Has anyone here car topped a canoe yet? I am sold on the HHR but for one thing. I take my canoe out alot in the summer and need to figure out if the HHR can do the job. I am currently using the old foam block method on my 99 Ford Contour. It works okay but over time it dulls the paint under the blocks. I really like the HHR but haven't figured out how I would strap a canoe on. Where can you attach strapping or hooks to this car? Everything under the bumpers looks like plastic attached to plastic.

The only roof rack that looks like it might work is a permanent, screwed on track system. Do I really want to do that to this car? One aftermarket maker says they need a test car to work with before they can even start to tinker with a clip system.

Thanks for any input you could provide.

 

There are aftermarket cross beams for the stock roof rack option that you can put a canoe on.

http://www.awesomebargainz.com/produ..._id=8069046352

 

My question is, knowing how ....ummmm.......sensitive the sheet metal is, how much can you really carry on the roof even with crossbars?

 

No more than 150 pounds according to Chevy HHR owners manual section 2-46.

 

I just drop mine off this morning at the dealership because the crome racks had discoloring on them and they were loose where it bolts to the roof. They just called and it's off to the body shop. The racks are bolted from the top down using nut surts. The nut surts are spinning so they can't unbolt it to remove them, not a good sign. We will see in a few days.

 

how long is your canoe? i have stuck my kayak inside several times, and it's 9 1/2 feet long. it's very tight, maybe 1/2 inch of play between the windshield and the back, but it works. i also used the block method on my old car, but i honestly don't want to on my hhr.
give it a try if your canoe is short enough...

 

there is a crossbar system made by Thule and they are good systems. what i am not sure of is the roof rails on the HHR and how strong they are.

here is the link for the HHR. the price is $192 for the 4 holders and the 2 cross bars arms but i guarantee they would be strong

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/fg_c...ption_number=1

 

I just bought the Thule system this week for my kayak, but with all the monster rain up here in New England right now, I have yet to carry anything up there.

I was really concerned about the stock side rails, so instead of attaching the crossbars to the center piece of the stock rails I slid them all the way onto the 'feet'. They seem to be a lot stronger that way.

Once this rain lets up I will let you all know how they work.

-Saint

 

My canoe is 14' 10" long almost the exact same as the HHR. I went over to my dealer the other day and played around with the roof some. I was very concerned about the strength up there. When straping down a canoe you need to use quite a bit of force to hold the thing down. Thats on top of the 60 lb. of the canoe itself. If you get stuck behind a semi your going to get some wicked buffeting that can really scare ya. I really don't like the feel of the factory rails. I cannot imagine them holding up on a washboard road or a bad pothole. I may just wait a little while till some better after market racks come out.

 

I'm hoping to get mine back today. It's been in the shop sence Tuesday of last week for the roof rack issue. The feet were loose on the top, and the crome had spots. It had to go to a body shop because the nutsert was spinning on the top, so they could not get the old rack off. I hope they do a good job!