| tomgb |
The MDX is two weeks old (in my driveway) today and here's how it looks with a double and a single kayak up top on 60" Yakima roof tracks. I saw my first MDX in October '00 and have wanted one ever since. My old SUV had good years left and I kept hoping Acura would modify things and I wouldn't have to go to aftermarket tracks to get the spread for the stability I need. By the 2003 models, I couldn't stand to be without an MDX anymore so here it is.
If you want the story of the racks check the thread:
http://acuramdx.org/forums/showthre...&threadid=11469
The double kayak is over 19 feet long. In the photo, the tie-down straps aren't installed. Rest assured, when driving the boats are well secured to the racks |
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| tomgb |
| And a view from up above gives another angle. Sorry about the flag at the left but most of the kayaks show. |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
Nice
So, now your MDX seats 10 instead of 7.:D |
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| phins2rt |
tomgb,
Congrats on the recent purchase. Must be nice to finally be able to drive something you've wanted for such a long time. Is it everything you hoped it would be (and more)?
BTW, great color choice!!!:18: |
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| tomgb |
BBC: That's clever thinking (10-passenger) but the additional weight might bring the whole thing crashing inside.:p
Phins2rt: Yep. Meets all expectations and more, great fun to drive. Already been on a couple of 1/2 day trips and it's so much quieter and smoother than my old SUV. |
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| Fireblade6 |
Tom-
Your Kayaks are beautiful...They are much better looking than your MDX....HAHA! Kidding..they are both beautiful...But you do have nice kayaks. Thanks for Sharing! |
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| mgmdx |
tomgb,
Nice setup. :29:
As I have been saying for a year and a half, the Yakima tracks solution is definitely the best option for a versatile and flexible roof rack system on the MDX. |
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| mdxxxx |
| :29: Very nice tomgb... |
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| laborlitigator |
| Now that's something I've never seen |
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| Blueflame |
:29:
A glider from one member, and now two kayaks from this member.
Ok, bring on all the toys. |
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| JTM |
| Nice~~~~~~ Very Impress. :D |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by tomgb
The MDX is two weeks old (in my driveway) today and here's how it looks with a double and a single kayak up top on 60" Yakima roof tracks. I saw my first MDX in October '00 and have wanted one ever since. My old SUV had good years left and I kept hoping Acura would modify things and I wouldn't have to go to aftermarket tracks to get the spread for the stability I need. By the 2003 models, I couldn't stand to be without an MDX anymore so here it is.
If you want the story of the racks check the thread:
http://acuramdx.org/forums/showthre...&threadid=11469
The double kayak is over 19 feet long. In the photo, the tie-down straps aren't installed. Rest assured, when driving the boats are well secured to the racks
Looks great, just curious, do you tie down the front of the kayaks so they don't try to take off in the wind when you are moving? |
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| tomgb |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
Looks great, just curious, do you tie down the front of the kayaks so they don't try to take off in the wind when you are moving?
Yes. I went to my local hardware store and got a couple of 10" x1.5" steel straps about 3/16' thick and some eyebolts. I bent one to mount to the existing rear frame (behind the bumper)using a pre-existing threaded hole (probably designed for the optional trailer hitch assembly) and to stick out just enough past the bumper to provide an eyebolt tie.
I mounted the front one on the frame crossbar that carries the hood latch just under the front of the hood. For that I used an existing (non-threaded) hole. Again. the strap protrudes just past the hood line with an eyebolt facing up.
I coated both straps several times in plastic dip (like the stuff on hand tools handles) and added a small foam block under the hood to prevent any damage to the hood from strap flexing.
I don't cosider these straps to be major structural ties (because they can flex some) so I don't snug these end ropes up real tight. They are designed as safety lines in case the roof racks fail. In that kind of disasater, the safety lines at least will keep the boats with the MDX and not turn them loose into nearby traffic. In actual use, I find there is little wind lift to put any tension on the front line anyway. That's mostly because of the wide fore and aft mounting allowed by the 60" tracks keeps the kayaks from bobbing up and down. |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by phins2rt
tomgb,
Congrats on the recent purchase. BTW, great color choice!!!:18:
Mega Dittos, :D :2: :D
Is Tim having a special on those "wings?" :D |
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| banosser |
| I am very interested in your forward and rear tie down points for your kayaks... as I have two single kayaks that I will need to secure once my Yak rails are installed... could you supplement your above descriptions with a few photos?? It would be most appreciated:) |
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| banosser |
I see your rear site... Did you thread the eye bolt first then bend? ...if not, did you have to drop the spare inorder to thread with prebent eye bolt ? Your front site I cannot find at all...
Since this thread was originally started over a yr ago.. I am wondering if you are still pleased with these attachment points?
Thanks again.. |
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| banosser |
Before you drilled & attached the 60" rails (which by the way look great from the other thread), did you have an electrical schematic of the roof to check out to make sure there would be no problems?
Once again, thanks:2: |
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| tomgb |
banosser:
Sorry for slow reply. I haven't visited the site for a few days. I'll try and get you some tie-down mount photos soon.
On the roof electrical - the installers at Sports Rack said they were familiar with the car and there would be no problems. It looks like they were right. |
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| tomgb |
For both the tie-down mounts I went to a local hardware store and found a convenient metal strap, pre-drilled in a few places that worked fine. It is about 12" long, 1 1/2" wide and 3/16" thick. You need something reasonably rigid to hold its shape.
For the rear mount, I bent the strap in a vise so it would clear the back bumper. For the mounting ring. I just selected a stout eyebolt and put it through one of the pre-drilled holes at the end of the strap with a nut above and below the strap and a lockwasker under the lower nut. I selected a bolt to mount the assembly to the MDX fame where one of the pre-drilled and threaded holes already exist under the back bumper - I'm guessing they are for mounting an accessory trailer hitch. If my memory serves me correctly, I think this bolt is metric.
Everything is black in the photo because I dipped the assembly in some liquid vinyl that's used to coat tool handles with. See photo of rear mount. |
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| tomgb |
For the front mount I removed one of the plastic connectors on the crossmember above the grill under the hood and bolted on a strap using that hole. I had to bend the strap slightly to match the slope of the mounting area and stay clear of the hood. The eyebolt attaches as I described for the rear mount. Because this assembly is long and can swing about some no matter how tight you snug it down, I drilled another hole down a little ways from the main mounting bolt and added a second, smaller bolt (actually, I have a tap & die set so I threaded the MDX crossmember hole to save using a bolt & nut) to keep the strap from swinging. Again, I dipped the whole assembly in vinyl and also added a square of dense foam at the tip to protect the bottom of the hood from being dinged if the strap gets jolted upward. You'll have to experiment with the strap bending to get the right angle so the strap won't hit the hood underside.
You don't need (and I don't recommend) snugging your tie-down straps tight. They are primarily just safety mounts in case your rack straps let go. See 2 photos. Mounting and view with hood closed. |
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| tomgb |
| Here's the front strap mounting. |
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| tomgb |
| Here's all that shows with the hood down. |
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| tomgb |
banosser: If you are going to do your own rack drilling I would think if you set you drill bit with a stop so it could barely get through the rooftop, it would probably just nudge aside any wires that might be close. Then you could put a probe in the hole and shove them out of the way before putting in the mounting hardware. Again, my installers had no problems.
To answer your use question - I've been toting 1-2 kayaks for over a year (note the vinyl wear on the front eyebolt) with no problems encountered from the tie-down mounts. |
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| banosser |
No problems with the 'slow' reply... I knew you'd eventually see it and respond.... Excellent pics and explanation.. just what I was hoping for..
I was quite surprised at what I found (or rather didn't) when I began planning how I was going to secure our kayaks.. the factory rack was obviously inadequate.. but nothing what so ever for the front tie down:confused:
I'll have those 60" Yak tracks laid down and add those tie downs..
Right on..... Thanks again:29: |
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| banosser |
tomgb, anyone else.... I am about to have 60" tracks laid down on my '03, but my installer, a local specialist, is balking abit. His concerns are the cross supports, particularly at the far rear, and the moonroof area where he states the roof is double pannel reinforced and probably doesn't have enough room (depth) for the plusnuts to fit. Since you seem to have had no problems with your install regarding these areas, I was wondering if you could provide me with your installer's phone number so I could ask them specifically about these concerns and get my local installer in touch with them.
Thanks |
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| tomgb |
banosser:
My Yakima tracks were installed by "SportsRack" in San Jose, CA. (408) 371-0400. |
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