How to tie down your kayak or SUP to your roof rack 

Probably the best kayak roof rack mounting video made in human history.

Every summer I come back to this video. Let’s give this man a beer and a standing O. Preciate cha 🙏🏻

Never seen anyone explain anything so perfectly. Great video, I'm sold, give this guy his commission!

perfect calm explanation even twisting the tie downs to prevent the wobbling in the wind - nice!!

This is EXCELLENT. I am heading to Richmond Virgina from PA today and about to load my new kayak for the first time on my own. This is just what I needed and thank you truly for putting this safety content out there.

the instructions that came with our kayak rack made no sense. even the pictures didn't help. This made it so simple and understandable. thanks

I wish you would explain those loops under the hood - are they tied in there? Are they little bungies? if not what are they? How are they attached? Thanks for the video!! Very clear and helpful

Not sure if you are Canadian or American but either way I just love how you look after your things I also love how you use the right product for its correct use To top it all off I have loaded trailers roof racks etc etc all my life and today I must admit I learnt something so thanks for that I appreciate I am probably a year or two too late but what the heck never to late to say thanks is it ???

At about :54, he misspoke and said, "Stay away from the cinch straps..." He meant to reiterate, "Stay away from the ratchet straps..."

This video changed my life. I’ve struggled for months trying to tie my kayak up & I just avoid it & never take it out. But it’s so easy! Thank you!

Bro!! Finally a step by step video that shows how to mount and transport a kayak on a small car. Thank you very much.

Oh yes that bow line is extremely important. One of mine and my siblings first times out kayaking we didn't tie a bow line. Both kayaks slid from under their cinch straps and off the back off my car in the m8ddle of town. We're lucky it didn't cause a wreck or ruin our kayaks... we also used a bow line after that.

My go to video for my annual initial kayak trip!

Excellent video. You took the time to show every single little detail. Perfect. Thank you

Hauling boards for 35 years and kayaks for 15 today I learned some new techniques, the strap tuck and twist I will try. Thank You!

Great hint about twisting the tie down straps to prevent vibrations 👍👍👍

Marcus, excellent, thanks it really helped me a lot. I have worked offshore in the oil fields for years and have used the trucker's hitch my whole life. You did a great job with the trucker's hitch except at the last, you don't need to pull the bitter end of the line all the through, just cinch it down with the loop. That way it is much easier to to untie, just pull the bitter end (like a shoestring) and it will come undone. No muss, no fuss. A lot of people make the initial loop with a simple overhand knot, I am glad to see that you didn't do that. It works but it's a pain to untie. Thanks again.

I don’t even own a yak or a rack or a car. Still love watching this

This was awesome, you know how many people's lives we put in danger before this video 😭

One of the best video on how to tie a kayak!!

This is the most useful video I've seen - and I've watched a bunch! Nervous about transporting my kayak for the first time on the freeway and this makes me feel a little better!

Very thorough, thanks! Trucker’s hitch is one of the most useful knots, I also use it camping or tying down hammocks all the time. Probably ditching the steel hooks and simply tying through the loop under the hood would be better, eliminating one more potential point of failure.

I can attest to the importance of a bow line, especially at highway speeds. The first time I got my kayaks, we mounted them on J racks on the roof, and it was my first time tying down kayaks, so it was a learning experience. My car had a tow hook on the right side of the front bumper that we attached the bow lines to, and we had a problem. Because it was off to the right, the right kayak wasn't really being held down once we got to the highway and high winds of Indiana and Illinois (couldn't tighten the tie down straps on the kayaks much more without a lot of flex in our new kayaks). Anyway, we hit the highway and the kayak wanted to shift in the j rack, and because the bow line was off to the right, there wasnt much support to keep the kayak from rotating and shifting. About an hour down the road and our kayak was visible from the passenger window. I had to think of something else. Turns out, my solution was to tie a rope between the front of both kayaks, and run a bow line from that to the tow hook, and another bow line from the driver side kayak to the tow hook, that way one kayak was being held down across the body of the car tight in the j rack, and the other was essentially held tight onto the first kayak. Since this, I haven't had any problems.

This guy is great... instructional and easy to follow, even for noobs like me! Thanks, guys!

I recommend watching past the 2:00 mark, I lost a kayak on the interstate

Yep, twisting the strap really does keep it from vibrating in the wind and making a lot of noise. I have never used a bow line because from home to the lake is less than ten minutes and not over 40 MPH. I have a Pelican Bandit NXT100 sit-on-top and I transport it upside down in the cross bars of the roof rack. It rests flat on the gunwales instead of sitting at an angle if I were to have the keel on the cross bars. The kayak has holes in the bow and stern for the carry handles, and those holes are perfect for a bow and stern line if I transport the boat for any longer distances or at higher speeds. I am thinking from switching from ratchet straps to cam lock straps. Looks like less work to secure them. Thanks for the good video.

Yes!!! Super helpful. First timer kayaker and this video was extremely informative. Thank you!

Subscribed just because of how useful this single video is. Even if none of the other content is good this guy earned the sub.

This was the best video I have watched on this! So helpful!

I use one of those long grabber tongs to wrap my straps around the kayak. Works like a charm.

Muchas gracias ,I just bought my first kayak and this it's so useful and easy. God bless you

Thanks, Marcus! I wish I had checked out this video BEFORE I fought with my kayaks today...

Loaded two kayaks on my Tundra for the first time. Everything went well thanks to this video. I am also a big fan of your store.

Awesome! Excellent video for kayak and SUP carrying newbies!! Love the time-saving tips, we’ll use them for sure! Well done!

great tips! Awesome idea with the toggles, you can add those little toggles onto anything!

Thank you Markus! Very informative lesson

Excellent video for us first time Kayaker's!!!!! Thank you Marcus for making this easy to understand, and giving us confidence to hit the highway's for a 10 day trip.

Thank you for taking the time. I wish the rack shop would have taken the time.

Very helpful and appreciated step by step directions on how to secure my new kayak as I go on adventure. Thank you.

I would not use that open metal hook since it seems to be banging on the hood and could potentially scratch or put dings on the car.

Nice video. BTW I always add a stern line to the vehicle.

Well, you're the 1st one that stowed away your straps the right way.

Very well explained. Nee kayak coming tomorrow. Now I will be ready and safe.

Excellent video!! Thank you. What about a back bow line?

I use quick loops to eliminate tying under the hood and trunk or tailgate.

Very nice tie down demo for new kayak enthusiasts. Good job.

excellent! great technique! thanks for making this very useful video!

Thank you for posting this video now I have an idea on how to mount them properly on my Jeep. Cheers!

Thanks for helping with a good video . ❤

So I have the Jay Bar that goes up and down. All this time I’ve been climbing up thru my open moon roof to get the strap around the Jay Bar. 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ Problem solved. Why in the heck didn’t I think of looping the strap before I raised that J Bar up….🤪🤪🤪 Bloody Genius!

The most important point is NEVER tie the kayak to just the cradle. Always loop the strap under the crossbar. The bar to cradle mounts are weak, and the wind forces can break them.

I'll parrot most of the comments below, albeit 4-5 years late ha! Great explanation and instructions.

You safe my life. Thank you thank you thank you.

2:15 Centre of kayak is actually where the seat is located if you don't have side handles tying to the top bend of the J cradle bar puts torque on the plastic bracing the sits on the roof rack. You are basically strapping the kayak on one side only, pulling the top of the J cradle against the rooftop cross bar. This can cause failure as all the pressure is on the plastic shoe or brace and this can come apart from the crossbar. I had a very dangerous situation where the cradle fell apart and almost lost the kayak on the highway. Dangerous especially for other vehicles. Twists in straps also become concentrated pressure points on your kayak or paddle board -- recommend flat.

Great video. 👍 it helped a lot. Thanks

VERY WELL DONE.

The job isnt finished untill you tie the bow back to the tow hitch to stop the yaks flying forward under emergency braking. We do everytime.

Most comprehensive how to I've found. Been searching all morning! Thanks!

This was a great instructional video! Thank you.

What kind of an urban madhouse was this recorded in ? Sirens, horns, non-stop traffic.....glad I am a Colorado kid.

Great video! Thank you!

Thank you very sharing. The engine compartment attach points is new to me. Curious question, with the kayak bow forward, how do you keep the seat from becoming splattered with bugs while driving?

awesome video

This was the most helpful video! Would you mind providing which J Hook and straps that you use?

Hi I have a 2015 Toyota Prius and I would like to install roof racks just like yours and I would love to visit your store to get those straps my plan is to buy two kayaks for my family and go on family trips. Please let me know where I can visit to purchase these exact roof racks and the tiedown straps

great video, thank you

Thanks, really appreciate a good teacher!

Like others I rewatch this video every year before we head out. I would like to see better instructions on the bow line tie down. When tieing down the bow of the kayak it is zoomed in too tight and and can't figure out what of the lines you are putting the trucker's loop in. I eventuall figure it out thru trial and error, but I would like to see where all 3 pieces of vertical line are. TY

I actually tye down through the drain holes. clipping onto the hood of the car will cause scratches.

How about a solo lift onto the J-Hooks?

Thank You!!!

Good Video. I don't like any ropes with metal hooks tying down the bow and stern, as they can scratch your car and boat,. Just use a normal rope with a trucker's hitch. Both bow and stern lines should always be used.

Crisp and clear instructions.

Awesome job !

VERY good video and presentation. Well done.

Need a separate video for the knots:)

Excellent tutorial, thank you!

The loop that you created at the front/bow to gain more pull down to the bonnet I've seen called a "pigs ear"

Nice video overall. Does BiC endorse using the leach attachment as a tiedown? That's not what our shop recommends, and it could lead to serious damage to the board (let alone the people driving behind you).

The fulcrum knot is like a knitting knot.

Could you also use one of those straps you used on the kayak to tighten the handle on the front of the kayak to your hood loop for the bow line instead of tying all those knots?

Good information, but you should try different camera angles. Your hands were often in the way, preventing a good view of the knot. Also, I would like to see what to do with the loose end of the bow line to keep it from beating up the finish on my car.

Great video for a long kayak. How about a 10' otter for someone 5'2" tall solo? On a new suv

The SUP should be flat vs upright like the kayak? Should I use padding under the SUP to reduce scratches? Or can the SUP be upright with a double J hook cradle? Rear tie down is recommended too?

Can't you pre-lay the straps the same way on a non-folding hook? You said it doesn't matter if it falls, so i maybe I'm missing something.

I’m assuming you could also mount a second kayak like you did with the SUP, correct? Or should you get another J mount? Thank you for the video

Very helpful video thanks!

How do you “pre set” the straps when your j rack has a SINGLE back support, with the “J” s facing in opposite directions? 2 kayaks, sharing one upright bar.

Great video but would you want to risk the security of the kayak and everyone on the road by having only one point of possible failure by not tying the excess strap end to the rack anchor as a secondary security point?

How do you load two kayaks?

What is the load-bearing capacity for the straps, the rope, and the hood loops?

Now do you do the bow line in the back of your car or do you only need it for the front?

Excellent video

I don’t care what anyone says I’m using ratchet straps. I just simply throw it on the crossbars and strap er down. It won’t go anywhere. Yes it’s important not to go too tight but if you do it upside down it’s really not putting much pressure anywhere on the kayak.

You are the best!

With j cradles, can I slide the kayak on? I'm just a 5'5" girl with a jeep cherokee. I used to have a 4runner. You could imagine how well that went.

Great Informative Video, Thank You

Do you HAVE to do a front and back tie down? I’ve seen others who haven’t 🤷🏻‍♀️

Great Video. What brand of mounts are those that are attached to the car itself?

My SUP came in a case. Can I keep it in the case and tie down flat on the roof of the SUV? Also, it looks like it is impossible to carry a SUP and kayak as you are. Subaru Crosstrek is what I have. Or the kayak should rest on its side almost hanging off the SUV. Yours is a Prius, right? Thank you!