: So you wanted to take the most fuel-efficient, aerodynamic vehicle and drop
: its mileage by putting a roof rack on it to stir up the air, huh?!
: hehehe Actually, I considered doing the same thing. The Insight was high
: on my list, too, but I opted for a turbodiesel VW Golf instead. I get
: 50+mpg on the highway (at real 70mph highway speeds, too!) without the
: rack, but when I bolt on my Thule rack, with fairing and no kayak on it
: even, it drops the mileage down to 45mpg under the exact same driving
: conditions.

: Before committing to building a 3-piece kayak, though, consider a few other
: options: 1) There's the good ol' foam V-blocks and straps -- not quite as
: rock-solid as a rack, but not bad. You could even try those inflatable
: multi-purpose roof racks.

: 2) I forget who it was, but someone within the last week posted a picture of
: his custom roof rack that clamped in the door openings. Just coat the
: metal straps that clamp in the door openings with Plast-I-Dip so that you
: don't mar your new car's finish.

: 3) A trailer. It may sound goofy for an Insight, and there may not even be
: hitches available for them, but you can get really light-weight trailers
: for hauling kayaks. I once saw one being pulled by a VW Westfalia van, so
: that they could still use the pop-up camper. It was basically a tubular
: T-shaped frame with coil-over shocks and motorcycle wheels. Very light and
: very slick. If I had a real house of my own with a place to store a
: trailer (I live in a 'togetherment'), I'd have one like that just so that
: I wouldn't have to load and unload the kayak every time -- just hook up
: the trailer and go.

: 4) Here's another idea if you can get a hitch receiver mounted (and I think
: they can mount recievers to any car): build a cradle that mounts into the
: receiver. Have someone take a piece of square tubing that fits in the
: receiver, mitre it at 45*, weld it to another tube that goes straight up
: to just above the roofline of your car, and weld a V-shaped piece of steel
: on top. I'm sure that could be done pretty cheap. Just pad the V, use a
: V-shaped piece of foam on the roof, and strap it down. If you want to get
: fancy, have them make the large vertical post out of 2 pipes, one over the
: other so that you can adjust the height. This custom support would be
: easily removeable, and you'd still have the good aerodynamics of a smooth
: roof when you're not toting the kayak.

: Dean

I was at a LL. Bean symposium back in "92" and saw a set up someone had made for their rag top Miata?, (little sport car). He had stainless steel tabs bolted into the joints of the front and rear hoods that projected above the car surface so an independent kayak rack could be attached with pins through the stainless tabs. Pretty slick. The tabs were not very visible.

Since your car is so small I doubt there is a hitch made for it, but try to find out if there is. Don't stop with U-Haul but check with a big RV dealer since they install a lot of hitches. I couldn't find a hitch for my old Accord wagon until I checked with the local RV dealer. He found only four left in the country so I was lucky to get one.

You may or may not, be able to have a welder adapt a hitch for you but you'll have to find some guy who works out of his house. Any welding shop won't make a hitch for you because regular hitches have to pass regs and be state certified.

If you can get a hitch, be aware the trailer/rack set up will carry a LONG kayak. The rack will have to be high enough for the bow of the kayak to swing over your car trunk or roof if the trailer is a small one. Or, you'll have to get a boat type trailer with a long frame so the kayak racks can be far enough back so the kayak bow is past the back of the car.

I converted my sailboat trailer to use as a utility/kayak trailer. I carry kayaks on my car roof and the trailer at the same time to go to shows. I was surprised at how far back I had to place the kayak racks on the trailer to have the bows clear the back of the station wagon. Fortunately I was able to have the bows of the kayaks on the trailer travel under the sterns of the kayaks on my car roof or I'd have had to have a longer trailer to mount the kayak racks on.

you can see my trailer at: http://www.LaughingLoon.com/trailer.html

A goggle search of "kayak trailers" provides quite a few options also.

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.LaughingLoon.com