'05 XC70 + 2 canoes?

Post by **renns** » 19 Apr 2016, 12:15

I'm heading north for a fishing trip in a couple weeks, and have the option of taking the new-to-me XC70. We'll have four guys, gear, and two canoes, so we'll be at capacity for sure. I'm looking for ideas on mounting two canoes on the roof. As I see it, there's a couple options:
1.) Lash extended bars across the existing roof-top rails at front and back, so the canoes can sit down side-by-each. I did this once years ago on a Toyota Sequoia, and it worked out OK.
2.) Lash one canoe offset to one side on stock bars, then nest the second canoe onto the first, perhaps removing thwart/yoke to get decent fit.

The two canoes in total would weigh around 120 lbs. Any thoughts on either option? Thx!

mydamnvolvo · Post by **mydamnvolvo** » 19 Apr 2016, 13:02

Depending on the dimensions of the canoes, and the size of the gentlemen you are carrying, I used to put a canoe on top and a kayak with one of the back seats folded down. However, I believe the manual says the maximum weight for carrying is 220lbs.

A/t xc_70 · Post by **A/t xc_70** » 19 Apr 2016, 21:57

I carried two kayaks, others the same as canoes I know, but similar, by stacking them on top of each other, ratchet strapping them together, the strapping that bundle down to my aluminum cross bars. Held fine, even with some "spirited" off road driving and hill climbing.

Danpaco · Post by **Danpaco** » 20 Apr 2016, 06:31

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I've made this rig before out of 2x4's to do exactly what you need. You need to measure the gunwale width of your canoes and readjust the dimensions accordingly. Smaller is better. At 66" (max) you come out to the width of your side mirrors.
I don't know your canoe size or how far you are travelling North, but this rig on the car going up the 400 scared the crap out of me (the sound). Use the back roads until your comfortable that it works. I also put a few straps through the interior of the car as a safety.
Paco

Post by **renns** » 20 Apr 2016, 07:20

Thanks for the ideas! Paco - that's an interesting rig that I hadn't considered. Any reason why you built up the A-frame rather than just going a couple inches wider and laying the canoes down flat? I need to get the canoe out of storage and measure width. I'll post pics once loaded!

Danpaco · Post by **Danpaco** » 20 Apr 2016, 08:18

I used the A frame so my roof rack wouldn't extend past the side mirrors. I wanted to keep it compact as possible. I was also transporting 1 of those plastic 3 man Coleman canoes that was fairly wide.
You will need to make 2 of these if you use it.
Paco

Danpaco · Post by **Danpaco** » 20 Apr 2016, 08:32

We also did a slight modification when loading up. We added a wide strip of plywood between the racks so we could stuff some lighter gear into the canoe on the rack (sleeping bags, tents, etc), we had too much beer for seven days and five guys inside the car. In future years we hired a float plane to deliver the beer to our final destination, the best $300 we ever spent.
Paco

Post by **renns** » 20 Apr 2016, 10:15

Paco - OK, my four guys for four days, consuming high-test beverages sounds like about half the load you had on your car! So you hired the float plane just to deliver beverages? Parachute drop?
A few years back we were exploring an interior lake in Algonquin Park when we spotted cans floating in the water. After surveying the little bay, we found about a half dozen king cans of Creemore Springs, still sealed. We enjoyed those immensely at that point in the trip, but at the same time hoped those that provided the beverages didn't also end up in the frigid water.

Danpaco · Post by **Danpaco** » 20 Apr 2016, 13:29

Yes, the first load was intense. My car was not happy. We have a spot outside parry sound that we go to every year. 3 lakes, 2 port ages and 7 hours later you're there from the first put in. Hauling beer that far was not great, the empty cans on the way out was much easier.
We drop the fifth guy off outside parry sound at an airstrip with the beer and heavy items and he flies in to meet us and start setting up. Great system.
Paco

Post by **renns** » 21 May 2016, 10:31

Here's the rig I came up with. I mounted two 75" long 2x4's across the roof rails, using some scraps of hardwood flooring as shims to level and locate the boards. Carriage bolts with a piece of flatbar bent into a u-bracket clamped the boards to the rails securely, and the canoes were then mounted side-by-each on the 2x4's with ratchet straps. Scraps of 2x were screwed to the ends of the 2x4's to prevent the canoes from sliding out. 'Insurance' straps were mounted from bow and stern as well, just to be sure. It ended up being a very secure rig, with no problems at all on our 500 mile round trip run up to Algonquin Park.