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As most Jeep owners will probably tell you, they can be excellent vehicles for handling off-road terrain. But they may not have the most compatible roofs for carrying a kayak.
We’ve researched the best Jeep kayak racks on the market to give you a better idea of what you need to carry a kayak on your Jeep’s next adventure.
Don’t want to read them all? The best one is the Rhino Rack Folding J-Style carrier.
Top 17 Best Jeep Kayak Racks Reviewed
1: Rhino Rack Folding J-Style Kayak Carrier (best for Wrangler)
- Rack type: J cradle
- Compatible with: Wranglers (2012-2022), all crossbars except Thule Aero and Professional
- Weight capacity: 132 pounds
The Rhino Rack Folding J-Style Kayak Carrier is designed with a universal mounting system. This means it can fit almost all types of crossbars but you may need to purchase additional accessories to fit certain crossbars, such as square bars. However, it’s not compatible with Thule’s Aero bars or Professional crossbars.
Remember, you will need to install crossbars to your Jeep Wrangler before you install this kayak rack. It’s also not the cheapest option. But it does include bow and stern straps and padded tie-down straps.
The J-cradles are padded to provide cushioning for your kayak’s hull when in transit.
A great feature of this rack is that it folds down flat, minimizing the additional height on top of your vehicle so you can still drive in low clearance zones, such as your garage.
Pros
- Folds flat for garage clearance
- Padded
- Straps included
Cons
- Not cheap
2: Thule Compass Kayak Carrier (best for Cherokee)
- Rack type: J-style/saddle/stacker
- Compatible with: Cherokee (2014-2022), Grand Cherokee (2012-2022)
- Weight capacity: 75 pounds (one kayak)
The Thule Compass Kayak Rack can be a great kayak carrier if you want the option of carrying more than one kayak at a time. This can carry two kayaks in a stacker mode. Alternatively, you can carry just one kayak either in a J-cradle mode or a saddle mode.
This versatile rack can also be ideal for carrying SUPs in addition to a kayak. But it’s expensive.
It has a universal mounting system to fit all types of crossbars. It also comes with two sets of load straps with Buckle Bumpers for added protection and security.
The kayak has thick rubber saddles to cradle your hull, and padded upright arms to prevent scratches to your hull. The arms fold down when not in use, for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
Pros
- Folding
- Multiple carrying configurations
- Ideal for one or two kayaks
Cons
- Expensive
3: Yakima JayLow Kayak Rack (best for Gladiator)
- Rack type: J-style
- Compatible with: Gladiator (2020-2022), most crossbars
- Weight capacity: 100 pounds (for two kayaks), 80 pounds (single kayak)
The Yakima JayLow Kayak Rack can carry one kayak in a J-cradle configuration or two kayaks in a vertical stacked position.
One of the best features of this kayak carrier is that it folds down. This means when you’re not carrying kayaks on your roof, you can still drive into your garage without having to remove the rack completely each time.
Another good feature of the JayLow is the integrated ramp to make it easier to load your kayak, which can be useful on high vehicles like the Gladiator, Cherokee and Wrangler. However, with a 100-pound capacity, it’s not the best choice if you’re wanting to carry two heavy fishing kayaks.
It’s compatible with most crossbars, so you can install it on most Jeeps depending on the type of crossbars you have installed.
Pros
- Universal fit
- Folding design
- Integrated loading ramp
Cons
- Not great for heavy kayaks
4: Rhino Rack Fixed J-Style Kayak Carrier (best for Compass)
- Rack type: J-style
- Compatible with: Compass (2012-2022), most crossbars
- Weight capacity: 99 pounds
This Rhino Rack Fixed J-Style Carrier has a universal mounting design so it can fit various types of roof rack systems. It features rubber tube padding on the cradles and arms to help protect your kayak from damage while it’s being transported.
This heavy-duty kayak rack can hold up kayaks weighing up to 99 pounds, so it can be ideal for transporting fishing kayaks and other heavy kayaks.
A downside of this rack is that it does not fold down when not in use.
This rack can also be used to trans