: Yes, the factory set distance on a Honda Element is silly short.
: I finally got so frustrated that I installed Thule rack towers at
: the extreme rear of my Element.
: This was done by using a Thule tower base kit that required
: drilling holes in the roof of the car. The Thule kit includes
: special nuts that tighten from above so it was net necessary to
: remove or drill through the headliner.
: The kit included 4 tower bases and I only used two. So if anyone
: wants to purchase just two tower bases, I have a pair laying
: around - somewhere -.
: John VB

I've been driving a couple of Ford Escort wagons during my paddling career, and since they only come with 'decorative' roof racks, I've had to bite the bullet and install Tule rack mounts through the roof. These are the little fittings that allow mounting the rain gutter type rack to a pickup cap. They don't cost much, and the process of removing the headliner and reinstalling it is not neerly as scary as one might think. Hey, we're boatbuilders for rice cakes......If you do this, you can get your racks where you want them. It allows me to load the boats upsidedown and backwards. The rear of the cockpit coaming gets strapped down tight, and the other bar is neer the fwd bulkhead: two strong parts of the boat. I don't even pad the fwd rack bar, but use fat pipe insulation on the rear bar. The rear strap doesn't get or need quite the same tension; any play will allow the boat to weathercock just a bit if nec. Other than ease and practicality, this system gives the boat the most aerodynamic position one can get. Sometimes I think it IMPROVES my gas mileage.