Which roof racks fit the Buick Encore GX best for kayaks?

Question

Hey everyone! I recently picked up a Buick Encore GX, and while I absolutely love the ride and the compact size for city driving, I’m running into a bit of a dilemma now that kayak season is around the corner. I have two 12-foot wilderness systems kayaks that I need to transport, but I’m a little nervous about finding the right rack setup given the GX's relatively short roofline and the specific flush side rails it comes with.

I’ve been looking at a few different options, but I’m torn. I’m wondering if I should stick with the official Buick crossbars or if I’d be better off going with something like a Thule or Yakima system. My main concern is stability at highway speeds; since the Encore GX is a smaller crossover, I want to make sure the weight distribution is okay and that the kayaks won't feel like they're catching too much wind or shifting around because the bars are too close together.

Budget-wise, I’m hoping to stay under $600 for the whole setup if possible, but I’m willing to invest a bit more if it means better security for my boats. I’m also curious if anyone has had issues with the sunroof clearance when the clamps are attached. It looks pretty tight up there!

Has anyone here successfully mounted a pair of kayaks on their GX? If so, which specific crossbars and J-cradles or saddles did you find provided the sturdiest fit for this specific vehicle shape? I’d really appreciate any advice or photos of your setups before I pull the trigger on a purchase!

ylrvglwtfo · Accepted Answer

Just sharing my experience: I went through this exact same struggle with my GX last year! Honestly, I was sooo worried about that short roofline too. I've been hauling gear for over a decade, and the flush rails on the Buick definitely present a technical challenge when you're trying to keep things stable at 70mph without breaking the bank.

I looked at the high-end stuff, but since I wanted to stay under that $600 mark, I ended up going a different route than the Thule Raise Evo mentioned earlier. I found that the Yakima JetStream Crossbars 50 inch paired with the Yakima SightLine Towers for Flush Rails actually gave me a really solid base for way less than I expected if you catch them on sale.

Here’s how my setup looked:
* Base: Yakima SightLine Towers - these sit low and didn't mess with my sunroof clearance at all, which was a huge relief.
* Load: Two 12ft boats using the Malone DownLoader Folding J-Style Universal Car Rack Kayak Carrier.
* Security: I always add the Yakima SKS Lock Cores 4-Pack for peace of mind when grabbing post-paddle burgers.

Basically, I spent around $550 total by shopping around. My biggest lesson learned? Bow and stern lines are LITERALLY non-negotiable on the GX because the bar spread is so narrow. Without them, 12-footers act like giant sails. It feels a bit sketchy at first, but with the right tension, it’s actually super sturdy! Good luck with the new ride! 👍

iokexivoig · Answer

Respectfully, I'd consider another option because standard j-cradles on that short GX roofline can be super unstable at highway speeds. Ngl, I've seen too many boats shimmy in the wind when the bar spread is that narrow.

1. **Skip the J-hooks:** Go with a saddle system like the Yakima DeckHand Kayak Saddle instead. It keeps the center of gravity lower which is huge for safety.
2. **Heavy duty bars:** I actually suggest the Yakima JetStream Crossbars 50 inch over the OEM ones cuz they're way stiffer.

Seriously, use bow and stern tie-downs or you're gonna regret it haha. gl!

rtrhrqxgjx · Answer

Sooo I actually went through this exact same headache with my GX last year! Basically, because the roofline is so short, the spread between your bars is gonna be narrow, which makes 12-foot boats feel kinda sketchy if you don't have the right gear.

In my experience, you should definitely skip the OEM bars and go with the Thule WingBar Evo 118 paired with the Thule Raise Evo feet. Honestly, the extra width and the way they clamp onto those flush rails is way more secure at highway speeds. For the boats, I'm super happy with the Thule Hull-a-Port XT Kayak Rack because it's a folding J-style, so you can fit two boats side-by-side easily.

Here's what I recommend for stability:
- Use the Thule WingBar Evo 118 for a wider, more stable base than the factory bars.
- Get the Thule Hull-a-Port XT Kayak Rack since it handles two kayaks perfectly.
- ALWAYS use bow and stern tie-downs... seriously, on a small car like the GX, it keeps the wind from lifting the nose of the kayaks.

Also, clearance is tight but the Thule Raise Evo feet give just enough lift that the sunroof vents without hitting the clamps. It's a bit over $600 total, but for 12-footers, the peace of mind is worth it tbh!! 👍