MaloneJ-Pro 2 J-Style Universal Car Rack Kayak Carrier with Bow and Stern Lines

Bought two sets from Amazon. Just made our first 6 hour road/camping trip with these so I can now leave a review. They worked very well for our Mustang kayaks on our Lexus SUV, no issues whatsoever. Here are a few tips I would offer to anyone considering these:One, I added an extra ratchet strap over the middle (from rail to rail) just as an added safety. This probably wasn't necessary, but I've always been more of a fan of ratchet straps than the red lashing straps included. That being said, the included straps are very well made.Two, for the front line I used some 12" slings around the hood hinges (an old car mount trick from the film industry, open the hood, capture the hinges with a strap, shut the hood and use each end as attach points). I used one of the black and red lines included to ratchet the fronts of the kayaks (through a sling on each) down for stability (as opposed to going around the bumper, letting lines wear on the paint, etc.).Three, didn't use any back lines at all because I don't see the need. That also allowed me to open the back hatch (with about three inches of clearance) which is really convenient if you've got a full load on a road trip.Four - and this is more important, I think - before I ordered these I had to install cross bars. I ended up ordering a more expensive set from an online Lexus dealer, as opposed to some knock off, etc., and I'm glad I did. The Toyota/Lexus bars are curved with the contours of the roof, and there wasn't much extra space to attach the nuts to the shorter bolts (longer ones obviously wouldn't have worked at all). Without that curvature, in other words, it would have been REALLY tight against the roof.Five, just a tip: I use a towel on the roof that I can slide across for the opposite side. It can be a little tricky attaching the nuts to the bolts (there's a learning curve) and I'm a little sensitive about scratching up the roof, even with plastic coated deals. It's an easy extra step, just an anal safety measure.Sorry for the lengthy review. Bottom line, well made racks that do the trick. I suspect they're probably worth the extra money, compared to the cheaper knock offs being pumped out from wherever. Good quality control from Malone.Anyway, the kayaks were absolutely rock solid.

Very easy to install and of the highest quality materials.

I purchased a set of Malone J Pro 2 kayak Carriers and a different brand for $10 cheaper. Both pair work well and are similar. I only used them once and drove about 5 miles on back roads to my location and 5 miles back to my house. I drove about 60 mph and felt no shifting or bouncing or annoying noises. I couldn't tell anything was on the roof of my RAV4 and both work great and are well priced. Putting the wing nuts on and installing them to the car rack can be a little tedious, but for the price I don't mind.With thats said, I wish I would have purchased two sets of Malone for a variety of reasons:1. They look better and I think will hold up better over time. The other have rubber pads and the malone are a vinyl padded covering.2. Malone came with instructions and the other had instructions online. This isn't a big deal except that I don't have a printer at my house and I like to keep a hard copy.3. The instructions for the Malone were much better. They even show how to tie the knot that goes from the ends of the kayak to the vehicle. This is very helpful because just any knot will "not" do and we are "not" all boy scouts.4. This doesn't sound like much but because the Molone straps are cut on an angle at the end, they are MUCH easier to thread through the buckle. Trying to get the other brand's straps through was a pain and I will be cutting them and burning the ends so they don't fray. Not something I should have to do.I will be keeping both set and am comfortable carrying my kayaks with them, but Malone just seemed to think of the little things that makes the job easier. I have no experience with the more expensive ones so I cannot compare.

Well made and great straps. Does the job

I installed this on my square Thule crossbars to haul a 14 foot kayak from upstate New York to seacoast New Hampshire. Right out of the box, the finish of the product was impressive. The attention to detail that went into the design (from the protective leather on the buckles to the taper of the mounting points) was evident. Installation was quick and easy.Getting the kayak into place and adjusting the straps took a little practice, but once I got it right, everything locked down tight. I took it for a drive without the bow and stern lines in place and nothing moved, even at highway speeds. Not wanting to press my luck, I used the lines for the 7 hour interstate drive and checked the straps at each pit stop. The lines became a little slack as they stretched under pressure (and first use) but the straps were as tight at the end of the journey as at the start.As other reviewers have noted, a second set of straps in place of the bow and stern lines may provide the redundancy to ensure peace of mind. However, right out of the box this is a great kayak carrier at a reasonable price.

Fit well with Malone cross bars and was sturdy. A few dollars less expensive than retail stores. I probably did not need it but I purchased a set of 4 ratchet tie downs to go with the straps just to make sure it was secure. You need knot tying skills for bow and stern tie down. It would be nice if theses were ratchet type. Went 60 mph on the highway for about 60 minutes both way with no issues. Bought two pairs for two kayaks and plan to use it a couple times a month. Really easy to install on cross bars.

Mistake was made when putting up a review! IN no way was it intended for this purchase. We are delighted with our above purchase. Very well make, strong and we have no concerns traveling with our kayak! These are the ones to buy! By pass the others and buy these.

These Malone racks fit perfectly on my Malone trailer, they come with two sizes of bolts. Using the old brackets that were attached to the trailer the racks fit perfectly, and the red lettering match the trailer as well. My only regret is I didn’t buy two sets.

Been using these for 2 summers now. Very pleased.

Excellent product.