Best Canoe Car Rack Reviews 2018

Before you set out to get a canoe car rack, it’s important to know what you want in a rack. Don’t have a fixed budget, since you might end up buying something that won’t serve you appropriately. Do not be lured by the many cheap canoe car rack offers, as you might end up with substandard equipment.

These racks can retail anywhere from $20 to $500. Factors such as size and brand popularity determine their prices. Big car racks that fit onto bigger cars and can carry canoes as wide as 36 inches cost more than the small racks that fit onto small cars. The high-end racks come with special features, such as a gas strut that makes it easier to load a canoe, and are made of superior-quality materials. You’ll find that their bases are padded with safer protective buckle bumpers. While you can still find some inexpensive racks, we recommend you consider the safety of both your car and canoe before setting your budget.

Canoe car racks exist simply to aid you in getting your canoe to a lake or river. You may want to ensure that you have strong straps or stern tie-downs to ensure that you safely lock your canoe onto the rack. There are other extra features that are also important and which you may not want to ignore.

Here is what we are talking about:

• Adjustability -Check if you can adjust the rack to increase or decrease its size.
• Size -Consider the size of your car to select the size of your rack. This also requires that you check the size of your canoe.
• Loading -Canoes can be heavy, so check how easily you can load it on top of your rack.
• Weight -It’s important that you know the weight of your canoe, as different racks are designed for different weights.
• Padding -Check whether the rack comes with cushioned base pads to prevent corrosion and scratching.
• Safety -Check the buckle bumpers, straps, stern tie-downs, key and locks, and other tightening mechanisms.

Let’s learn more about canoe car racks.

A canoe car rack is designed to firmly hold your canoe on top of your car as you transport it to the lake. These racks are mostly made of steel for strength. They have side arms that hold on to the boat. The side arms fold down to a base, on which you place the boat so it does not lie on the body of your vehicle. Most of these bases are padded or have rubber coatings. Since you have to fix the rack to your car, they come with mounting bolts of different sizes, depending on the size of the rack and the canoe you intend to carry. You’ll also find some racks with straps, buckle bumpers and stern tie-downs that you use to secure your canoe while in transit. Some come with a ratcheting mechanism, key and locks. The straps are usually strong, stainless-steel cables. A few racks have reflective tape for added safety.

You’ll probably have to go through sections of rough road when going to a lake or river. If your canoe is not safely and securely placed on your rack, it can easily get damaged and even damage your vehicle. Worse still, you may lose your canoe if it snaps off and falls.

You can avoid all these risks by ensuring you get a rack with the right features. First and foremost, it must be made of strong materials to ensure that it holds on firmly, irrespective of the terrain you drive through. Most racks are made of strong stainless steel with cables or straps made of the same material. Steel is strong and sturdy and can withstand heavy loads. The straps are to fasten your canoe securely to the rack while in transit.

The raised side arms ensure that your canoe stays in place while you are driving. Check if they are padded or coated with rubber. The rubber prevents the metal from scratching your canoe. Some come with adjustable side arms that you can use to increase or decrease the space, in order to carry some extra load or to fit in a smaller canoe. It’s also good if you have a coated base to further protect your canoe.

Consider going for a rack with an efficient loading system. If your canoe is very heavy, you may want to choose one with gas struts to help with the mounting. Relying on your strength alone may not be a good idea.

Lastly, check if the rack is UV and corrosion resistant. Since you’ll have it permanently fixed on top of your car, it’s advisable that it be resistant to extreme weather conditions for it to last.