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1. Anyone know if they fit Thule wing bars without damage?
2. Folding or fixed? Folding look good, but the lip isn't as high and maybe they aren't as stiff?
They are for a couple of sit on tops - so looking to buy 2 sets and put them back to back.
Any others to consider?
Fixed - https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/kayak-j-bars.html
Folding - https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/folding-j-bars.html
Personally I would get these -
https://www.lomo.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000088.pl?WD=upright&PN=kayak%2Droofrack%2Dl%2Dbars%2Ehtml#SID=69
Much more versatile and allow various different craft and things to be attached. I've used a similar set for 20 odd years for kayaks and canoes and stuff.
If they're big heavy plastic sit on tops and you've gone to the expense of buying Thule wing bars the Thule upright is good and very versatile:
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/sport-rack/kayak-roof-racks/thule-kayak-support-_-520100
Or they di J bars too.
The J bars are good for nice expensive composite sea kayaks, or where you're putting an awkward shaped boat on alone.
Karitek every time. I have seen others fail but never seen Karitek fail. Not cheap but neither is a composite boat. I see it like buying a £3k bike and using a £30 lock.
How easy is it to attach 2 kayaks to the Thule upright? Looks like it could be difficult to attach the second one unless you are 8ft tall?
I've got a couple of basic uprights from Cruz. They'd be fine apart from being too short relative to a sit on top width.
I'm having to mod them with a bit of timber to stand one boat on its side and lay the other flat.
If your using a sit in I think they would be fine as the deck would rest against them. With the curvature on a sit on it doesn't work with our two.
I think I have the fixed j bars on original post. I got them as a package with the sit on tops so not sure but they look the same.
I taped the supports up to protect the foam as it looks a bit weak. Just keep tightening the j bar supports too as the kayaks move about a bit and work the supports loose.
Tbh you will be out for ages with the car left unattended I would buy the cheapest least attractive set up as poss. The folding ones are a good idea but I always take my roof rack off at home to wash it.
Just buy more straps too the ones supplied were a bit thin. I got the Aldi aisle of dreams ones, only 10 quid or so for 6.
Just to add it's easier to slide the kayak on from the back on your own, put it on your shoulder and slide it over. If you have help and the other person is smaller, say 5 ft 8, she can't lift the kayak over the side of the car and onto the rack.
Get the trolley wheels too, massive help getting to the water.
Those type are Ok for a single sot up to around 30kg but I would go fixed as they have less points of failure . Get longer straps (5m) and put them under the bars on both sides in a loop rather than using the crappy ones normally supplied with these cheap chinese cradles.
Also you don't really need 2 sets as one kayak can simply be laid flat upside down.
Also you don’t really need 2 sets as one kayak can simply be laid flat upside down.
That means the upright would work too. 🤔
To fit on Thule bars you really need to fix into the T slot, not clamp round then, so Thule uprights unless you can find others that use the slot. I prefer uprights to J bars; it's easier to strap round the bars, it's less height to lift, you can put one set of uprights in the centre of the bars and one boat each side.