Anyone haul a canoe on their Durango?

[bull]

Maybe this is a long shot but I want to buy and haul a canoe on top of my '03 (with factory racks) but I have no idea what I need for rack attachments. I've seen some canoe pads on Ebay (link below) but I can't tell how they attach. Any suggestions on what you guys use would be appreciated.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Thule-Roof-Rack-Pads-Canoe-Kayak-Pads-515-5031-Set-of-4_W0QQitemZ250231338057QQihZ015QQcategoryZ87089QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Dave22443]

Hi Bull,

  I don't have a Durango, but I have a cap on my Ram that makes it look like a full size Durango.  I have a couple of Kayaks that I like to carry when we go camping, so I went to a salvage yard and aquired a roof rack from a Caravan and bolted it to my cap.  This setup should be very simular to your Durango.

  In my opinion, you don't need those fancy rack attachments and in most cases, they will only bolt to the after market racks designed for them.  All I do is throw the kayaks on the standard roof rack and tie them down with a couple of ratchet straps to the rack itself.  I prefer to carry kayaks and canoes upside down, but sometimes a canoe will hit the roof like that.  If so, its OK to carry them right side up.

  When I had no rack at all, I purchased some inexpensive foam pads designed for it from my local outdoor store.  The are about 18 inches wide, 4 inches deep and 4 inches thick.  One side is curved to contour to the bottom of the kayak or canoe.  The other side is flat with a non-marring pad attached.  Then there is a strap attached to it.  The strap simply wraps around the canoe or kayak and allows you to safely carry your craft on a slick top van, truck or SUV.  You have to use another set of straps to hold this to the vehicle.

Not exactly like these, but you get the drift.  http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-soft-MEGA-ROOF-RACKS-for-SURFBOARDS-MINIMALS-sports_W0QQitemZ370038833112QQihZ024QQcategoryZ71167QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You might also consider something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/1-3-BOARD-SOFT-RACKS-surfboard-longboard-bag-kayak-car_W0QQitemZ350043457893QQihZ022QQcategoryZ114254QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

-d.

[kab69440]

A ratchet strap at each end and one around the center is what secures my 14' Perception to my Cherokee anywhere I go. I can't imagine you'd need any more than that.

[bull]

Thanks. I'll probably have to get something up there to keep the canoe level. The keel (I guess that's what you call it) on those things comes to a point so unless I carry it upside down it will need a pad of some sort. I saw some roller things that I like for the back so you can get it up top easier. Those canoes can get pretty heavy can't they?