If you're like me and average height (anyone over 66" is a mutant) and your
westie or wanagon is used to carry a kayak "help is on the way".  If you use
a step stool you can reach to crossbars of a Yakima (round) roof rack system
(duh).  If you use the Gary Lee Ladder (fine piece of work, the ladder) you
can do even more but the kayak self-loading problem remains.  Unless you
cleverly insert some smaller diameter metal tubing inside the Yak tubes.
Then voila' the problem solution is available.  To load the kayak, extend
one of the tubes out until you can perch one end of the yak on the tube.
Using Gary's ladder or your height compensator of choice, park the other end
of the yak on the other rack using the tube in that one.  Then slide the yak
onto the main tubes, push the smaller tubes into the yak tubes tie down your
yak and there you are, packed and yak'd.  That keen ladder stows inside
easily.  Gary Lee's products are of the highest quality and made to fit your
vanagon.  His concept of personal service is unsurpassed in my opinion.  He
modified a stock rack to be length adjustable to fit both my tall SA syncro
and a standard van.  More details can be found at:

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/vanagonrack.htm

pensioner