Carrying kayaks

[kguess]

How do u carry two kayaks on truck, and pull behind trailer ? Picture? Looking at Tule Xsporter 500XT. But I lose my T. Bed cover.....

[Javi]

I'd think you'd be pretty much limited to an overhead rack, or find/design/build a rack for the trailer. I've seen several folks with overhead racks carrying kayaks.

[JRTJH]

There are several options available.

There is a good "discussion of the issues" article here:

http://www.topkayaker.net/articles/instruction/CarsKayaks.html



Here are links to a few products:

http://www.usrack.com/v_rack.php

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/malone-mpg333-trac-rac-adapter-fit-kit.html

http://www.oakorchardcanoe.com/truckrack2.php

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/ford-f150-roof-rack.html

http://peter007.sourceforge.net/content/canoe-carrier-for-f150.html

[suza]

Some might say this is not ideal and a bit unconventional, but we carry our kayaks inside our Cougar 279RKS fifth wheel. Our "yaks" are a 12' Aqua-fusion Breeze (sit-in touring) and a 9'6" Perception Tribe (sit-on-top). They fit nicely on the bed. We wrap a tie-down strap around the boats and under the lift-up part of the bed platform. I am cautious and strategically place pillows just in case something should shift, but we've never had an issue.

We can also fit them on the main floor of the RV with the Breeze stacked on top of the Tribe. We use the tie down anchor for the rocking chair to secure them with bungie cords. When the slide is in, they are snug and travel nicely.

Using both methods, we have even carried 4 kayaks. I know, ours is not a cool way to carry them and some might even wrinkle up their noses, but we've had no problems with our method and it takes no longer than loading them onto a cab top rack. We just unload them when we set up and store them under the storage compartment or they can be secured to a tree with a long bike cable, if you are concerned about theft.

This also saves the expense of a cab-top rack that you may or may not want to haul around every where you go in the pickup (ours is also our ranch truck). Our boats have a combined weight of just under 100#, so we aren't adding a lot of cargo weight.

Let me know what you all think or if you have any other innovative solutions to carrying kayaks when towing a fifth-wheel.

[kampfitt]

WE made racks that bolt on to the cross bar on our rear hitch. We can have kayaks and hitch mounted bike rack at the same time! 8' kayaks ride lower than AC unit.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_140414_0_651c5f5dee7a062eb71a6c59e541e527.jpeg (http://s1193.photobucket.com/user/kampfitt/media/image7.jpeg.html)

[Andymon]

Maybe consider inflatable kayak? I went with this:
http://www.advancedelements.com/advancedframe.html

and my GF went with this:
http://www.advancedelements.com/advancedframe_sport.html

Both very stable and a lot of fun.

[suza]

WE made racks that bolt on to the cross bar on our rear hitch. We can have kayaks and hitch mounted bike rack at the same time! 8' kayaks ride lower than AC unit.
http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_140418_0_651c5f5dee7a062eb71a6c59e541e527.jpeg (http://s1193.photobucket.com/user/kampfitt/media/image7.jpeg.html)

Great idea! Would work well with the AF Breeze, but I'm not sure about the Tribe. It has a more rounded bow/stern.

Thanks for sharing.

[suza]

Maybe consider inflatable kayak? I went with this:
http://www.advancedelements.com/advancedframe.html

and my GF went with this:
http://www.advancedelements.com/advancedframe_sport.html

Both very stable and a lot of fun.

Inflatables do have their advantages, but I like my SOT :)

Thanks for sharing