I might use this and try to find a way to integrate this design with a roof rack for my bike! Where did you buy this set up?

 

I know your frustration. . .. my Kyak has been hanging in my garage since I got the x-fire......

 

WEDGE LMAO !!!!!! the hold down hooks look good

 

I picked mine up at the local surf shop. If you do a search for car soft surf racks online you can get them pretty easy. Should run you about $25. I'm not sure how you could combine this with a bike rack. It would take some creativity.

 

I think I found something that'll work!! I'm gonna take the measurements of the hatch tomorrow hopefully. Yakima recently came out with a rack designed for the Z. Check it out Boofsquire Although I worry about the clearance of the spoiler... And even better is the rack is temporary, easy on/off! But the downside is the weight limit.
Width Top - 52 inches
Width Bottom - 46 inches
Overall Length - 35 inches

 

Here is my Crossfire's kayak hauler. It has 355 torque and I bought it for $3k. Unfortunately, I have not been able to figure out how to attach it to the Crossfire.

 

This is too funny....



Why ? ?
I do enjoy the photos though.

 

Why?....well because not everyone is financially or just plain finds it excessive to have another car. Being not married myself, one car is pretty typical. Yeh, the pickups, and sedans I've had with roof racks were better suited for my outdoors lifestyle. But I made a sacrifice of not driving a performance car. Well, were there's a will there is a way. I, nor anyone on this thread or the towing thread have any desire to have the "attachment" on the car permanently. And if there's any hitch-up, its hidden.

Lets figure it out... An additional vehicle (truck)....ok I could afford to buy a nice Dakota. But the insurance...esp in my state which is the highest paying state in the US last time I checked makes it very expensive. So if I have to slap on some pad on my roof or hitch up a rack a few times a week, I'll invest the $400 or wtva amount to do it... because quite frankly I don't want to pay the insurance and cost-to-own on the extra vehicle.

Too many people live in excess. Try taking a look at what you have and ask yourself... how often do I use this, do I love it, could I live without it. If you have less high quality or expensive things rather than many mediocre--is a real concept. Society is full of consumers that want more-more-more.

Now, maybe I'm off on a slight tangent. But being only 24, paying back two college degrees, working full-time, and renting a duplex, paid for my entire car, zero "free-rides," etc, etc. Also most expensive to rent/housing. Thats where I'm coming from. And not to get personal or at all really directing this toward "Fritzauf," but people are so quick to say--get a truck! Well more often than not, people have a legitimate reason for discussing "Hauling a Kayak on roof" or "Trailer Hitches."

Again, I'm not trying to battle/argue/etc.

 

BRAVO!!!!! I am with you a 100%, I use to stuff a Sunfish Sailboat into the back of a Honda CVCC!!!! LOL that was fun and interesting. Had the some of the BEST times doing that me and my X. We still laugh about it, but hey, it worked.

It is great that a man of your age is so responsible, keep up the good work! I'm sure you can figure out a good safe way to carry that Kayaka on top of your Crossfire, if you had a roadster you could just stick it in the passenger seat!!!! Hey, find a friend that lives on the water and park that baby in his yard!!! I use to live on the river and we let all our friends store their boats or kayakas there.

Good Luck!

Deb

 

I'm really surprised by all of the ignorance of these "Senior Members."

 

I made my own removable rack using lifters, galvanized conduit, and roof pads. I could make the kayak sturdier (highway) but no need since both of the reservoirs I fish are back roads and 10 min away. I have a Hobie Mirage Revolution Kayak that cost me an arm and a leg!

Specifications:
Length: 13' 5" / 4.09 m
Width: 28.5" / 0.72 m
Weight: 58 lbs. / 26.3 kg
Mirage Drive Weight: 6.6 lbs. / 3 kg
Capacity: 350 lbs. / 159 kg

 

sweet. reminds me of my old celica when my gf moved in with me (strapped on top, hanging out the windows).

 

I'm sorry, that is just a sorry thing to do to the XFire!

 

Way to go 'drivethruecp'. Whatever it takes to get the job done and I think you did a great job with the solution. Many safe trips and I hope you catch your limit each time!! I enjoy the activity and I don't even need to catch anything to have a great time. Keep on thinking the way you do and don't let the occasional negative comment affect you!

 

I appreciate that! Nah, if I did that I wouldn't have achieved all that I did so young. I am actually currently working on an upgrade. An esp made Thule rack JUST for the Audi TT. Which has a similar roofline, frameless windows, and window seal. Have been trying several fitment kits and think I've almost got it! Stand by for a much more stable and secure solution!

 

The solution you fabricated is quite a great way around your issue of not being able to enjoy things you like to do, looks decent too.

As far as the Thule goes, keep us posted. I have tried several different things with no luck, I cycle and a friend works at a shop that sells Thule, so I had access to parts to test. The one thing the TT has that we do not is small grommet like attachment points front and rear on both sides of the roof line in the rain gutters....

 

FINALLY found a Thule kit that legitimately fits amazing! All the purchases and returns of both Yakima and Thule products finally paid off!

The new 480 Traverse foot kit paired with the 1180 fit kit which is actually for the Audi TT, even SMALLER than our cars! But discovered when I saw we had a similar roof profile and also no frame on our door windows.

And yes I take the rack off when not in use. And as with any roof rack make sure the area the pads are sitting is totally clean to eliminate the chance of ever scratching.

I put the kayak to the right (mine is actually an inch longer than our cars) and use bow and stern lines to the front and rear tow hooks. If anyone wants more pictures I'd be happy to take some.

 

Nice job. Glad it worked out for you.

 

THIS IS AWESOME!!!! I just started to look for ways to get a kayak on my XFire and lo and behold... HERE IT IS!!! Thanks Drivethruecp for keeping the forum apprised of your progress. Can you get shots from the front and rear? Does it look like enough room to fit 2 kayaks? How long are the bars?

 

As small as this car is, it would probably work well to seal the bottom of the car and incorporate the kayak so you could just drive right into the water and start paddling out the windows.