Honestly, I've spent way too much time tweaking my setup because I'm always paranoid about gear flying off on the highway. Since the Santa Cruz has a shorter roofline than a full-size truck, you really have to be careful about the leverage a long kayak puts on those bars. I learned the hard way that cheap mounts just dont cut it when youre hitting 70mph against a headwind. I've been using the Malone DownLoader Folding J-Style Universal Car Rack Kayak Carrier for a while now and they're rock solid. For the bed, the AMP Research BedXTender HD Sport Black is a great alternative to the OEM one and fits the tapered bed shape nicely. Just a pro tip: always use bow and stern lines. With the short bar spread on this truck, it's a huge safety necessity imo.

Honestly, if youre worried about the tonneau clearance, Id stick with the Hyundai Santa Cruz Bed Extender Kit even if it costs a bit more. Its designed to flip inside the bed without hitting the rails, so you know it actually fits. For the roof, Ive found the Yakima JetStream Crossbars 50 inch Black to be super reliable and sturdy for heavier loads. Couple those with the Yakima JayLow Kayak Carrier since it has a really solid locking mechanism. My tip is to always check the torque on your crossbar towers after the first 50 miles of driving with the kayaks. Better safe than sorry when it comes to roof loads, and it only takes a second to verify everything is still tight. Those factory rails can be tricky so just stay diligent about checking your gear.

Just saw this thread and wanted to chime in with some technical specs. For the roof, you definitely want to prioritize T-slot compatibility so you can swap accessories easily. I would personally go with the Thule WingBar Edge Black 95cm setup because the aerodynamic profile reduces wind noise significantly on the Santa Cruz unibody frame. For the kayak, the Thule Hull-a-Port XT Kayak Carrier is basically the gold standard since it folds flat when you arent using it. Regarding the bed extender, the factory tonneau is the real bottleneck. The clearance between the side rails is narrower than a standard truck bed, so most universal extenders wont flip properly. Honestly, the Hyundai Santa Cruz OEM Bed Extender is your best bet for perfect fitment with the integrated tracks, but the ReadyRamp Compact Bed Extender is a solid alternative that works well without blocking the tonneau drainage channels.

Congrats on the truck! I've had mine since launch. I'm not 100% sure which exact bed extender works best with that factory tonneau cover tho... I think I heard some people having issues with the clearance. For the roof, IIRC you basically need crossbar kits that clamp onto the integrated rails. It's kinda trial and error with the bed shape, but a universal extender usually does the trick.

Just found this thread and totally agree about the bar leverage. After looking at the market, Rhino-Rack Vortex ROC25 Flush Roof Rack is the best bang for your buck. Quick tip: the Malone Downloader Folding J-Style Kayak Rack has a built-in ramp that makes solo loading way easier. For the bed, try the Lund 601021 Hitch Mounted Load Extender to avoid any clearance issues with the factory tonneau rails.

Building on the earlier suggestion, I've had some real issues finding a bed extender that doesnt feel like a toy. Unfortunately, the factory tonneau rails on the Santa Cruz are a bit of a nightmare for aftermarket compatibility. I ended up getting the ReadyRamp Compact Bed Extender which doubles as a ramp, but the fitment against the tailgate was tight and I had to mod the brackets myself. For the roof, skip the cheap stuff and look at the Kuat Class 4 Kayak Rack... the build quality is way better than those plastic-heavy mounts, tho the price tag hurts a bit. Speaking of DIY, I actually spent the last few days trying to reorganize my entire garage to fit all my gear and it's been a total disaster. I bought this heavy-duty shelving unit that promised a 10-minute assembly but the instructions were basically just a blurry picture of a screw. Ended up with extra parts and a wobbly shelf that I'm too scared to put anything on. It's sitting there next to my lawnmower looking sad. Anyway, definitely double check those rail clearances before you buy anything.