Canoe mount for 2006 Ford Explorer

[Bronx68]

I have a 2006 Ford Explorer with the two factory installed side rails on the roof. There are no cross members. What is my best low cost solution for adding something to carry a canoe. I would like something that allows for one person loading if possible. I want something the connects to the factory mounted side rails.

[rack_boy]

hiya bronx68. So you have the factory side rails but not the crossbars currently. There is no way around the fact that you have to invest in a multi-purpose base rack system that connects to the Ford Explorer roof rack side rails. You'll then be able to connect the canoe rack to the multi-purpose base rack system crossbars. I recommend going with either the Thule 450 Crossroad roof rack or the Yakima RailGrab roof rack. Both are great options and work exactly the same, by connecting to the 2006 Ford Explorer factory side rails. Then you don't need to spend that much more on the canoe carriers themselves, which attach to the base rack crossbars. Thule Racks offers the Thule 579XT canoe rack while Yakima Racks offers the Yakima Gunwale Bracket canoe rack.

Finally, for making it easy to load the canoe by yourself, you should definitely also get the Thule 854 WaterSlide mat. This attaches to the rear crossbar on either base rack system. Then you lay it flat across the rear of the car roof and down the back of the car. Then you can just lift the front of the canoe up onto the Thule 854 Water Slide and then you can lift the rear of the canoe and slide it onto the canoe rack brackets. The Thule 854 Waterslide protects your car from coming in contact with the canoe and also the mathas a non-slip underside so it wont move while you are sliding the canoe up into position on the canoe rack.