Roof rack - Toyota Sienna LE
 

I just got a Sienna minivan and when I save up some money for gas I
hope to carry my Old Town Pack ( 12 foot - 33 Lb ) canoe to the lake.
I am looking for brackets that will mount on the rails to keep the
canoe from sliding side to side. The rail shape is NOT round or square,
it's () , turn 90 Deg. Toyota parts said that they don't have any
accessories for these rails.

Another problem is the front tie down! They don't have a bummper up
front. Only plastic parts, that would bend if I tried to wrap a rope
over them to get to the underside. So I plan on two wide side to side
straps around the middle of the canoe to the roof rack, two short
straps from the rear of the canoe to the roof rack, to keep it from
sliding back, and maybe a tie from the back to the tow bar reciver.

Any ideas ?

Bob ( who is ready to go canoeing )

I've got a Sienna and I fitted it out with some Thule brackets and
crossbars. The brackets fit nicely over the factory rails. I tie the bow and
stern ropes off to the tow hooks under the front and rear bumpers. I have
not noticed any deformation in either of the bumpers because of this.

"Bob" wrote in message
ups.com...
I just got a Sienna minivan and when I save up some money for gas

LOL....just finished shopping for minivans myself, and I know what you're
saying there! Everyone said the Sienna's are great, but we decided to go
with a Chevy Venture so that we could actually afford to go places after we
pay it off. :-)

I
hope to carry my Old Town Pack ( 12 foot - 33 Lb ) canoe to the lake.
I am looking for brackets that will mount on the rails to keep the
canoe from sliding side to side. The rail shape is NOT round or square,
it's () , turn 90 Deg. Toyota parts said that they don't have any
accessories for these rails.

There are several options. If your canoe's tied down properly, shouldn't
need anything to keep it from sliding side to side on your rack. That's the
cheapest option.

If that makes you nervous, the most expensive option is Yakima or Thule
gunwhale brackets--you'd need to check if any sort of adaptor would be
needed to mount them on your factory bars. A somewhat cheaper alternative is
the Riverside cartopper blocks--they make a set with a slot to accomodate
your standard elliptical factory rack bar.
http://www.rei.com/category/4501512.htm (if you've already got tiedown
straps you're happy with, you can get just the blocks). The cheaper-still
alternative would be to make something yourself similar to the Riverside
blocks out of closed cell foam.

Another problem is the front tie down! They don't have a bummper up
front. Only plastic parts, that would bend if I tried to wrap a rope
over them to get to the underside. So I plan on two wide side to side
straps around the middle of the canoe to the roof rack, two short
straps from the rear of the canoe to the roof rack, to keep it from
sliding back, and maybe a tie from the back to the tow bar reciver.

I highly recommend reading both "cartopping your canoe" and "more cartopping
tips" at http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/, and look at the various setups
for front and rear tiedowns. Remember that you have to worry not only about
keeping it from sliding back when you're moving forward, but from sliding
forward when you're braking.

I am looking for brackets that will mount on the rails to keep the
canoe from sliding side to side. The rail shape is NOT round or square,
it's () , turn 90 Deg.

Sounds like Yakima Mighty Mounts might work. You buy the size that fits the
Sienna's bar. They are really made for attaching bike racks, etc. to oval
bars, but I use a pair on my front bar to keep the canoe straight, and to be
able to snug it up with the bow line. They function like cheap gunwale
brackets. I think the correct type is called a vertical Mighty Mount. They
stick up above the bar an inch or two. My rack is only wide enough so that I
can do this with a solo
canoe, width 30". I pad the Mighty Mounts a little, to protect the
gunwales.

Another problem is the front tie down! They don't have a bumper up
front. Only plastic parts, that would bend if I tried to wrap a rope
over them to get to the underside.

To tie the bow line off, with no real front bumper, people mount short loops
of straps that stick out from inside the engine compartment, between the
hood and fender on each side.
I've seen them sold commercially at Canoecopia.

Jim

Another problem is the front tie down! They don't have a bumper up
front. Only plastic parts, that would bend if I tried to wrap a rope
over them to get to the underside.

To tie the bow line off, with no real front bumper, people mount short
loops
of straps that stick out from inside the engine compartment, between the
hood and fender on each side.
I've seen them sold commercially at Canoecopia.

Jim

Ketter Canoeing in Minneapolis also sells the straps your talking about.
They work great.

Bob here.
Thanks for all the help!

I got a set of Mighty Mounts 10V, 4 5/16 x 2" SS bolts, 8 SS washers, 4
Locking nuts, 4 1 1/2 rings. I put the rings in the center of the
mounts, bolt-washer-mount-ring-mount-washer-nut now I use a caribener
(sp) on one end of the line, run the other end through the ring on the
other side and use a trucker knot.
Bow line:
I put a gromets in a piece of webbing and use a nut and bolt in a
unused hole on the bracket under the hood.
Stern line:
Tied canoe to the trailer chain tiedown.

Any one wants to see pictures let me know.

Anyhow the first test of 65 mph it didn't fly off.

Thanks again
Bob

Bob wrote:
I just got a Sienna minivan and when I save up some money for gas I
hope to carry my Old Town Pack ( 12 foot - 33 Lb ) canoe to the lake.
I am looking for brackets that will mount on the rails to keep the
canoe from sliding side to side. The rail shape is NOT round or
square,
it's () , turn 90 Deg. Toyota parts said that they don't have any
accessories for these rails.

Another problem is the front tie down! They don't have a bummper up
front. Only plastic parts, that would bend if I tried to wrap a rope
over them to get to the underside. So I plan on two wide side to side
straps around the middle of the canoe to the roof rack, two short
straps from the rear of the canoe to the roof rack, to keep it from
sliding back, and maybe a tie from the back to the tow bar reciver.

Any ideas ?

Bob ( who is ready to go canoeing )