2010 Ford Transit Connect Roof Rack Kayak Carrier System - how to select roof rack crossbars & kayak carriers for 2010 Ford Transit van

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Posted: 6/10/2011

Question: I have a 2010 Ford Transit Connect van, but I do not have a factory rack or side rails or anything on the rooftop, it is a bare roof. I am looking to transport a kayak. Hoping to get some help with how to figure out what roof rack crossbars systems and kayak carriers will work on the 2010 Ford Transit Connect van?

Answer: As of this writing (6/10/2011), we highly recommend the following solution for kayak roof racks on the 2010 Ford Transit van rooftop...

Your 2010 Ford Transit Connect has on its roof what are known in the industry as fixed attachment points. Essentially, this provides a roof rack attachment point if you decide to install a roof rack. The result is a very clean design that is low-profile and integrated looking. Very easy to install yourself. The best option for your Ford Connect is the Thule 460 Podium roof rack system. This complete multi-purpose base rack system attaches to your fixed rack attachment points using the included Thule 3021 Podium Fit Kit brackets. Very easy to install and mounts right to the fix point attachments on your roof top. A pair of Thule cross bars are also included (the 50 inch length bars are recommended for your car, however you can also choose longer length load bars if you want). Install video included on the product page.

Alternatively, You can certainly also use the Thule 460R Rapid Podium roof rack system on both vehicles. Works exactly the same way as the regular Thule 460 Podium system except that you get a pair of premium Thule Rapid Aero load bars instead of the classic square load bars included with the regular Thule 460 Podium system. The Thule 460R Rapid Podium roof rack system also includes the same Thule 3021 Podium Fit Kit brackets. You also get a pair of Thule RB47 47" Rapid Aero load bars with end caps. Install video included on the product page.

Yakima Racks makes the Yakima Control Towers roof rack system that also attaches to the fixed attachment points on your rooftop. You would choose the #11 Yakima LP11 Landing Pads (included with the Control Towers complete roof rack system and work just like the Thule Podium Fit Kit brackets for attaching the roof rack to the fixed rack attachment points). Yakima cross bars included with the Control Towers complete system (the Yakima system recommends the 48 inch length bars for your rooftop, however you can also optionally choose longer length bars).

With any of these base racks installed as a 2010 Ford Transit Connect roof rack, you can then connect any kayak carriers to the cross bars. Virtually all kayak racks are universal mounting, allowing you to choose the model that you like best, independent of whether it is the same manufacturer as the base rack system. In general you have three types of kayak rack options: 1) kayak saddles - carry the kayak laying flat / 2) kayak j-cradles - transport the kayak cradled on its side (great for when you need to carry multiple kayaks because the j-cradles use up less crossbar space than the kayak saddles style) / 3) kayak lift-assisting models - mostly kayak saddles with a rear roller that helps you to more easily load and unload the kayak, however some side-loading options are also available that work with j-cradles etc.

Finally, remember that if you are planning to carry 2 kayaks and selecting two sets of j-cradle style carriers for carrying 2 kayaks then you can go with the normal 48 inch crossbars on the Yakima Control Towers system and the 50 inch load bars with the Thule 460 Podium system (the 2 sets of j-cradles will also work on the RB47 Rapid Aero bars on the 460R Rapid Podium system). However, if you will be selecting two sets of kayak saddle style racks that carry the 2 kayaks laying flat hull side down then you'll need to select the longer 58 inch length load bars with the Thule 460 Podium system and the Yakima Control Towers. You can't use two saddle style kayak racks on the RB47 47" Rapid Aero bars on the 460R Rapid Podium system, as the cross bars are not long enough.