For your situation, I'd highkey suggest looking at the Rhino-Rack Vortex StealthBar Black 2 Bar Roof Rack as a super solid alternative. Honestly, when you're hauling two kayaks and camping gear, SAFETY is everything and you gotta make sure those dynamic weight limits are legit! I've seen too many people trust cheap setups only to have things shift on the highway... literally terrifying. Also, definitely grab some Thule 18-Foot Load Straps for extra peace of mind. They're basically bombproof and keep everything locked down tight. gl with the trip!!

In my experience, you honestly can't go wrong with either, but I've been a die-hard Yakima fan for years! I remember my first big trip in my Journey—we literally loaded up two heavy kayaks and a massive trunk of camping gear. I went with the Yakima JetStream Crossbars 60 inch Black paired with the Yakima TimberLine Towers for Raised Factory Side Rails, and man, it was AMAZING. The aerodynamic shape of those bars is legit; I barely heard any whistling even at 70mph on the highway.

One tip tho: if you're hauling two kayaks, definitely grab the Yakima JayLow Kayak Carrier. It lets you mount them vertically so you still have room for a slim cargo box or extra bags. The Thule stuff is great too, but I feel like the Yakima mounting hardware is just a bit more user-friendly when you're tired at a campsite. Just make sure you double check your torque on the factory rails before you head out... I forgot once and it was stressful lol. GL with the trip! peace

Soo I saw your post and totally get the struggle! I was literally in the same boat last year with my Journey. Honestly, the big brands are amazing but sooo pricey. If youre lookin to save some cash for the actual trip, i'd highly recommend looking at CargoLoc 2-Piece 52-Inch Aluminum Roof Top Cross Bar Set. I picked mine up for like $60 on Amazon and they've been fantastic!!

I mean, are they as fancy as Yakima? Probably not, but for carrying my two kayaks and camping bins, they've held up great. Ngl, they do have a tiny bit of wind noise if you drive like 80mph, but it's nothing a little music can't fix lol. Also, definitely grab some Aura Kayak Roof Rack Pads to protect your boats—theyre super cheap and make a huge difference. Just make sure you tighten everything down twice before you leave... i learned that the hard way! good luck with the adventure!! 👍

Honestly, before you drop a bunch of cash or start bolting stuff on, you really gotta look at the dynamic vs static load ratings for the Journey factory rails. I always do my own installs because I dont trust shops to actually torque the mounting hardware to the exact factory specs. If youre going the DIY route, you need to make sure your crossbar spread is perfectly aligned to handle the length of those kayaks. Even a few millimeters of misalignment can create weird torsional stress when you hit a bump at highway speeds, which is pretty sketch. Basically, are you planning on leaving the rack on all summer or just for the trip? Also, have you calculated the total combined weight of the kayaks plus the mounts and your camping gear? Most factory side rails on these are rated for about 150 lbs, and it adds up way faster than most people realize once you start adding heavy-duty carriers into the mix.

Honestly, I've had some bad luck with those big brands lately. For a heavy load like two kayaks, you gotta look at the aerodynamics cuz the whistling is literally maddening. I tried the Thule WingBar Evo 135 and was kinda disappointed with the noise level on my Journey, tbh. I mean, the T-track is cool for camping gear, but for the price, it felt flimsy. If you're worried about weight, maybe check out the Rhino-Rack Vortex StealthBar Black 2 Bar Roof Rack instead? It sits lower and handles the wind better, ngl. Just make sure you dont exceed the factory rail limit!

Re: "Honestly, before you drop a bunch of cash..." - ohkrvnvnfo is spot on about the factory specs, but honestly, I think people focus way too much on just the crossbars and not the actual carriers! If you're hauling two kayaks plus gear, you're gonna run out of space fast if you just strap them flat.

• I highly recommend the Thule WingBar Edge. It is an amazing integrated system that sits much lower than the standard Evo setup. The aerodynamics are fantastic, so you wont get that annoying whistling on the highway.
• For the kayaks, you really need the Thule Hull-a-Port XT. Because it is a dual position carrier, you can fit two boats on one set of bars or fold it down when you're done. It saves so much room for your camping bins.
• If you want something easier to load by yourself, look at the Malone SeaWing Universal Kayak Saddle. It is basically a low-profile cradle that makes sliding the boats on a breeze. Since you're doing the DIY install, definitely grab a torque wrench. Most people just hand tighten and thats how you end up with gear sliding around at 70mph... definitely not worth the risk!