Here's what i came up with over the weekend. I just finally got the last pieces to my new roof setup, and will still be adding bike rails, but with the canoe up there, all i can or want to fit with it is my new roof box. I gathered up Yakima raingutter towers, a Sportrack AeroXL 16cu.ft. roof box, and 78" bars (10 inches outside of the towers on each side
so i can eventually put some extra bike rails up there, but bikes will usually be on my hitch rack). I will have a tandem mount up there on one side since it is too wide (long) for the hitch rack, and i'm gonna build that myself. Also, i'll be adding some 4" ABS black pipe for water storage up there.
With the 78" bars, the box and canoe fit side by side. I could've moved my forward Yakima bar to the front for a more stable setup, but could not use the box at the same time without a 3rd rail.
My canoe is a big one at 18', but the extended van is even bigger, anyway, i had to put it way forward so the rear doors would clear the stern and the bow could have straps straight down to the anchor points without rubbing the paint too bad.
Looks kind of funny but it works.
Also, i will have a strap coming down from the stern to my bike rack or rear hitch, which i'm hoping to run on the left side and still be able to open the right rear door at least, i'll post a pic of that later.
I just drove it to work today and it's pretty quiet. I know the canoe is making some noise, but the Sportrack box is gonna stay up there and loaded, but centered of course when the canoe isn't up there. I was really curious how much noise it would make.
Just a little entertainment. I'm absolutely amazed what this fiberglass box will hold vs. the Thule softbag it replaced. Here's a list of what's in this thing, and it shuts easily:
1 Coleman 8 man instant tent (A big A$$ tent, about the size of an EZup in it's bag!!!)
2 folding camping cots in bags
1 big bag chair with footrest
3 other small bag chairs
busdepot awning in a bag (about the size of another bag chair)
2 thermarest mattress pads
2 adult sleeping bags
2 kids sleeping bags
3 leg camp stool
1 metal frame backpack chair
I was impressed!