Car top rack upside down or right side up

I've carried the majority of my kayaks upside down on Yakima bars with no padding with no ill effect.  The only exception to this is the Predators, which with the seat "bumps" can't really fit upside down.  This covers all the Ocean kayak models, Malibu XFactors and Pro2, and even other models when carrying friend kayaks (Hobies mainly).  No denting, no scuffing, nothing.  With that experience, I'm not convinced that padding is even necessary.

-Allen

I'm hoping the members that come out to play in the bay next month might look at what I'm talking about and give me some solid advice.

I had similar denting issues on my Outback with the yakima saddles and rollers. I went back to upside down on the cross bars. I see a trailer in the near future. Car toping on the canopy of a 4x4 truck is getting to be a pain.

I wonder if those cordura-covered surfboard protectors would do the trick? Do you know if the foam inside of this is tough enough to stand up to a heavy kayak?

I don't know.  Try it out and give us a report.  If the cordura attaches around the foam with Velcro, if the foam eventually poops out, you can easily replace it with new foam.

Just completed my first weekend (2 trips) with the surfboard-style pads on the front and rear horizontal racks on my trailer. I LOVE IT. I've been carrying my big huge heavy tandem right-side-up on a cradle, and I could never get it solid and it was making (temporary) dents in the bottom. I saw SamM's trailer at the bass tourney (he has the same boat) and he had his upside down. The Oasis travels much better upside down. I had zero problems this way and before I could barely make it out of my potholed neighborhood without pulling over to re-tighten straps.

I don't have any info on longevity yet, but per the above poster maintenance on the pads doesn't sound too hard. My front pads are Rack Attack branded (already had) and the rear pads are Thule branded (new). I hate to be a brand-whore but the Thule ones seem tougher and denser so far (they oughta be for how much they cost!).

I'll get some pictures up eventually... I'm going to post a trailer build thread later at some point.

Thanks all for the suggestions/information.

Thanks for all the posts I got the saddles adjusted better now, we will see bT I'm looking at adding another yak so two won't work if there not upside down or on there sides.