2004 Acura RSX 2-Door Roof Rack Kayak Carrier - how to select kayak roof racks for a 2004 Acura RSX 2Dr with bare rooftop

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Posted: 6/10/2011

Question: I'm trying to figure out how to select the correct car rack crossbars system for my 2004 Acura RSX that is a 2-door model. I want to then mount a kayak rack to the crossbars. What are your recommendations? Thanks.

Answer: As of this writing (6/10/2011), we recommend the following solutions for a 2004 Acura RSX 2Dr roof kayak rack...

You'll need to first install a multi-purpose base rack system on the 2004 Acura RSX car top. With the general purpose roof rack in place, you can then attach the kayak carrier to the crossbars. From Yakima Racks you can use the Yakima Q Towers roof rack system (includes a set of four Q Towers, two pairs of Q83 clips and a pair of 48” cross bars with end caps). Likewise, Inno Racks offers the IN-SU roof rack base system (includes four Inno IN-SU Stays, set of Inno K258 Hooks and a pair of B127 50” cross bars with end caps; locks are also included with this system). Thule Racks does not have a compatible roof rack system for this vehicle. Both are easy systems to install and include very easy to follow instructions. Helpful videos also included on each product page.

Because your 2004 Acura RSX 2-door has a short roof line, you will also need to use a short roof adapter kit in combination with the roof rack system. A short roof adapter kit is necessary on vehicles with short roof lines and effectively increases the distance between the front and rear cross bars, creating a safe foundation for attaching any gear carriers, including kayak racks, and securely transporting any items. The Yakima Q Stretch Kit Short Roof Adapter is the component you will use in combination with the Yakima Q Towers roof rack system. The Inno IN-JK Joint Bars Short Roof Adapter Kit is required for use with the Inno IN-SU car rack system.

With any of these base racks installed as a 2004 Acura RSX 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.