Carrying a canoe on top of your toad?

Here is a pic of the system I use for kayaks and also our canoe.



When using the canoe, the wide part is between the supports and I slide them completely to one side.

The biggest issues I've found are side winds trying to push stern (canoe loaded with stern to front so seats fold down towards back) sideways and the canoe slipping forward our aft, loosening the straps.

Using these uprights has completely stopped the sliding and greatly improves side loading of winds. They are a good anchor point and are easily adjusted for position.

I haul upside down on my 4Runner, which has the oval roof racks.

These also allow me to remove and reattach the back bowline when accessing the rear cargo area.

Oh, and having a "stop" on one side greatly helps with loading. I lift stern onto back, then lift bow while pushing against the uprights (both on right side usually), which guide the canoe into place.

Make sure it doesn't extend far enough to interfere with turning your rv. I have the opposite, so it doesn't interfere with turning of htt in rear.

Imho, renting is inconvenient and not always available at and for how long you want. A season of rentals would pay for our canoe....and you can take it to different places, not just near the rental dock.

I recall seeing an SUV in a parking lot a few years ago that had a canoe on top equipped with spreader bars front and rear. The ends of the front bar were held down by straps attached to padded 'J' hooks hooked on the wheel wells. The rear straps went down to the body panel under the tail lights, presumably also held be padded 'J' hooks. That minimized the view obstruction for the driver, as well as allowing near normal access to the rear lift gate.

I have a friend that has a Jeep Grand Cherokee and regularly hauls 2 Kayaks on the roof. Has for years. Must be ok. Don't know the specifics, but just looks like it is tied onto the regular roof rack, front and sides. No tie downs in rear so that the hatch will open most of the way. Can't be rocket science as she has had no prior experience in such endeavors.