Welcome to the DropRacks Sliding Roof Racks Review by FishingMad. I’m an avid kayak angler who has travelled tens of thousands of kilometres over the past 15 years fishing and filming with my kayak. Today it’s my full-time job covering kayak fishing on my TV show, YouTube channel as well as events and workshops. One question that frequently arises from viewers is “What is the easiest way to transport your kayak”. It’s a great question as there are many products on the market with their own pros and cons around cost, features, ease of use and convenience.
I have owned many kayaks over the years and currently jump between a Hobie Lynx, Outback and Pro Angler 14 which have varying weights and sizes ( shown in table below ). I fish in the bay, offshore, lakes and estuaries and all those places have unique challenges with parking and launching.
This got me into full research mode into available products on the market. Trailers are expensive to purchase and costly with ongoing registration and insurance whilst also requiring space at home to store. Standard roof racks can be awkward to use and place a lot of physical strain on your body. Whilst existing kayak loaders on the market are unreliable, often require assembly per usage and also require physical strain to operate. I was looking for something different and discovered Drop Racks through Roof Racks Galore a sliding roof rack solution that is lowered by unwinding an integrated handle which takes away the physical strain. As shown in the vid below I can load and unload my kayak quickly and with minimal physical impact.
Transporting your kayak is easy with DropRacks, watch this helpful tutorial from FishingMad
Drop Racks can handle up to 75 kilos in weight which is great for a variety of kayaks. For me Drop Racks have added a convince of being able to load my Hobie Lynx and Hobie Outback on my car effortlessly and fish so many systems that I just can’t with my trailer due to limited parking options. I have an impinged vertebrae on my back and the drop racks help to minimise the physical impact whilst loading the yak quickly. I also own a Hobie Pro Angler 14 which works well with the drop racks however I think a yak as heavy is more suited to a kayak trailer.
Here is a guide to weights to popular kayaks used for fishing in Australia
- Hobie Lynx – 20 kilos
- Native Watercraft Slayer 10 – 28 kilos
- Hobie Compass – 31 kilos
- Hobie Passport 12 – 33 kilos
- Hobie Outback – 38 kilos
- Native Watercraft Titan 10.5 – 44kg
- Hobie Pro Angler 12 – 48kg
- Hobie Pro Angler 14 – 55kg
How to use DropRacks
As the video above demonstrates it’s a simple process to load and unload a kayak. The drop racks once fitted are ready to use by pressing a release button, sliding out the arms and unwinding to lower. It’s such a unique product, I have used other kayak autoloaders on the market but they have had limitations either needing to be set up and assembled per every use or they didn’t take away the physical strain of loading a kayak. The design is achieved through a crank mechanism that allows the roof rack to be easily lowered to the side of the vehicle.
DropRacks Installation
Drop Racks are installed and fitted by your local Roof Racks Galore dealership. The installation will be done in 2 phases. First, you will need to visit your local dealer to have your car or 4WD measured for fitting. This is to ensure the rails match your vehicle size and diameter.
If the parts are not already in stock they will generally take 1-3 business days to arrive or be transferred by another Roof Racks Galore dealer. Once they arrive simply book a time to have them installed and fitted by your roof racks galore dealer, which will generally take 2-3 hours. Once fitted allow 15 minutes for the dealer to show you how to use and operate and you can use our video above for a guide.
Drop Rack Accessories
One of the great things about the Drop Racks is they have a T-track system that works with all 3rd party mounts and accessories. My Hobie Lynx has a flat bottom finish so all I needed was a pair of triangular eye bolts however you could get kayak cradles and carriers to match the profile of your kayak. Of course, drop racks are not just limited to kayaks you could use them for bicycles, camping gear, ladders, tools and so much more.
You can purchase a range of 3rd party accessories for yaks, camping gear, bikes, tradie equipment and much more
Who should consider buying Drop Racks?
- If you own a kayak but don’t have room for a trailer
- If you own a kayak and struggle to get the kayak on your roof racks by yourself
- If you want to fish areas that have limited trailer parking
- If you have an injury or physical limitations and need an aid to load a yak
- If you simply want something easy to use, and super convenient.
- If you want an easy way to transport bicycles, camping gear, tradie tools and more
Drop Rack Important notes
- By default, Drop Racks come with a non-slip rubber surface which prevents items from moving or slipping. However, it did make sliding the kayak on and off challenging. I bought a roll of felt adhesive tape from Bunnings which cost $9. It was easy to apply and allowed the kayak to slide on and off effortlessly whilst also protecting the kayaks from any scratches during loading.
- The drop racks initially were a little noisy however the new shims added which now come with the unit by default have made travelling with Drop Racks much quieter.
- If you use ratchet straps to secure your kayak ensure you don’t tighten them too much before sliding the yak up and locking it into place as this can prevent the rails from aligning properly. I tighten the rachet straps once the drop racks are wound all the way up and slid into place.
Where to buy Drop Racks
In Australia, Drop Racks are sold and fitted by Roof Racks Galore. You can visit their website here https://www.roofracksgalore.com.au/drop-racks you can also contact them at their customer service number – 1300 071 264 or email – help@roofracksgalore.com.au.
Thanks for reading the DropRacks Sliding Roof Racks Review by FishingMad. You can follow FishingMad using this product and many others by following our weekly fishing videos here.
