Which side do you carry a kayak/canoe on a full Westy?

targis58

I would think passenger side is better just because a full Westy is driver side heavy. I also have a spare tire rack mounted on the driver side on the back.

Is there a good reason not to mount a kayak on the passenger side?

I would probably use the kayak only once or twice a month

The kayak is about 60 lbs and 13ft long. Depending on which side the kayak goes on I will permanently mount my 130watt solar on the other side.

Thanks
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90 westy 2wd w/ TBD

greenbus pilot · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:21 am Post subject:

I mount my canoe on the "top side". Works quite well....and weighs much more than 60 pounds.
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hans j · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:32 am Post subject:

I'm planning on the passenger side roof with mine.
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

PDXWesty · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:34 am Post subject:

I have a cargo box on the passenger side so mine's on the drivers side. I don't think it really matters though.

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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

SCM · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:21 am Post subject:

I put my canoe (80 lbs) on the passenger side to help even out my "Westy Lean" a bit but don't know if it really makes a difference.

PDX, do you have some sort of cradle to hold you canoe right-side-up when you transport it? I would worry that doing it that way would be putting it in danger of "oil canning / tacoing" or filling up with rain during a storm. I always store/transport my canoe gunwales down.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

PDXWesty · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:28 am Post subject:

I use the yakima rollers in the rear and the saddles in the front. Holds the canoe just fine. It makes it really easy to load by myself from the rear.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

J Charlton · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:25 am Post subject: boat on top

When I had my westy top on - i.e. pre hightop days - I had a Gary Lee safari basket, front bar and poat loading bar. The really nice thing about the Gary Lee racks is that they transfer all of the weight right down to the gutter - the top itself bears none of the weight. Several times I had aluminum boats up to 15' on the racks. The boat loading bar made loading and unloading quite easy. Since the rack and front bar were both full width, a canoe or kayak could easily be to one side or the other or centred as appropriate. http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/vw.htm
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targis58 · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:27 am Post subject:

Thanks

I was going to ask PDX how you load your canoe but you already answered replying to SCM

@SCM How do you load your 80lbs canoe upside down? Do you do it alone?

I have never lifted a kayak before and I believe it won't be easy to load a kayak on top of a westy alone.

I have loaded/unloaded a porta-bote a few times alone and I pulled my muscle on my calf once and it lasted long time...
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90 westy 2wd w/ TBD

kamzcab86 · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:21 am Post subject:

Inside:

bjrogers86auto · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:37 pm Post subject: kayaks

Two kayaks,total weight about 115 lbs. Travelled about 200kms. I didn't know they were on the roof.

As far as the Yakima boat loader goes...you can get a piece of 1/2 aluminum pipe for about 6 dollars. It will slide inside your bar. You just need to devise something for the end to grab and pull out. I'm on it! Very Happy

Brian
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SCM · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject:

targis58 · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:15 pm Post subject:

Thanks, SCM

I think that is the cheapest way to load a kayak on a westy alone.

I wish Thule had a telescoping rod like Yakima. I am gonna look around what I can use to insert into a Thule bar.
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90 westy 2wd w/ TBD

JED THE SPREAD · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:49 pm Post subject:

I dress to the left,

Though to be fair my Kayak doesn't weigh much. By the time the roof angle tapers in it is quite a bit more central and I have driven all over the place, got to be over 12 counties on and off road with it on the roof with no worries so far.

jed
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kamzcab86 · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:12 pm Post subject:

targis58 · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:21 pm Post subject:

SCM · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:39 pm Post subject:

It also makes for a great place to hang a solar shower!
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine


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