BEST ROOF RACK FOR OUR NEEDS?

I’m looking for a roof rack for our 2021 Tacoma TRD Off Road, double cab, short bed. My wife and I have Hobie Mirage kayaks. They are 12’ or 13’ long and around 70 lbs each. [CORRECTION: Kayaks are 85 lbs each (fitted hull; unrigged). So 170 lbs, total.]

My wife bought a goalpost-style bed extender, but with the kayaks in the bed, they stick out very far. So we are thinking of getting a roof rack to transport them, either with double kayak cradles, or with them mounted on the rack at the front half, with the raised goalpost extender supporting them from the back.

Note that we are looking to take the truck camping, so a roof rack system that is versatile enough to work for other outdoor uses as well would be a plus.

Would the Toyota OEM accessory roof rack work for either or both methods?
Are there better choices?

Any advice or experience you can impart is appreciated.

EDIT: Found the Toyota rack weight rating: 100 lbs. No indication if that’s static or dynamic, but either way, inadequate for my needs. So looking at the more rugged aftermarket choices.

 

I got the Yakima baseline towers and 58” round bars. Then you can add whatever kayak holders you want and get some NRS straps (2 per boat… I’d get the 12 foot long 1 inch ones and you can shorten them if needed). Whole thing will be around $600-800. Yakima website will walk you through the setup. if you want to cut costs on it compare eBay/etrailer/Amazon/REI/rerack. The beauty of the baseline set up is once you have the front and rear bars set up the exact right distances they go on and off the truck in less than 10 minutes so you won’t have to keep them on all the time. They also will not damage the truck at all and you won’t even be able to tell they were on there. Edit: damn they have really raised the price on the towers. But I see plenty of them on eBay for much less.

 

What do the kayaks weigh? The roof rack will be fine either way. But remember, you have to lift that thing up onto or off of the cradle, potentially alone.

 

Kayaks are 85 lbs each (fitted hull; unrigged). So 170 lbs, total.

As for getting them on and off the truck, I’m thinking one person in the bed, one on the running board (leaning in, with the door open). I’m in FLA (gator country) so likely not paddling alone. But as with the mounting system for transporting the kayaks, I’m open to suggestions.

 

Thule has roof rack yak accessories. Also see Yakama.

 

Dang 85 is heavy. I’ve got a 70lb canoe I put on every now and again and it’s not fun. Unless you’re 6 feet plus that will be a two person job. Yakima makes an extender called a boatloader that extends out from the front bar sideways when needed, and that could help. I’ve used it for my canoe when loading it solo.

 

I would not go oem rack unless it was just for looks or very light items(skis, snowboards, etc). For mounting any rack I recommend Rhino ditch tracks since they’ll allow for a variety of roof options than can also work interchangeably with roof tracks on a shell. I keep my Thule bars racked inside the shell and in a few minutes can have both on the cab, both on the cap, or one on each with any spacing I want. I have another set at home if I want 3 or 4 bars. Mostly drive with none for mileage and noise.
There are good reasons for choosing something else. I’m sure you’ll hear them.

 

I also wouldn't haul ass with them up on top either. Maybe refer to a wind load diagram. But at 60 or 75 that will create an enormous uplift. That will pull on your rack no matter which you get. Have you considered a pull behind trailer? I did a bunch of salt water kayaking. But they had depth finders down riggers and peddle drives.


I always throw that in the bed. My advise.... you can keep your kayaks set up. If your fishing it's huge. You would have to add your gear, add the depth finder, ect ect... unnecessary dock time. The Yakima bed extender or a trailer.

 

Do not use the OEM rack - It is only rated at 75 Lbs per the below quick search:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/weight-limit-on-stock-roof-rack.338554/

(Pretty useless and it is Fugly)

Your load is 100 lbs + above - STATIC load. Now you start moving... add windage and you are looking to be featured on one of those FAIL videos on youtube...

(Please post link when applicable!)

 

I use an UpTOP’s rack with Malone Seawings. My 2 kayaks are about the same size as yours and they fit side by side. Unusual setup but it works nice without having to use J cradles.

 

My vote is for the Prinsu roof rack. That was one of my first mods to my truck. Been using it ever since. 600lbs dynamic load with 1000lb static load capacity.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/prinsu-carrying-kayaks.541982/

 

I have an UpTOP rack and used a Thule Glide and Set kayak carrier for my hobie. Outfitted with fishing gear, it was probably around 90 lbs and not fun to load by myself. I would prop the bow on my rtt and slide her into place (a little crammed but i was able to fit a second hobie up there as well and the UpTOP held everything just fine) Have you heard of the Hullavator? $$ but really nice. https://www.thule.com/en-us/water-racks/kayak-and-canoe-racks/thule-hullavator-pro-_-1685448

 

Given what you're looking to do with it, a roof rack is the wrong choice. Just get yourself a ladder rack.

Or if you want to pay 3x the price, get yourself a bed rack. No, it's not the same thing. One is designed to be functional and sturdy, the other is "designed" (by someone with no knowledge of engineering) to get you likes on Instagram.

 

Sherpa grand Teton . It’s wider and longer than the prinsu and thicker aluminum too . Has rubber on mounting points so no need for silicone. No leaks. I got mine after an extensive research in this forum . Got mine in bare aluminum. No complaints
https://sherpaec.com/products/grand-teton?variant=38073096503486

 

Kargomaster III might work out OK for kayaks:

 

If you're looking at cab racks

Sherpa is said to be the best. Probably looks to be the best.
Probably strongest and thickest metal (grand teton)

only thing I've seen it not have that another rack may have is a dropdown front fairing for light bar that can manually open/close to run the bar.

 

I went with the Yakima system for naked roofs. I like being able to remove the rack. After 1000's of miles, my satisfaction is absolute. I recommend buying a solid single-step step-stool to help you secure the boats for whichever rack you ultimately choose.

 

UPDATE: I decided to go with the Prinzu.

It was between the Prinzu and the Sherpa Grand Teton. Despite the Prinzu having higher ratings for static and dynamic load, I liked the Sherpa a little better. However, it was a lot more expensive (by around $400). The Sherpa arguably looks a little nicer, but the only tangible advantage I saw was the Sherpa has a slightly easier (and IMO better) mounting system, with no silicone sealant needed.

The other advantage used to be that Sherpa uses stainless steel hardware. It looks like Prinzu heard the complaints about rusting hardware, because the new version Prinzu rack comes with all stainless steel hardware. They've also upgraded the crossmembers to the stronger Prinzu Pro design, so the weight ratings advantage of the Prinzu over the Sherpa is significant. I decided the Prinzu Pro, while very nice, is only a marginal improvement over the basic Prinzu, and probably overkill for my application.

Now to find the time to install it. I may be back for more advice, but please feel free to offer any tips or tricks for installation. Thanks.

 

new Prinsu is redesigned
Not sure the price compared to Sherpa or when they do sales
Bought mine used for less than a Prinsu

Sherpa came out with sport which is thinner and cheaper than Grand Teton. Don’t know if the metal thickness and associated load ratings matter.

heard the thicker one is for serious builds and Sport is for light duty couple of little things on it

couldn’t justify thinner as thicker metal was one of the few whole selling points of the rack back when they were the only one 1/4” while everyone else was 3/16”.

 

The redesigned Prinzu retail price was over $300 less than the Sherpa Grand Teton. Then they gave me a 10% new customer discount, so the total with sales tax was over $400 less than what the Sherpa would have cost. I like the Sherpa a little more, but not $400 more. Buying used, you got a good rack at a decent price if you paid less than a new Prinzu. I did not consider the Sherpa Sport, given the static load of 170 lbs of the two large kayaks I plan to haul, and the much higher dynamic load once they get into the wind.