Learning how to transport a kayak inside an SUV makes life easier for smaller paddlers. It also helps those who don’t want to bother with lifting a kayak to get it on top of a vehicle.
While there are plenty of ways to load kayaks onto a roof rack, loading a kayak into the back of an SUV is fairly simple too. The only problem is that you will have to take care of a few things.
Fortunately, that is exactly what we are going to focus on with this guide. We’ll provide insights on the types of kayaks to load into an SUV. We will also discuss how to transport a kayak inside an SUV safely.
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Let’s get to it!
Can You Transport A Kayak Inside An SUV?
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Yes, you can! It will depend on the size of your kayak and your SUV.
The best type of kayak to transport inside an SUV is an inflatable kayak or a folding kayak. You won’t have to fold the seats down and you’ll still have plenty of room for passengers and other kayaking gear.
That said, smaller kayaks can also be transported in an SUV. However, you would have to address safety concerns. Your kayak might stick out from the back of your SUV.
In addition, you will almost always need to fold down the back seats of an SUV to safely transport a kayak inside. If folding down the rear seats of your SUV is difficult, you might look into a kayak trailer instead.
How To Pick The Right Kayak For Your SUV?
Depending on the size of your SUV and the type of paddling you do, there are different types of kayaks that may be ideal for you. Let’s start by discussing each of them:
Shorter Kayaks
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Shorter rigid kayaks may fit into some SUVs and still allow you to close the back hatch or trunk door. That said, even the shortest kayaks are usually about six feet long. This means you will have to fold down the front passenger seat to fit them completely.
This is practical if you use your kayak once or twice a month. Also, it won’t work if you are bringing a small kayak to the beach along with your family (or anyone else for that matter).
There simply won’t be any room leftover in your SUV for passengers with a small kayak loaded inside. Plus, you’ll need to consider the amount of space you need for kayaking accessories and safety equipment.
Of course, you can transport a shorter kayak inside your SUV while still leaving the back hatch or trunk door open. We’ll get more into how to secure a kayak when you use this strategy later.
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend that at least half of your kayak fits inside your SUV if you are going to transport it with the trunk open. Ensure that about two-thirds of your kayak fits inside your SUV so that only the remaining third is sticking out.
This will ensure that the majority of the kayak’s weight is supported by your vehicle. You will also have to consider how to secure your kayaking gear if you are transporting a kayak with the trunk open.
As you can see, this will limit the length of kayak you can transport in your SUV. If, for example, the rear area of your SUV (with the seats folded down) is approximately five feet long, you should only transport a kayak with a length of 10 feet or less.
Also Read: Best 2-Kayak Roof Racks
Folding Kayaks
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The best folding kayaks are perfect for SUVs or smaller sedans. They can fold up easily and fit naturally into the trunk of your vehicle.
You will also be able to keep the full seating capacity of your vehicle instead of folding down the back seats. These kayaks are better for groups or families that don’t necessarily want to bother with a roof rack. Even for those who take many vehicles every time they go to the water.
Inflatable Kayaks
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The best inflatable kayaks provide the same benefits as folding kayaks. They can be completely deflated into a compact package when you aren’t using them. This way, you can store all your gear and passengers inside your SUV without folding the seats down.
Inflatable kayaks and folding kayaks also boast similar setup times when you arrive at the water. Keep in mind that you will need a high-quality electric pump to help you inflate one of these kayaks if you don’t want to do it by hand.
A Note On Performance
One of the biggest knocks on folding and inflatable kayaks is that they don’t maneuver as well as their rigid counterparts. This can be true, but it depends on the exact rigid kayak and folding or inflatable kayak that you are comparing.
More innovative companies have brought new folding and inflatable kayaks to market. This has led to having more choices that perform similarly (or in some cases better) to a comparable hard-sided kayak.
If you want to maximize storage space in your SUV and you are mainly interested in recreational paddling, folding or inflatable kayaks would be a better choice for you.
How To Secure A Kayak Inside An SUV?
If you do decide to transport a smaller kayak inside an SUV and leave the rear trunk open, it’s important that you secure both your kayak and your rear door properly.
Let’s talk about how to do that!
Find Anchor Points inside Your SUV
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For starters, you need to find solid points inside your SUV to which you can attach a strap. These points should never be made of plastic. They should be strategically placed so that you can pull the weight of your kayak down and forward.
Ideally, you can find metal D-rings or hooks that are welded into the frame of your SUV’s trunk. Most SUVs are equipped with these types of rings for this specific purpose (or for securing other heavy items). You shouldn’t have to search high and low to find them.
The key will be to identify these points before you load your kayak into the trunk of your SUV. That way, you can line up the anchor points on your SUV with the anchor points on your kayak.
For reference, we’ve included a photo of what the D-rings in your SUV may look like above.
Find Proper Anchor Points on Your Kayak
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Before you load your kayak in, you may want to identify a couple of anchor points on your kayak as well. These should look like the D-ring anchor tethers you should find inside the trunk of your SUV.
Your main goal will be to tighten the straps you run over the top of your kayak down enough so that it can’t shift while you are driving. That said, you can also strategically use anchor points built into the kayak to keep it from sliding forward or backward.
Make sure you consider that your kayak can move in all directions depending on what happens while you’re driving. Naturally, the primary concern for some is their kayak sliding out the back of their SUV.
It’s just as likely for your kayak to slide forward while you are driving. Most of us often brake more quickly than we speed up. In fact, there’s an argument that it’s more likely for your kayak to slide forward than it is to go the opposite direction.
If you are working with one of the best sit on top kayaks, you can also consider using the scupper holes as anchor points. These are great for strapping your kayak down. They also help keeping it from sliding but, unfortunately, they aren’t available on all types of kayaks.
For others, look for those D-rings or other handles that are riveted or bolted into the polyethylene material of the kayak.
Put Seats Down and Load Your Kayak In
Now that you know where you are going to place your straps, go ahead and fold those back seats down and load your kayak in. Do your best to align those anchor points in your trunk to the ones you will use on your kayak. This will ensure your strap will secure accordingly.
Most people load their kayaks into their trunks face down. However, you may find that the opposite (or a slightly angled approach) works best for your vehicle. If, for example, the anchor points you want to use are on top of your kayak, you can place it in face-up.
Use Cam Straps To Keep Kayak From Sliding
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Many people think that ratchet straps are the way to go for securing things to your vehicle. However, they aren’t necessary for kayaks. Cam straps are both more affordable, and easier to use when securing a kayak down.
When you are setting up your cam straps, be careful. Do it in a way that it makes it easy to tighten them up once you thread the strap through the cam buckle. For instance, it is never ideal to have to push away from your body when tightening down your cam straps.
Learning how to make a daisy chain with any leftover cam strap length is a great way to keep excess from flapping around and getting caught while transporting kayaks. It’ll impress your beginner kayaking friends every time you take them out for a trip.
Check out this quick video on how to make a daisy chain with a cam strap.
Secure Your Rear Hatch/Door
Once you have secured your kayak down and you’ve tested that it won’t move, it’s time to close the rear door. You can hatch on your vehicle as far as it will go until it makes contact with your kayak.
Then, you can use another cam strap to secure the door instead of driving with it completely open. The best anchor points for doing this will be the inside handle on the door itself. The D-shaped latch that usually holds your door in place when it is closed, will also help.
Cam straps are great for this because they will naturally allow your door to bounce slightly with the bumps on the road. This helps to prevent damage to the door or to the anchor point to which you attach it.
The only additional thing to consider is the point where your door makes contact with your kayak. You may consider using a towel or thin foam to pad this area to prevent damage to your kayak. Make sure whatever you use won’t move and blow away as you are driving.
Alert Other Drivers
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The last thing you should do when transporting a kayak that’s sticking out of the back of your SUV is to attach a bright signal flag to alert other drivers. This is a technique that should be used whenever you are transporting anything that sticks out past the rear bumper of your vehicle.
While it may not completely prevent other drivers from striking a kayak that’s sticking out of your vehicle’s hatch, it will help you alert other drivers. Many states legally require that a flag or handkerchief be attached to towing or transported items that stick out behind your vehicle.
So, even if it doesn’t prevent an accident, it will help you cover all of your bases from a legal perspective.
Is It Legal To Drive With The Trunk Open?
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If you have been driving long enough, the odds are pretty good that you have seen someone going down the road with their trunk open. While it is illegal to drive with your trunk open if you have no purpose, most states allow it if it’s clear that you are doing so to transport a longer item.
You should have no legal issue with this method of kayak transportation as long as you alert other drivers. Also take the necessary precautions to strap your kayak down securely.
That being said, it doesn’t hurt to check the local traffic rules and regulations for your area. These rules can sometimes vary significantly from state to state. Travelers will also need to check in advance of moving into a new state if transporting a kayak in this manner.
For those that live close to state lines, it will be beneficial to know the regulations in both states so that you don’t risk getting pulled over. You simply attempt to get your kayak back to its natural habitat – the water!
Final Thoughts
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As you can see, it is possible to transport a kayak inside an SUV. However, you will be limited to the size and type of kayak that you can fit inside your specific SUV. It may compromise your ability to transport passengers and/or gear at the same time.
That is why you see many experienced kayakers with multiple racks of different styles on top of their SUVs. The good part with an SUV is that you don’t have to lift your kayak as high as you would if you were loading it onto a truck.
Plus, there are some easy loading kayak rack options that can take some of the weight and make lifting your kayaks onto the roof easier. So transporting a kayak inside an SUV is only best for inflatable and folding kayaks.
While it’s possible for shorter kayaks, we wouldn’t recommend it if you plan to transport a kayak more than once or twice a month. As you gain experience, you are going to need an easier solution.
We hope you’ve found these tips useful as you decide on the best transportation solution for your kayak.
Happy kayaking!
