to hoist the entire thing overhead and/or requiring two people. Especially when the roof is at or above your head. The Yakima Hully Roller is great.

 

I tried putting boats on my D1 rack a few times. Yes, I loaded them from the rear. Although I see the reason someone would want to have them on the roof, I've conceded to taking a trailer. I like the trailer for a number of reasons. First, I store the boats on it, so I don't have to move the boats, just park the trailer (in my garage). Likewise, I also keep the rest of the gear on it (paddles, wetsuits, PFD's, pump, dolly, etc.), so it makes it a lot easier to just hook up the trailer and go paddling. Second, of course it's much easier to unload and load the boats. I don't have to lift them above my head. Third, it's better offroad. The trailer can easily follow rough trails to backcountry lakes. With the boats on the roof, I'd have to stop and trim trees. Fourth, I can fit more and bigger boats. I have two small kayaks and a 14' canoe. They fit easily on the trailer, but not really on the roof.

I use an old snowmobile trailer that I had left over after someone bought the sled and didn't want the trailer. I built the canoe rack with steel pipe, and I use those really cheap TMS J-racks from Amazon for the kayaks.

If you want folding j-racks, I see the Thule Hull-a-port and the Yakima Jay-Low folding racks.

If you want a really nice trailer, check out the Yakima Rack and Roll.