You most definitely can! Having said that, how simple it will be will mostly depend on the size of your kayak and your SUV.
An inflatable kayak or a foldable kayak are the best types of kayaks to transport inside an SUV. The seats won’t need to be folded down, and there will still be plenty of space for passengers and other kayaking equipment.
Smaller kayaks, however, can also be driven in an SUV. However, if you take this path, you shouldn’t want too much of your kayak to protrude from the back of your SUV because that would raise more serious safety issues.
Additionally, in order to move a kayak inside an SUV properly, you will nearly always need to fold down the back seats. So, if it’s impossible or extremely difficult to fold the back seats of your SUV, you might choose a kayak trailer in its place.
In This Article...
Will a CRV fit a kayak?
Attwood’s Universal Car-Top Canoe Carrier Kit a straightforward, practical gear for kayak top transportation. includes all necessary gear, which snaps into the boat’s gunwale and aids in protecting the car’s top from scratches.
Can I fit a kayak in my car?
A kayak may easily fit in a car, but if you have a pickup truck, packing it up, securing the kayak, and leaving for your trip is even simpler. It could be challenging to transport a kayak if your car doesn’t have a rack to attach it to.
Does a RAV4 have room for a kayak?
With the seats folding, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 offers a total load volume of around 69.8 cubic feet. Unfortunately, unless you leave the cargo gate open with the kayak poking out, there isn’t enough room to transport a hardshell plastic kayak. It might be exceedingly challenging and even dangerous to try to transfer your kayak inside a RAV4.
The greatest kinds of kayaks to transport inside a Toyota RAV4 are those that are folding or inflatable. Because you won’t need to fold the seats down, you can still transport people inside the SUV, giving you plenty of space for additional equipment.
Even if you have a RAV4, you can still transport a kayak in it. It simply implies you’ll have to haul a trailer or carry it on the car’s top.
Let’s first take a closer look at the inside space of the different RAV4 versions before discussing the various kayak transport choices.
What size kayak can I fit on my vehicle?
Typically, a car should be able to transport kayaks that are between 8 and 9.5 feet long. Even with tie-downs, it will be challenging to attach larger kayaks at the bow and stern.
A car rack system that can hold up to 132 pounds or two to three small to medium-sized kayaks can fit in some cars. The weight restrictions are based on the capacities of the kayak cradles and roof rack.
Recommended Kayak Size Limits By Vehicle Size Class
“A vehicle or combination of vehicles should not carry a load that extends more than three feet beyond the front of the vehicle or more than four feet beyond the rear of the vehicle, unless otherwise permitted by other legislation.”
Without a roof rack, how do you move a kayak?
Make sure the pool noodles are the right shape for your car as the first step in securing your kayak. They ought to be positioned across the roof with little or no protrusion on each side. You’ll need to trim the noodles to fit if there are a bunch jutting out.
The pool noodles offer a versatile and strong base for supporting the kayak while preventing unintentional damage to the car’s roof. Depending on the size of your vehicle’s roof, place a pool noodle every three feet or so, being sure to place one in the middle and one at each of the front and back.
Once the pool noodles are in position, thread one pair of your ratchet straps through the opening in the middle of the noodles and through the interior of your car through the open doors before fastening them in place.
How is a kayak transported in a car?
Place the open side of the canoes down. This reduces the possibility of distortion and prevents rainwater from building up inside.
Using kayak racks with curved cradles to securely and safely transport your touring kayak is the best option. The cockpit (open side) of the kayak can be carried using curved foam blocks if you don’t have a dedicated kayak rack.
The best way to transport whitewater kayaks is with rooftop kayak carriers or kayak racks; depending on the rack arrangement, your boat may have the cockpit pointing up, down, or even on its side.
Boats made of plastic should be handled with special caution to prevent dents, and if the boat is right side up, the cockpit should be covered. An upright kayak’s cockpits should be covered with a cockpit cover during rainy conditions. Periodically inspect the boat and pump it out if necessary. The stress on straps and racks when you speed, halt, or turn is substantially increased by even a small quantity of water in the kayak.
Roof Rack
roof rack with crossbars (or “The best way to move a kayak is with a sports rack (for your car). It needs to be fastened to the vehicle at each crossbar, as well as at the bow and stern of each end. It is advised to transport boats on kayak cradles “flat to reduce the possibility of deformation from being attached to the bars too tightly. Using kayak stackers, rotomolded kayaks can be safely transported on their edge or upside down (hull up). However, to avoid distortion, composite kayaks should always be transported on their bottom using cradles.
Using Foam Block Racks
Foam block racks can be utilized for transportation over short distances or at a slower speed. They ought to be sufficiently wide to provide proper support. Foam blocks should be handled with additional caution since they are less secure than cross-bar racks. Foam blocks also make it necessary to securely tie off the kayaks’ bow and stern to the car.
Inclement Weather
Position the kayak upside-down if you can if you’re traveling when bad weather is expected. A kayak that is full of water might become hazardous. If an upside-down position cannot be achieved, the cockpit should be sealed using a portage cover. Check your straps frequently to make sure they haven’t stretched out while being wet.
Important:
Always make a halt soon after setting out on your journey to check that all connections and fittings are tight.
How big is the Honda CRV’s cargo space?
Behind its rear seats, the Honda CR-V offers 39.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity, and when the back seats are folded down, there is 75.8 cubic feet of room. These specs are some of the best for a compact SUV, and the low cargo floor makes loading up with ease. There is a hands-free liftgate as well as a motorized liftgate.
How big is the CRV’s cargo area?
Front/Rear Shoulder Room: 57.9 inches / 55.6 inches. Hiproom: 55.1 inches in front and 49.5 inches in back. Cargo Volume (Seats Up/Down) for Non-Hybrid Vehicles: 39.2 cu ft / 75.8 cu ft.
Does a Subaru Outback have room for a kayak?
The smallest kayaks are recreational kayaks, which are 10–12 feet long and cannot fit inside a Subaru Outback. The Subaru Outback offers the most space of any modern wagon, with 75.7 cubic feet of space when the seats are folded down and 32.5 cubic feet of space behind the back seats. You can fit smaller kayaks inside that are up to 8 to 9 feet long, but you’ll need to slide the seats in the crossover SUV forward to make extra space.
The longer kayaks are preferred by most adults because they are simpler to maneuver. As a result, you will need to tow it behind a utility trailer or attach it to the roof. If not, you should consider either inflatable or folding kayaks. These will easily fit inside the Outback.
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Does a Subaru Forester have room for a kayak?
No, not even an 8-foot kayak with the passenger seat folded down, is the quick response. The Crosstek offers 55.3 cubic feet of space when the rear seats are folded flat and 20.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The average 10 foot kayak has dimensions of roughly 373.3333 cubic feet, so it is too lengthy to fit within.
A child’s kayak can fit inside, as can inflatable and foldable items, but you’ll need to fold the seats down to create extra space. Even so, it will be challenging to close the back door without damaging the interior.
The majority of recreational kayaks are 10 feet long, therefore in order to transport one from point A to point B, you will either need to add a roof rack or tow a small utility trailer.
Let’s examine the Crosstek owners’ options in more detail to see which approach is best for you.
What is a kayak’s length?
Although there is a vast range of conceivable lengths, you may see kayaks that are anywhere from 6 feet to 16 feet long. The average kayak is about 10 feet long. In general, a kayak moves quicker the longer it is.
Are there roof rails on the CRV?
Found 4 genuine Honda CR-V roof rails. Depending on the roof accessories you choose, Roof Rails and Crossbars can safely transport objects on top of your CR-V. Refer to the Roof Rack Load Capacity Label, the Installation Instructions, and the Owner’s Manual of your vehicle for details regarding load capacity.
When I have a kayak on my roof, how quickly can I drive?
On a future trip, my pace will range from 65 to 85 mph. Will the JayLow kayak carrier be able to handle this with the included tie downs?
Expert Reaction:
Yes! In order to use the Yakima JayLow # Y04073, make sure the bow and stern tie-downs are securely fastened to the front and back of your vehicle, respectively. Additional bow/stern ropes and cam buckle straps are required if you are transporting a second kayak (part numbers Y04031 and Y0506).
One thing to keep in mind is that Yakima suggests keeping your kayaks loaded at a maximum speed of 80 mph.