[FlyinRyan]

Anyone know if I can use the tow fittings on the front and rear of the vehicle for kayak tie downs when mounting a kayak to a roof rack? I know the owner's manual says "Avoid lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g., do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting." Well, the forces I would put on these would be much less than actually lifting the vehicle. This would be great to avoid any body damage from the tie down ropes. Thanks for any advice.

[Brit H]

If you're using roof racks you should tie down the kayak to the roof racks around the body of the kayak. You don't need to tie down the tips of your kayak. If you aren't using roof racks and using foam pads, you'll need to have two points at the front and back to tie the kayak down. The tie downs are off to the side and can't be used exclusively.

[FlyinRyan]

Good to know. I have a roof rack and was told I would need to do both. I'll do a little more research.