Before purchasing a kayak, I'd like to be able to carry it on a VW Beetle. Can this easily be done and how?

first off, second have you checked with Thule or Yakima to see if they have a rack for your bug?

JJ

Rapidroy

PM Fishyaker in here, he put a 15' OK Trident on a Toyota Yaris.

Also try this:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/p..._200349392_200349392

quote:

Originally posted by fishin' fool:
Also try this:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/p..._200349392_200349392

Oh! I'd never noticed the pivoting head unit on those things before. Wow, that sure is slick... That sure opens up a world of possibilities, especially for small-car owners...

quote:

Originally posted by NC-Lefty:

quote:

Originally posted by fishin' fool:
Also try this:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/p..._200349392_200349392

Oh! I'd never noticed the pivoting head unit on those things before. Wow, that sure is slick... That sure opens up a world of possibilities, especially for small-car owners...

Heck yeah, I thought it was pretty cool too.

Cool though it may be, check with your dealer before you add a trailer hitch to your VW to make sure it won't void (or jeopardize) your warranty. There are hitches available for the New Beetle but that's true for several cars whose warranties expressly forbid towing, and as such aftermarket towing packages are seriously frowned upon. Look into it.

Having said that, it's possible to cartop a 16' Hobie Adventure on a Mini Cooper with factory racks, but front and rear tiedowns are essential and it's still an unpleasant experience. If your warranty (and other safety factors) allow towing, a rack-N-roll trailer might be a better bet than cartopping a kayak.

Don't know if I'd spend $2000.00 on the kayak trailer though. And then there's the yearly fees and licensing involved.

I like the $70.00 for the loader and maybe $200.00 for the cartop rack setup. To each his own I guess.

Very true... that's one reason I don't have a kayak trailer. But the closely spaced mounting bars are the reason I don't carry my kayaks on the Mini Cooper.

Maybe rapidroy would do better with a slightly shorter kayak, if cartopping on the bug is the only way to go? Just a thought.

I do have a hitch installed for towing an ATV. I need another trailer like a ??? ! Saw the Reese pivot deal, but there isn't a good place to tie- down on the front end. On the right-of-center front, there is a place to screw in a tow hook if one ever needed to be pulled out of something. Being off-center, I don't think I could use it as a tie-point. Didn't really want to go w/ racks, etc. or a trailer. Can if I need to. Was hoping for an easy roof-top way. Do those dense foam pads work to keep it in place if I can find a way to secure it on the front end? I can secure it to the hitch in back.

P.S. As far as the kayak, looking hard at the Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler w/ the angler package. Want to just throw it on the roof and not drag a trailer around so when I see a good fishin' hole - I'm in!

how big is the bug length wise? I have 13' boat on a 14' car and it works fine. even has a sunroof....I use the pads.

I use foam blocks to carry a 12' yak on my little commuter car when I don't feel like hoisting up onto the Suburban.

No problems at all, even at 70+ mph.



The only reason I own this ugly little car is the gas mileage, so a fixed roof rack is out of the question. The Suburban on the other hand, sports a Yakima setup.

If you decide to go with foam blocks, make sure you buy the taller ones. The low-profile ones I use wouldn't offer enough clearance on a domed roof like the Beetle's.

quote:

I need another trailer like a ???

Don't go selling the trailer idea short just yet. The trailer I have for hauling my yaks I've designed so I can have alternate sides so can be used as either a yak hauler or just plain utility trailer. I've seen lots of other designs with different types of trailers that do the same. If you already have the hitch and a trailer, you probably already have your yak hauler right there.