How to Mount Kayak on Jeep Wrangler

This is the method I used to install a simple roof rack for one or two kayaks. Rack Attack installed it. For everything, the total price with price matching was around $1000.00. It works perfectly, although it necessitates raising the kayak to waist level. Kayaks can be mounted on the roof or fastened to the hitch of a Jeep.  

As you can see in the image below, hitch-mounted kayak racks provide an extra contact point for the kayak to rest on. It also improved visibility through the front windshield. If your kayak is long, though, it will hang over each end of the truck. This reduces visibility and makes the kayak less stable when being transported.

Kayak Installation

When I bought a kayak on the spur of the moment, I didn’t consider the problems of transporting it in my soft-top Jeep. Especially since I’m a middle-aged woman with limited arm strength who stands 5′ 4″ tall “taller. We drove the kayak home from the sporting goods store in the truck, and it wasn’t until it was stuck over the tailgate that I realized I’d have to figure out how to tote it with the Jeep. And I’d have to figure out how to accomplish it on my own.

Materials

• 12′ Ratchet Straps with Coated Hooks and rubberized handles
• 2′ by 2′ foam cushion that can be used for a variety of purposes
• bungee cord (optional)
• eyelet and coated spring hook (optional)

Instructions

1. I was too exasperated to wait for a kayak foam block to come. So, I bought a 2′ × 2′ x 2″ piece of “multipurpose” fabric “foam from a local home improvement store with a pair of old-fashioned, heavy-duty sewing shears, I cut it in half. I may get that kayak foam block because I like the shape, but for now, this foam will suffice.

2. These ratchet straps were acquired from a nearby DIY store. They are the store’s own label. Similar straps can also be found on Amazon. The HDX brand has a 1320-pound break capacity and a 440-pound working load. The straps are robust and thin enough to accomplish the job.

3. I attach a foam cushion to the soft-top roof support bar in the back. On the front, I add another piece of foam on top of the windshield brace. I let them hang a little past the front and rear edges.

4. Unzip along the back and several inches across the top of the window to remove the side and rear window panels. I chose to delete my windows entirely and leave them at home, although I read on the forums that other people simply unzip them.

5. From the back, slide the kayak onto the rear foam. Check to see if your kayak is sliding across the soft top. Slide the kayak forward until the front edge is centered on the front foam piece, which should be past the windscreen. To assist me in pulling the kayak forward, I created a paracord “leash.” However, I have yet to require it. By standing on one of the front door jams, I was able to slide the kayak from the back and adjust it. The kayak does not slip immediately onto the soft top.

6. Secure the kayak’s back end with one ratchet strap. Adjust the ratchet until it’s snug. There’s no need to tighten that strap all the way. The strap is perfectly positioned inside the roll bars inside curve. Between the seat and the water-proof well on my kayak, there is a bend. To keep the strap in place, I insert it between those two curves.

7. With the jeep’s front doors open, use the other ratchet strap. I ratchet the strap around the kayak, just past the sun visors. On the straps, the doors will simply close. There’s no need to tighten those straps too much. Snug keeps the kayak in place without bending my top or the kayak.

8. The Jeep’s doors open and close normally with the thin straps I ordered.

9. Please notice that I purchased ratchets with rubberized handles and coated hooks to avoid harming my paint. I also make sure the strap handle is tucked between the kayak and the Jeep roof.

Can a Jeep Wrangler hold kayaks?

Your Jeep will easily navigate the trail to the water. The only thing it can’t do right out of the box is carry your kayak. Roof rack cross bars are required to mount a kayak rack to your Jeep

How do you attach a kayak to a Jeep Wrangler?

All I need now is a front hoop, a light bar, a front rack, and a windshield rack. Another thought I had was to purchase a light bar and brackets to support it, and then use the light to support the front end.

How do you transport a kayak on a Jeep?

Carry a kayak: Each person holds a grab handle and lifts the kayak with the other. If you’re on your own, you can get the kayak onto a shoulder. Install a kayak on a vehicle: The simplest method is to enlist the assistance of a buddy. Pick up the boat at either end and place it on the rack. You have a few possibilities dependent on your rack layout if you’re working alone.

How do you carry a kayak on a soft top Jeep?

The Yakima JayLow is a wonderful alternative for transporting a kayak on your Jeep’s roof. If you’re familiar with this style of kayak rack, you’ll know that it generally only holds one kayak at a time, so this is a fantastic feature. Jeep users also reported having more roof space after utilizing this rack to hold two kayaks.