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Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 22 Jun 2018, 20:36
by happyas
Due to an inheritance my wife has just ordered a new car. Yes I "helped" her choose the make and model sort off but she settled on an updated version of her old Honda CRV. "Hmmmm" I said, "are we going to need a towbar". We now have a towbar being fitted. Good for towing a yak trailer. "What about a set of cross bars for the roof rack?" I asked. She actually agreed that I might need to carry my yak from time to time. Win win. Question is, how do I rear load my yak over a shark fin antenna. I thought of maybe a cushioned block of wood thicker than the height of the fin with a hole in it to fit over the fin. rest the rear of the yak on that and slide it up and onto the yak holders. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 22 Jun 2018, 21:34
by spider25160
mmmmm no comment on the grounds that if it all goes horribly wrong I don't want to be in the firing line :shock:

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 22 Jun 2018, 22:02
by shane
Do a side load. If the CRV has roof rails then it's even easier. With my new Skoda Scout (and older Kia Sorento) I put a towel over the roof rail then lift the nose onto it at an angle. The roof rack sitting up higher than the rail stops the yak sliding forward. Then just lift the rear while you slide it up on the rail and swing around onto the racks. Unloading is the same in reverse.

You've got to be careful with antennas. I snapped one off doing a rear unload once. :oops:

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 22 Jun 2018, 22:04
by happyas
Thanks Shane. I will have a go when vehicle is delivered. Spider, might be a safe course of action.

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 22 Jun 2018, 23:25
by laneends
Is the yak narrow enough to be loaded to one side rather than centrally? Mine is loaded offset to one side, and I can slide a second one next to it if I wish. i don't said antenna issue, but it wouldn't be a problem if i did. But then my roofs probably wider than yours with overhang style bars..

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 23 Jun 2018, 07:24
by Digger
Congrats on the Honda, best thing we ever did!

I hate to be a downer but the dealer quoted us $1800 for a towbar for our Accord.

Decide to keep my XR6 as a tow vehicle after that.

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 23 Jun 2018, 09:00
by woowoowoo
I have a similar situation with my Skoda Yeti. Loading from a slight angle with the K-Yak loaders works quite well.

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 23 Jun 2018, 09:27
by vicyak
Better yet. My trailer is for sale. Plenty of storage and no risk on scratching that new car. :evilgrin:

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 23 Jun 2018, 09:38
by erik the viking
[quote="shane"]Do a side load. If the CRV has roof rails then it's even easier.

Yep, do the side load, but use the extender bar on the cross bar.
That means you just lift the front up on to extender, then the rear and slide across.(or vice versa if you want stern up first)
I think SLH have a video somewhere showing how it's done.
Those molded antenna can cost a motza if you 'upset' it!

Ah, the old fishing pants on the new leather conundrum eh? :yahoo:
Congrats on the change in circumstances, although commiserations for the way it has come about?

Re: Compliant SWAMBO.

Posted: 23 Jun 2018, 14:40
by happyas
Hi Digger. Yeah $2000 for the towbar and oil cooler. As for fishing pants on leather, SSSSSSH. It is a fairly narrow yak, an older stealth evo, but I have always loaded it stern first, rear load onto my Astra. That way the rudder is not left taking the weight of the upended yak.We are having Honda cross rails fitted but haven't looked at yak cradles yet. I don't think my current ones have the correcty shaped area where they clamp onto the rails. I think the Honda rails imitate the whispbar type section whereas my current cross bars are square section..