ccool

Are there bow or stern tie-downs on Audio 2015 Q5? I'll be on the highway and I want to make sure the kayak is secure. I have factory racks and Thule Hulaport racks (J racks).

Warhead

Not quite a Kayak but here is my canoe mounted up on my 16 Q5. I used 4 straps to tie it down (15.5ft 81lb canoe) on top of the oem roof rails. some people have gone under the hood of the car and gone off the strut tower brace. to get that nice "V" pattern. and if you have a hitch on the car you can make a bar to lay horizontal and have a mounting point on each end to achieve the desired "V" pattern in the rear. Other then that I am unsure of how else to mount the Kayak.



here is my 15.5ft canoe on OEM racks and with 4 ratchet straps.



you can see here that I tied from the front back to the roof rail. (same thing on the rear)

Redd

Short answer: What warhead did.

There *are* some sort of clip straps that slip in between the hood and fender up front, but I'd worry about that chafing the paint in that joint. The folks who use them SWEAR there is no such problem.

And IF you remove the trim around the right fog light, there's a socket to screw in a towing hook, so you could dig out your towing hook and insert that there, or buy an extra one online (cheap enough). Of course, your tie-down line could chafe against the nose of the car.

Then in the rear, if you don't have a factory towing hitch, there's a similar socket behind a pop-out panel. But you'll need to buy a second towing hook if you want to use both front and rear, and if you have a factory hitch? They delete the rear socket.

Bottom line, buy a Jeep.(VBG)

I think Warhead's approach, with careful use of GOOD ratchet straps (or knowledge of lashing) will do it, but I'd also make sure there was sufficient padding and hold down the top speed.

Those "origami" kayaks begin to sound very interesting.