Good to see you advocating bow and stern tiedowns. I would like to add that I use an inverted V arrangement on the bow to keep the boat from shifting in gusting winds and near large trucks. Triangulation is good rigging practice. On my vehicles I use French Links on the undercarriage attachment point to prevent cutting of the straps on sharp edges. As well I will never use open hooks since they can bounce free of the anchor on rough streets or offroad. However you fasten your boat to your car, extra care will ensure your boat remains in one piece and no lawsuit from the poor family you injure that was following you when your boat became airborne. Remember to check your rigging after driving through rain for loosening. Always watch your bow ropes, they will alert you to the load shifting.
My AeroBlades are up, my Hull a Port Pro comes this week, and this video gives me chills just thinking about getting the yak up there! A little concerned with the S hooks coming undone in high winds.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm trying to figure out the best way to tie down a 19' kayak to a Prius V. I knew about the bolted hood loops, but didn't know they could be purchased. Good to know. I've been hauling lumber for longer than your grandmother would care to admit and long kayaks for 11+ years. I know a couple of things. Every kayak/canoe vehicle rack disaster I know of-was caused by no front and/or rear tie down. In many cases the kayak and rack were just plucked right off the roof. (Bicyclists and short load folks, don't sweat, it's the long things that this happens to. 8' lumber, usually not long enough to be a problem. Sheet goods? Now we're into a branch of aviation....) Today, I guess I was sleepy (or getting senile), I completely forgot to connect the rack straps. Fore and aft? Tied right. Freeway speeds, no problem. (On my old soccer-mom van, not the Prius) The hood loops are a great way to go. If I had two front attachment points as you do in this video, I think I'd want to complete the 'loop', up across and then down. Single kayak this would be a triangle, with two 'yaks, an extra line going across would take care of it. Maybe belt and suspenders, maybe completely unnecessary. Just a thought. If something came loose the kayaks would stay on the roof until you could pull off. And we all know when we see the new car/truck commercials with the kayak on the roof. Skip the new car, get a kayak. I've never seen a kayak ad where they show it sitting on a vehicle.
Pay attention to local laws regarding flags and lights at night on loads that extend beyond the vehicle. In my experience, 4 feet or 1.5 meters are common.
![How to Transport a Kayak: Solo Loading and Unloading [NO LOAD ASSIST]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/K90yRHQZFoM/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi Spot Manduex, The tie-downs used were the Thule 855XT Quick Draw kit. You can find them on our website under the Boat Tie Down Straps category page
Good to see you advocating bow and stern tiedowns. I would like to add that I use an inverted V arrangement on the bow to
keep the boat from shifting in gusting winds and near large trucks. Triangulation is good rigging practice. On my vehicles I use
French Links on the undercarriage attachment point to prevent cutting of the straps on sharp edges. As well I will never use open
hooks since they can bounce free of the anchor on rough streets or offroad. However you fasten your boat to your car, extra care will ensure your boat remains in one piece and no lawsuit from the poor family you injure that was following you when your boat became airborne. Remember to check your rigging after driving through rain for loosening. Always watch your bow ropes, they will alert you to the load shifting.
can you recommend any closed-hook lines? I also share the same concerns but everything I see online are all open
My AeroBlades are up, my Hull a Port Pro comes this week, and this video gives me chills just thinking about getting the yak up there! A little concerned with the S hooks coming undone in high winds.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm trying to figure out the best way to tie down a 19' kayak to a Prius V. I knew about the bolted hood loops, but didn't know they could be purchased. Good to know. I've been hauling lumber for longer than your grandmother would care to admit and long kayaks for 11+ years. I know a couple of things.
Every kayak/canoe vehicle rack disaster I know of-was caused by no front and/or rear tie down. In many cases the kayak and rack were just plucked right off the roof. (Bicyclists and short load folks, don't sweat, it's the long things that this happens to. 8' lumber, usually not long enough to be a problem. Sheet goods? Now we're into a branch of aviation....)
Today, I guess I was sleepy (or getting senile), I completely forgot to connect the rack straps. Fore and aft? Tied right. Freeway speeds, no problem. (On my old soccer-mom van, not the Prius) The hood loops are a great way to go.
If I had two front attachment points as you do in this video, I think I'd want to complete the 'loop', up across and then down. Single kayak this would be a triangle, with two 'yaks, an extra line going across would take care of it. Maybe belt and suspenders, maybe completely unnecessary. Just a thought. If something came loose the kayaks would stay on the roof until you could pull off.
And we all know when we see the new car/truck commercials with the kayak on the roof. Skip the new car, get a kayak. I've never seen a kayak ad where they show it sitting on a vehicle.
Best way to do this on a prius is to not own a prius.
What type of rope do you use? Is it a hatchet rope? What type of knots did you make?
What kind/brand of the tiedowns are those?
what kind of knot are you using to secure the slack?
Ditto!
Hi @I3ehr, If the S-Hooks are attached and secured properly you shouldn't have any problems
Rubbish. An open hook is just asking for trouble. "Gee, they should have worked."
Really informative and well laid out. Thanks!!
Simon Butler You're welcome. Have fun!
@kernowchris, Sorry for the confusion. This video was meant for demonstration purposes only.
Can you tie them down from the side of the hood and trunk?
Where can I get the underhood straps? Can’t seem to find them
Every 25 miles ? Ok yeah I'll be doing that.
where can you find the loops for the trunk? Cant find them on your website?
Hi Mike, are these the straps you are looking for? www.discountramps.com/under-hood-loop-straps/p/HOODLOOP/
Pay attention to local laws regarding flags and lights at night on loads that extend beyond the vehicle. In my experience, 4 feet or 1.5 meters are common.
What do you recommend attaching these to in the rear if you don't have a trailer hitch?
You're welcome!
Where's the part where it shows us how to tie it down? With a knot!
Thanks for sharing!
Seems like that's going to make a lot of noise....am I wrong?
wait till you see what that does to the paint on your car!
this sucked as it did not define use of ratchets etc.
Not every vehicle has tow hooks unfortunately (e.g., my VW sportwagen) so you will not be able to do a bow and stern tie down.