"Doug Jose" wrote in message
. ..
Isn't there an inexpensice way to carry a kayak or two on the factory
roofrack of a Minivan? Are they strong enough?

Depends a lot on your tolerance for uncertainty, anxiety, and for risk to
yourself, to your property, and to your fellow man. .

At the high anxiety end you can ignore the roof rack entirely and use tarp
straps for belly bands over boats propped off the bodywork with foam blocks
or your sneakers. Then stop after every side-gust to retrieve equipment or
boats or to fill out accident forms.

At the low-anxiety-but-not-all-that-expensive end is a Thule or Yakima rack
with cradles or gunnel chocks and well designed tie downs.

I've tried both, and I prefer the latter. With the former, I cringe in
embarrassment at the memory (along with the other stupidities of youth.)
With the latter, I've driven tens of thousands of miles with no more
attention than plucking the tiedowns as part of the routine walkaround.

Take your choice,
Fred Klingener