our annual 6 person trip to the Q is quickly approaching (june 22-28) and i have a couple questions about what the best way to travel with 3 canoes is. we are college age guys so we dont have our own canoes, so we rent from the university for super cheap because we also work for the university we attend. we use their trailer, one with a big box for storage underneath with racks that hold up to 8 canoes, but we only take 3 and tow it behind a jeep. last year we had all 3 on the trailer and the gas mileage was pretty awful. the drive to the Q is 8 hours and we do it through the night in order to the get atikokan at 8am for the opening of the ranger station and getting on the water as soon as we can. we bring a second car so we can comfortably travel 6 people, however its one that gets very good gas mileage and isnt suitable to stick a canoe on top of.

so my question is what is the best way to travel with 3 canoes. all 3 on the trailer, 2 on the trailer/one on top, etc?

i guess my worries are with 3 on the trailer the load isnt as balanced. the aerodynamics are a little messed up, but it keeps weight off the jeep axels and the square back of the jeep has the drag reduced by the canoes. with 2 on the trailer and one on top, everything is more centered, but im not too sure about the canoe on top being too much of an air scoop. also with a canoe on top, you have to unstrap the whole thing in order to open the hatchback for when the border people search us. (they always search us more rigorously than anyone else it seems, but we cross the border around 5am or so, so its possible they are just bored).

what are your thoughts!? thank you in advance!

p.s. ill be out of town for the weekend so i wont be able to check in till monday. doing some pre-trip fishing and canoeing back home :)