Ready to get out on the water but wondering how you’ll manage to get all the necessary gear there? Between your kayaks, paddles, skirts, and lifejackets – you’ve got quite the load to transport.  Thankfully, one of our fellow co-workers came up with a great solution.

Loren used Yakima’s Mako Kayak Racks and Hully Rollers to create an easy-to-load system for two kayaks. The pivoting Hully Rollers in the back allow the user to easily glide the kayak nose onto the top of thevehicle and into the Mako Saddles in the front. This makes it easy for even one person to load.

Now what to do with that extra gear? Loren’s solution: the Max Swingaway Cargo Carrier by StowAway.  Loren was able to keep all of his extra gear inside the carrier and leave the rear cargo area open for his black lab, Makai.  This allows him to store muddy shoes and wet gear like lifejackets and towels outside the vehicle and gives Makai all the room she needs. Plus, the cargo carrier swings away from the back of the vehicle which allows him to open the rear hatch and let Makai out whenever needed.

The set-up he’s created allows for a painless weekend getaway to Hideaway Lake in the Mount Hood National Forest. Now who couldn’t go for that? Clean up was a breeze too with StowAway's built in drain plug which allows you to easily wash away sand and mud on the outside and inside of the box.

If you need help finding a kayak rack set up for your vehicle, contact one of our Rack Specialists.

Selecting a hitch cargo carrier can be bit of a challenge if you haven’t purchased one before. We’ve compiled a short checklist to help with your decision making. 

1. What do you plan to carry and does it need to be protected from the weather?
2. Do you want clear access to your rear liftgate or door without having to remove the carrier or unload your gear?
3. What is the tongue weight capacity of your vehicle and what size hitch receiver do you have?
4. How much do you want to spend? 

If you plan to carry bulky items and want to protect them from the elements, an enclosed hitch cargo carrier or hitch rack/cargo bag combination may be your best bet. If you want clear access to the rear of your vehicle, a swingaway carrier like the StowAway Cargo Carrier or StowAway Cargo Rack will work well for you. Or if you want to spend as little as possible we offer a CURT Hitch Rack for only $99 plus shipping.   

And finally, what about versatility? The Rola Adventure System offers both a cargo box and a cargo rack on a common swingaway frame. The StowAway Cargo Carrier offers the utmost in versatility – four different carriers (cargo box, cargo rack, bike rack or rod rack) can be mounted to their patented swingaway frame. Simply remove one carrier and replace it with another to meet your travel needs at the time.  

So there are lots of choices when it comes to Hitch Cargo Carriers. To learn more check out our Hitch Carrier category and contact us with any questions.    

• flashlight and spare batteries
• matches and candles
• jumper cables
• small shovel
• first aid kit
• tire chains
• extra clothes (e.g., hats, gloves, poncho)
• blanket (I throw an older down sleeping bag in the car in winter)
• flares
• radio with spare battery (there are some great solar- or crank-powered radio/flashlight combinations)
• basic tools (including jack and tire-changing tools — and throw in the Swiss Army knife!)
• window scraper
• red flag
• water
• small food supply (e.g., protein bars or some canned food and can opener)
• tarp
• plastic garbage bags (so many uses!)
• compass
  

Other items to consider, space allowing:

• bag of sand or salt
• sturdy shoes or hiking boots and good socks
• deck of cards
• lip balm and/or hand cream
• tow rope
• cash
• emergency phone numbers
• small cooking kit (camp stove and Sierra cup)
• old towels for drying and clean-up

• Easy, waist-level access to your gear
• More space for you and your family, friends, dogs inside
• Greater weight capacity than roof racks
  
• Better fuel-economy than roof racks

If you throw your snowboards into the back seat of your car on your way to the hills, it's time to consider investing in a snowboard rack. A snowboard in your car can quickly turn into a lethal weapon in a fast stop or collision. Boards on top mean more space — and, cleaner, drier space — for you and your passengers.

No matter what type of vehicle you have, there's a snowboard rack that will work for you. The choices and features can be daunting, and snowboards have a few special considerations, so we've set out to clarify the basics. If you need more information, our rack specialists will find a rack that suits your specs.

Hitch or roof?
Hitch racks: If you already have a hitch bike rack, check to see whether a ski/snowboard rack attachment is available for it. This way, your rack does double-duty. Softride, Thule, and Yakima all offer ski/snowboard rack attachments for many of their hitch-mount bike racks. These racks offer easy, waist-level access to your gear. Most hitch racks swing away from the rear hatch or tilt down to allow access to your cargo space. Pros and cons? These racks are secure and accessible, but gear is more exposed to road debris.

Roof racks: Roof snowboard racks are available for all vehicle types, whether you have existing factory-mounted or purchased crossbars ("base racks"), factory-installed side rails, or a smooth roof (see illustration). If you need to carry kayaks, bikes, camping gear, etc. you may want to invest in a good base rack system that will serve as the foundation for various combinations of gear. FastTrackRacks is currently offering some unbeatable deals on ski/snowboard rack–base rack packages. Magnetic ski racks (Inno) are designed for smooth-roof cars, and a number of racks are designed for vehicles with factory-installed side rails. Roof racks are slightly less accessible than hitch racks, but various features, such as racks that slide out to the edge of the vehicle, dual-side openings, and easy push-button release (so you can keep your gloves on!) all assist with access. Low-profile racks that hold boards in a horizontal position are available to minimize wind resistance. If snow/ice build-up is a concern, consider a rooftop cargo box (see our October 30, 2009, blog).

Bindings, board width, and capacity
Snowboards have some special considerations. If you have tall bindings (such as FLOW bindings) or extra thick bindings, be sure to get a rack that allows the proper clearance or adjustments to keep your snowboards secure and off your vehicle roof. Most racks accommodate both skis and snowboards, so look for a rack that holds the number, width, and combination of gear that you typically carry. Many racks carry as many as four snowboards or six pairs of skis (or combinations thereof); some simpler racks carry one to two snowboards or pairs of skis, which may be adequate for your needs.

Security and protection
If your snowboards or skis will be left on your vehicle for any amount of time, you'll want racks that lock. Most hitch racks lock to the vehicle and most have gear locks (that is, they lock your snowboards in the racks). Roof racks typically offer gear locks, but they may or may not lock to your vehicle. Any external rack exposes gear to some degree of exposure to road grime and salt. If that is a concern, protective bags can be purchased. Roof boxes for skis and snowboards offer the dual advantage of complete protection from the elements and security — gear is locked in the cargo box and out-of-site and mounting gear is not accessible from outside the box.

A note on safety
Snowboard racks hold your boards super-secure, but YOU need to double-check that racks are latched and locked. Also, don't think about overloading your racks with more gear than it's designed for. Your car and the safety of your passengers and others on the road are at stake. So, lock in your boards, be safe, and head for the hills!

We’ve set out to discover whether the new NV hitch bike rack lives up to Küat’s reputation for design excellence and great functionality.

At first glance, you see that the titanium-colored coating and orange accents give this hitch bike rack a distinctive (and cool) look. A closer look shows that the Küat NV has the standard features of quality hitch bike racks, such as a tilt-down frame for rear vehicle access, tool free installation, adjustable arms, and secure anti-wobble attachment to the hitch – but we learned that this bike rack is anything but standard.

This rack has function! Küat has obviously put thought into how you use your bike, not just how you transport it. The Küat NV is equipped with the "TrailDoc," a built-in telescopic bike repair stand with a mechanic's clamp, which is a dream for pre-ride or traihead bike safety checks, tune-ups, or repair. You can maintain your bike at your level, up and out of the dirt. It’s constructed with 6061 T6 aluminum and folds up compactly for storage. Küat a retractable built-in cable lock in addition to the hitch lock.

The Küat NV is a “wheel mount hitch bike rack,” which means that your bike is held in place by its wheels with adjustable arms and ratcheting straps. This set-up ensures zero bike-to-rack contact – protecting the finish of both your bikes and the rack. The NV carries two bikes with wheel sizes from 20” to 29” weighing up to 55 pounds each.

Our conclusion: We love this rack! The Küat NV hitch bike rack exhibits both style and functionality – truly living up to the Küat name.  Check out the Kuat NV video for a live demonstration by Kuat Racks staff.

Of course, the ultimate decision about the best bike rack for you depends on your biking habits, your vehicle, and, well… your personal style. At FastTrackRacks, we select our select bike racks carefully for maximum value and quality. If you’re new to bike racks, take a moment to chat with our rack specialists about the ins and outs of hitch bike racks vs roof bike racks vs trunk-mount racks and what features work best for you.