My wife convinced me to buy 2 ten foot kayaks. Now I'm trying to figure out how to transport them. I pull a 2018 Keystone Cougar Half Ton 27SAB with a rear fold down bike rack. I'm thinking about modifying the rack to carry the 2 kayaks. The other option is to replace it with a manufactured rack. The rack in the picture starts at $1500. So I'm hoping to mod the bike rack to save some money. Anyone have any experience doing this? Also I have a backup camera to consider as well.
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Tony & Donna & Murphy
2022 Montana HC 295RL, Solar Flex 400, Onan 3600 LPG, 2000 inverter, 200AH Lithium, 2020 GMC Denali 2500 6.6 Duramax, 10 speed Alison Trans, Demco 21K Auto Slide
If it were me I'd be looking at a rack for the bed of the truck not the rv. The rack with kayaks mounted in the bottom picture looks like you'd drag the kayaks entering/exiting every driveway & you'd need to remember they're stuck up 2'+ above the rv.
Edit;
I googled "pickup truck kayak racks" & several popped up, looks like a very nice ones for $500 or less.
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Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
I have no experience trying to modify that folding rack but would just say I wouldn't use it unless they entire thing was beefed up from the frame back and made immobile. Guess I've seen too many of those things overloaded, flopping and drooping all over the place.
As far as carrying the kayaks as in the last picture I would just say I've seen several RVs carrying them in the vertical position. Most had scratches, mars etc. from the owners attaching/removing them from whatever suspension system they used so keep that in mind if you go that route.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
I have no experience trying to modify that folding rack but would just say I wouldn't use it unless they entire thing was beefed up from the frame back and made immobile. Guess I've seen too many of those things overloaded, flopping and drooping all over the place.
As far as carrying the kayaks as in the last picture I would just say I've seen several RVs carrying them in the vertical position. Most had scratches, mars etc. from the owners attaching/removing them from whatever suspension system they used so keep that in mind if you go that route.
Not enough clearance on the bed of the truck.
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Tony & Donna & Murphy
2022 Montana HC 295RL, Solar Flex 400, Onan 3600 LPG, 2000 inverter, 200AH Lithium, 2020 GMC Denali 2500 6.6 Duramax, 10 speed Alison Trans, Demco 21K Auto Slide
I saw a trailer yesterday with paddle boards and kayaks mounted that way on the back of it. Would never do it!
I have a lot of experience traveling with rowing shells (not combined with my trailer, but at times with my motor boat). Anyways the only option (to me) is to buy a good truck rack. In my case one that works with my tonneau cover. The kayaks would be placed on that rack. In fact they probably would double as a wind deflector giving you better mileage than that rack and pushing those bugs around the cap of your trailer.
You've got a crew cab truck. There are racks made by all the "major rack manufacturers" that are designed to fit on your vehicle roof and carry kayaks. I'd look at the Thule and Yakima racks.
When you think about it, not only would they be better protected than "hanging below and above the rear of the trailer, but when you get to where you're going, you will still have to transport them from the campsite to where you're going to use them.... If that's 25 or 30 miles away, how are you going to get them to the water ???
You've got a crew cab truck. There are racks made by all the "major rack manufacturers" that are designed to fit on your vehicle roof and carry kayaks. I'd look at the Thule and Yakima racks.
When you think about it, not only would they be better protected than "hanging below and above the rear of the trailer, but when you get to where you're going, you will still have to transport them from the campsite to where you're going to use them.... If that's 25 or 30 miles away, how are you going to get them to the water ???
The guy in the top picture has what looks like a f150 with the kayak and bed rack… I wonder if he fills every inch of the bed up with supplies also…hate to see his cat scale ticket …I have an inflatable kayak and probably getting inflatable paddle boards also..we keep the hard sided kayaks and paddle boards at the house…too much of a pain transporting them for us,might go the toy hauler route in the future for this reason.
Those racks do look like a good option though. Wonder if you could get bike rack and kayak rack and carry all at once if you have the payload capacity?
AA-Racks Adjustable Aluminum Pick-Up Truck Ladder Rack (APX-25) White
$354.90
AA Products
Free shipping
Here's what I found along with several other options that go over the bed & cab.
Similarly, I use ladder rack for my kayaks, but I need to remove the tonneau cover when I bring them. A rack over the cab would work if you want to still have use of the tonneau cover, although those styles do cost a little bit more. Definitely would not put them on the back of the trailer.
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2018 Springdale Summerland Series 3030BH
2018 Ram 2500 HD 6.4L Hemi Big Horn 4x4
The guy in the top picture has what looks like a f150 with the kayak and bed rack… I wonder if he fills every inch of the bed up with supplies also…hate to see his cat scale ticket …
Meh....no worries, I recognize the badging, it's an Ecoboost!
I have Adarac ladder racks on my truck for carrying the kayaks. The ladder racks actually fit outside the tonneau cover so I don't have to remove it to use them. I can carry up to 4 kayaks with the Malone stax system I use to secure then to the ladder racks although loading the 3rd and 4th kayaks is a bit tricky. When not transporting the kayaks I can easily unbolt and remove the racks.
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2018 Ram 1500 CC
2013 passport 2300bh
I have Adarac ladder racks on my truck for carrying the kayaks. The ladder racks actually fit outside the tonneau cover so I don't have to remove it to use them. I can carry up to 4 kayaks with the Malone stax system I use to secure then to the ladder racks although loading the 3rd and 4th kayaks is a bit tricky. When not transporting the kayaks I can easily unbolt and remove the racks.
I have the same rack - I have not put it on my new/current truck and couldn't find the name when posting the other day. +1 on this due to its compatibility with the cover.
It can be tricky as the racks are high. With the stax I use to tie it down I end up standing on the edge of the truck bed... But if you are only transporting 2 kayaks with j hooks that wouldn't be an issue.. you'd just have the issue getting it on the rack. I lift the front up to the rack then push it on there.
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2018 Ram 1500 CC
2013 passport 2300bh
We have a Cougar Half To 21RBSWE and two sit in 10’6” kayaks. We transport the two kayaks inside the trailer, on the bed. They just barely fit through the door. I cover the bed with a blanket and place cardboard pads at each end where the kayaks can rub the wall and counter top. The kayaks are stacked and strapped together. It takes about 15 minutes to place and secure them. We just put the kayaks in the truck bed and tie them down to travel to the lake or river. The only downside is the kayaks must be removed even if they are not used at a camping destination.
We have two 10 foot wilderness system kayaks that nearly always come camping with us. Our truck is a GMC 1500 crew cab short bed. Both kayaks fit nicely in the bed of the truck extending over the closed tailgate. There is about a foot of clearance between the end of the kayaks and the front of the TT. No need for any racks and easy transport to the lake when we reach our destination.
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2012 Cougar 21RBSWE
2018 GMC 1500 5.3L, 4x4, crew cab, max tow pkg
Andersen Hitch
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