Thule kayak carrier for 2 kayaks no. TU520-1

The 520-1 fits steel bars (to 32mm x 22mm), and also includes adapters for all the T-track aluminium bars we sell - Atera, CRUZ, Thule (including SlideBar), and Yakima (extra Yakima adapters are required for their wide-slot HD and LNL bars) and also the Dropracks roof loading system. If you are using the 520-1 on Thule SlideBars or Dropracks, you'll need to use eye-bolts (available separately) to secure your straps, because if you pass straps underneath SlideBars or Dropracks yopu'll stop them from working (!)

Two folding 'D' hoops are supplied - one for each roof bar. You can strap one kayak against each side of the 'D' hoop. The hoops fold flat when not in use.

Thule only supply 2 x 275cm straps, i.e. sufficient for one kayak only. We're assuming that you intend to carry a 2nd boat, so we'll include 2 extra straps free of charge!

Do you need roof bars as well? If so, check out our amazing package deal which provides everything you need, including a Thule 520-1, two free straps, and locking roof bars. Please Click here for more details.

Technical specifications at a glance:

Can be used with: kayaks and some smaller boards/canoes/boats

Includes a mast holder: no

Includes straps: 2 x 275cm

Weight: 2.7kg

Maximum load: 2 x 25kg kayaks

Width: approx 18cm + depth of kayak(s)

Height: approx 45cm

Fits square bars: yes

Fits aerobars: yes

Fits Prorack Whispbars : yes

Warranty: 2 years (plus an extra 3 years if you register the product with Thule)

A specific watersports carrier will make carrying your gear much easier. The aim of this note is to persuade you that kayaks (or boats etc) should always, also, be tied to the carrying vehicle at both bow and stern.

Untied kayaks have, in our experience, the greatest potential for a roof bar or kayak carrier failure. The massive forces that untied kayaks can generate have even been known to snap roof bar fixing bolts with the result that a complete assembly of roof bars and kayaks has ended up on the road. We know that this has happened with almost every brand of roof bar, and regardless of whether the kayaks are on a special carrier or just strapped to the bars.

You need to fix bow and stern lines, probably using the front and rear screw-in towing eyes to get strong and accessible fixing points on the vehicle. You can use, for example, 'paracord' for this purpose. Alternatively, we have sets of straps available that are perfect for the job and are really easy to use. Yakima make some excellent Bow/Stern tie down straps and Thule makes the QuickDraw 838 which we have listed together with every kayak carrier we sell.

Please note that kayaks should be strapped to the roof bars, or to kayak carriers, using straps that are suitable for the purpose, e.g. 25mm polypropylene straps with strong buckles. Most kayak and other watersports carriers come supplied with such straps. We also have a range of suitable straps available, click here for details. Bungee cords must never be used.

Please also note that all roof bar instructions point out the dangers of carrying unsecured long items, as of course do all kayak carrier instructions.

If you tie down your kayaks you almost certainly won't experience a product failure. If you don't you may or may not get away with it. If there is a disaster and the kayaks end up on the road, separated from the vehicle, then you were not using tie downs and you have subjected the roof bars to forces for which they were not designed. The costs of sorting this out are yours, not ours, and you may also have difficulties with your insurers.

We're sorry to be so firm about this, but "things coming off the tops of cars" is the stuff of nightmares, and we want to do all we can to prevent accidents of this sort from happening.

Delivery charges and arrangements:

We charge a contribution towards delivery costs, depending on what you order, where you live, and how quickly you want the goods.

These are our standard charges; there are usually surcharges for all offshore destinations and some remote postcodes - for details please see our delivery information page.

Delivery of other items

Delivery times

Delivery times are calculated in working days (Monday to Friday, excluding Bank holidays).

Cut-off times for Express Delivery orders
Express Delivery orders placed before before the cut-off times shown below will usually be desptached on the date of order. Express Delivery orders placed after these cut-off times will be despatched the next working day.

Delivery FAQs

When will my order arrive?
There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays, except for postable items where Royal Mail has a Saturday delivery. Express Delivery orders placed on a Friday (before 1pm) should be delivered on the Monday or Tuesday, Express Delivery orders placed on a Saturday or Sunday should be delivered on the Tuesday or Wednesday. The arrangements for Very Heavy Items are different and are shown above.

What about Next Working Day delivery?
Most Express delivery orders will arrive on the next working day, if the order is placed before the cut-off time (see above). Some will arrive on the second working day if there has been a "split-delivery". So-called “split deliveries” happen when the couriers do not have enough trailer space for everything that should be moved around the UK, so they will load what they can and leave the rest for the next trailer.

Is my delivery day guaranteed?
No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. As well as split deliveries, all courier companies occasionally have the same transport problems as can happen to everyone else, including snow blocked roads, closed roads, traffic jams, mechanical breakdown, an inability to find the delivery address, or to gain access to it if, for example, it's in a block of flats. We work with some of the best couriers in the business, and overall they provide an outstanding service.

Do I need to be at home?
We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver to an address which suits you – this does not need to be your home address. Goods can usually be left without signature - we prefer this with roof boxes. There's a "Special Delivery Instructions" box in the checkout area where we'll ask you to choose a typical instruction and then amend it to suit your particular requirements.

Payment options:

We take the following cards, and also PayPal. Please note that the entry on your card statement will be from "The Roof Box Company".

Secure payments

Our website is secured by Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA), the largest commercial Certificate Authority in the world.

We offer our existing customers a full "Next Day if possible" spares service, and will cannibalise new stock as required to find you the parts you need. For new customers, i.e. those who have not bought from us before, we will order the parts from Thule which usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.

To find the spare parts you need, please see the diagram below, identify the product codes, then choose them from the list below. If you need more than 1 of any item, change the quantities in the Shopping Basket.