I think I need a rack

[OregonMike]

Picked up a fishing kayak this morning up in Lake Oswego (Portland) Oregon. Topped off my pack last night and made it up & back with a stop to check straps with 31%. I didn't reset any trips meters so don't know for sure but somewhere around 220 miles on that 69% (24 Flash, 131kw pack).

Anyway, strapped the new kayak in up there and was a wee bit concerned. Used a ratchet strap front & rear and it didn't budge the whole 100 miles home down I5 (Eugene). I don't think I want to continue packing it like that though!

Sponsored

 

[B177y]

As I was scrolling down through your post, I though that the first picture didn't look bad, pretty standard actually.

Then I scrolled to the second picture and

Yeah, that sticks out pretty far.

A bed rack would be ideal for this.

 

[The Weatherman]

Although I do have racks for my truck now, I still carry my boat this.

 

[The Weatherman]

I now use the racks for my RTT.

 

[OregonMike]

Although I do have racks for my truck now, I still carry my boat this.

I did look at some of those. What length is that kayak? I'll be packing my wife's 10'er along with that 12'er most of the time. I was wondering if sticking out 5 1/2' was too much.

 

[OregonMike]

I now use the racks for my RTT.

Nice setup!

 

[The Weatherman]

I did look at some of those. What length is that kayak? I'll be packing my wife's 10'er along with that 12'er most of the time. I was wondering if sticking out 5 1/2' was too much.

That’s my 12.5’. I also carry a sea touring kayak that is 14.5’.

 

[K6CCC]

Anyway, strapped the new kayak in up there and was a wee bit concerned. Used a ratchet strap front & rear and it didn't budge the whole 100 miles home

For future reference, I would have loaded the new kayak upside down. Two reasons. First is that would leave two edges of the kayak resting on the tailgate rather than the bottom of the kayak resting on the tailgate. Much more solid mounting. The second is that with the open top of the kayak towards the wind rather than the bottom, quite a bit more air pressure trying to pull the kayak off the truck. The bottom is far more aerodynamic.

Also note that at least under California law (and many other states), you would need to have a red flag (or light at night) on the end of the kayak.

 

[Realtruck]

RealTruck Elevate Truck Rack + RealTruck Elevate Kayak Carrier = no more checking the straps

 

[Phineas Magliozzi]

Posted this a while back in a different thread, works well for me. Tied off tight at the front, one strap at the tailgate....

 

[El Duderino]

The hitch extender is also very useful for lumber. They are in-expensive and store easily. I bought mine used on marketplace and it's been handy to have.

 

[Jseis]

I use a hitch rack with a rooftop closed cell foam pad. A cross bar could be used. The hitch rack pivots so loading a bigger canoe by one person is piece of cake as once one end is up on the rack… pick up the other end, rotate the canoe/rack 180 degree, place on roof pad Or bar rack.

Also works on my big & heavy extension ladder though I don’t use it for anything over 100 pounds. Rack is easy to setup, tie off, dismantle, stuff in bed.

FYI…Very important to tie the rack off separately to rear stake pocket tie offs as the hitch mount in the hitch receiver is not tight enough to keep rack vertically stable. I used two Titan anchors and I shim the rack in the hitch receiver to stop sway.

Two tie offs on rear of bed very important! I also use the inside tie off points on the front of bed interior.

I shimmed the receiver with a couple of wood shims to keep rack from wiggle (well known with bike racks!).

I’ve seen hitch racks on Amazon. Good ones are $$$. Bought mine years ago at Cabela’s. though I’ve not seen them recently.

Used these tie downs.

Sponsored