Need help with how to load SUP on Ford Escape S"UV

[kimanjo]

Hi, all.  My first post.  My daughter has a Ford Escape and she just got her SUP today.  We are trying to figure a system of how to rig it on top of the Escape; there are factory crossbars. More importantly, how does she lift it onto the back of the vehicle without bonking herself or smashing into the car/glass?   Daughter is TINY, like 5'3" and 100 pounds.  She can paddle and surf like the like the dickens, but still...

We were thinking of buying a Thule mat/slide to protect the back of the vehicle, and buying a Thule Step up to go over tte rear tire.  She would then try(key word: try) to hoist (slide) the board up the Thule slide onto the LEFT side (driver's side) of the vehicle because this is the side of the vehicle rear where there is no wiper to damage.  Then we were thinking of using the INNO INA745 Crane Board Carrier to secure the board to the left side. 

Or how about the Mule, put it at the back of the vehicle, then use the nose strap (front of the board) and feed it through the crossbars and pull it up onto the racks? The biggest problem is her getting it up ONTO the racks, overhead.  Is there some use of the Thule step up could that assist her? 

Also, does she need a cart to tote this from the parking lot to the beach or do you think a sling would work?  Thanks so much!

[noworrieshawaii]

That can be tough when you're small...  I'm not exactly small but still small enough to have trouble loading the F16 on the racks of my Tacoma. I basically have to put the nose on the ground, then walk up under the board to put on my head. Then very very carefully , on tippy toes, place nose first then lift the back on the racks... No way can do in the wind.  I'm actually thinking of getting a lower vehicle just so I don't drop the board or tweak my back...   How big a board is your daughter riding?

[tde]

You might want to google "kayak racks" and check out some of the load assisted rollers that can be attached to your crossbars so she can easily slide the SUP forward from the rear of the vehicle...just a thought.  TDE

[kimanjo]

My daughter is using a 10'10" Bic Jungle.  I tried to talk her down to a 10' or even a 9'6" but she wanted the windsurf feature and a narrower board.  It weighs 25 pounds.

I was originally thinking about the assisted roller racks (for kayaks) but they all seme to attach to kayak saddles.  Can you think of one that attaches to the crossbars only?  Any suggestions as to brand or model?    We don't have nay sporting goods stores around here that sell that kind of stuff, I'd have to mail order it. 

I played with it some tonight and discovered that IF I raise it on end I can ,very carefully, walk under it and "walk" the board up, lifting if, hand over hand, as I inch forward.  My head ascts as a support post, underneath.

[Coastal Urge]

This is a great SUP lockable system that attaches to all crossbars, we sell them at Coastal Urge and can have it shipped to you tommorrow.  http://www.rv-inno.com/html_pages/surf_boardlocker.html

We are open 10am-8pm EST, if you give us a call tommorrow we would be happy to answer any questions you might have (910)256-6468 or email us at info@CoastalUrge.com .

All the best,

Jeoffrey

[tde]

Check out the Yakima HullyRoller Water Sport Rack at www.kayakrackshop.com.
I haven't seen these personally but it looks like the rollers attach directly to the crossbars and are what you're looking for.  You could call the toll free number at the website and they could probably give you more info...TDE

[Kaweeka]

Does she have a trailer hitch?  If yes check this one out:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200349392_200349392

or make a ramp for the back that she could walk up with the board on her head . . . I'd use a Yakima bar with a piece of pvc as a roller; with a little more height from the ramp and help from the roller it just might work.  Ramp idea #1 (but they have a lot more):

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_405047_405047

Mini Coopers and short sups are looking better and better!

[juandoe]

I use a Thule Hullavator.  It will drop the board loading to a manageable height for her.  I put a 70# Kayak on top of a Sprinter with it.

[kimanjo]

Thanks, everyone.

Since my daughter is paying for this herself, she is restricted by $$.  We have done a lot of investigating and we wonder, how does the Yakima ShowBoat look for this purpose?  It extends back (rolls out) over the back of the vehicle, all you have to do is shove it onto the rack and then roll the rack on top of the car.

www.yakima.com/racks/kayak-rack/product/8004040/showboat.aspx

Of course she would love the Thule Hullavator but the price is high, I am thinking of keeping a lookout for a used one on cragslist or ebay, whatever...

[andygere]

Can she lift the board over her head?  If so, the solution may be as simple as a milk crate to allow her to get it high enough to slide off her head and on to the racks.   An extra rack pad on one of the side rails on the factory roof racks will allow her to get the nose up first, then pivot the board around and slide it on.  Another trick, once the board is up, is to stand on top of the rear tire to secure the straps, move things around, etc. 

[Kaweeka]

OK new rules so I have to change my vendor recommendation    But an interesting subject since my new ride will be 6'10" to the roof (and who knows how much more to the rack!).  I currently do a lot of standing on the wheels to tie things down but this seems like a more elegant solution to both load and tie down:

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0019961521303a.shtml and a users comments that are similar to this discussion

"I bought a pair of these sturdy, well made tire steps to facilitate the safe, convenient loading of kayaks onto the roof of my new mid-size SUV. At age 62, height 5'9", I'm no longer able to heft heavy items up over my head with the confidence I had some 30 years ago. With one tire step on the front tire, the other on the rear tire, a hinged 2x10 plank bridging them and a 20" wood support in the middle of the plank (at the hinge line), I now have a simple scaffold that lets me singlehandedly load a kayak onto the roof rack with no risk of banging things into the side of the car. I can position myself along the length of the plank exactly where I need to be to safely lower the kayak onto the J-carriers, and can then move front or back to each carrier to secure the two load straps around the kayak, each carrier and the rack crossbar. It sounds like a complicated setup, but it actually takes no more than 60 seconds to extract the folded items from the SUV's trunk and position them for use. Each tire step fits securely to its tire and positions the plank close to the side of the car, without having to worry about the (possibly soft) condition of the ground on which the car has been parked, which would make the use of ground-standing ladders problematic. A piece of scrap lumber at each end of the plank's bottom keys the plank into place on each tire step, and keeps the plank from moving when stepped onto. A final hint - if your car's wheel wells are a little too small to fit the tire steps into place directly from the top of the tire, try rotating the tire step about 90 degrees in one direction or the other so that it can slip into place in the gap where the wheel well opens toward the ground, then just rotate the tire step into final place, hugging it close to the tire so as to clear the wheel well."

[Tom]

You could get one of these accessories, or fashion one yourself.

Thule 847 Outrigger Kayak Load Assist for Roof Rack Mount Carrier

[soulsurfmedia]

Hey there!
I have an 09 escape and use a Thule system to create sturdy cross boars. I got the 450 Crossroad and LB50 Load Bars. VERY EASY to install and are super sturdy. For Pads I got those at RackIT (http://www.rack-it.com) in San Diego.  They sell large 36" pads that will work for SUP's as well as SUPER long straps to carry more then one board.
The factory Ford racks are not strong enough for the SUP's (we have two first generation Ron House boards that are nice and heavy) it made ours bounce up and down on the highway. The Thule racks are nice and sturdy.
I like the idea that someone had about a milk crate. I also carry a step ladder (I used to drive a land rover discovery which was WAY too tall to strap boards to the top without).
The whole kit cost me about $250 - a fair price considering the quality of materials and the amount of enjoyment I get out of them!
We wrap our boards in prolite board bags to give them a bit more protection taking them on and off the car.
If you want pics of our set up, let me know and I will take some for you and email them or post to this thread.

Good Luck!
Happy Sup'ing

Chris Aguilar
http://soulsurfmedia.com
coming 10.09 The Stand Up Project

[Richard]

Kimanjo, I had similar situation with a Ford Explorer. My solution was to put board inside vehicle. Put seats down in back and recline front passenger seat fully. Open back glass and slid board in till nose is near windshield. Tail will be sticking out back, so use bungee or strap to hold back glass down on board deck pad.

I only use this for short trips, but seems to work well.

Richard
Atlantic Beach, NC