Carrying Kayaks

[engelside]

Had our Karitek hi-lift bars installed last week and looking forward to using them in anger

 

[Nixdorfer]

Look good. Couldn't get me head round it till last photo

 

[andy63]

Nice one..
It does take a bit of practice to get it right.. The whole system isnt as rigid as some might think, and needs a bit feel to get it right when placing the kayaks on the roof..
And don't forget to lock the cradle when its winched up as the winch has no ratchet and the cradle and kayaks can move causing the cables to slacken.. Hopefully kari tek have improved that locking system ..the early ones were useless..
I've fitted v cradles on mine so the kayak sits on its keel and reduces overall height.. I only carry one kayak mind..
Enjoy ...?
Andy

 

[Paddywack]

In your last photo I can't see any locking pins, have they changed the mechanism or you just hadn't fitted them at this point?

Good choice mind.

 

[engelside]

Hadn't put the locking pins on at this point. They are still the same as in the Karitek video showing the hi-lift system.

It's definitely needs practicing getting the boats on and off as you mention Andy as there is quite a lot of flex in the system when loading the boats.

The other thing I intend to do is to move the cross rails forward a tad as the rear buffer sits on the rear wheel arch rather than the body. Might do that today if the weather relents.

On the Karitek video the locking of the cradle seems to be done via some sort of camming device - a lever is flipped over to tighten the bolt, on ours it is simply tightened using a spanner.

Definitely impressed with the design though and it seems pretty robust.

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[Coolcats]

Hadn't put the locking pins on at this point. They are still the same as in the Karitek video showing the hi-lift system.

It's definitely needs practicing getting the boats on and off as you mention Andy as there is quite a lot of flex in the system when loading the boats.

The other thing I intend to do is to move the cross rails forward a tad as the rear buffer sits on the rear wheel arch rather than the body. Might do that today if the weather relents.

On the Karitek video the locking of the cradle seems to be done via some sort of camming device - a lever is flipped over to tighten the bolt, on ours it is simply tightened using a spanner.

Definitely impressed with the design though and it seems pretty robust.

Karitek is probably the best loading system out there (only slightly Biased as I have one)

 

[Paddywack]

Geoffs quite picky about where the rack is on the roof, just ensure if you move it forward that:

It isn't snagging vents
You are not letting too much wind get under the boats - its quite a wing!
That the bars are absolutely parallel for the slide to work properly.

Mine too sits in the wheel arch when down, initially I used to rest a piece of wood across but 15 months in I've realised it makes no difference.

Early racks had a cambolt like a bike quick release, my first rack had a nylon lock plate (which failed like Andy'), my current (like yours) has a bolt- like all things Karitek- function over form, never things of beauty but work brilliantly.