How do you carry your kayaks?

We take the Cruiser for Kayaking

 

This is the route I'd like to go....unfortunately, we tow the trailer and haul the canoe, and it would be too far back for me. It would work for day trips, but not for longer trips.

I am ordering a Thule system this week, so I can at least start going Canoeing or Kayaking on the weekends

 

I plan to haul bigger kayaks than the pictured ones, but even if I haul a trailer I will push them farther forward. Currently the only trailer I have to haul is a utility trailer for my RS1.

 

Some guys will put 1 Yakima or Thule bar across the front of it's reallllllly long.

The only issue I may have with my Thule is the work parkade.

 

"work parkade"? I'm lost. lol

 

The only time I use it in the spring/summer/fall, is when it's raining. I try to cycle when possible.

I'm hoping the rack is easy on easy off. So I can slap it on for weekends.

 

I think I'm just being a dumb American. What is a work parkade? That's what I meant by my last post.

 

Ahhhh, sorry. Didn't even realize it was a Canadian thing but I guess it is.

par·kade
/pärˈkād/
Learn to pronounce

noun
CANADIAN•SOUTH AFRICAN
noun: parkade; plural noun: parkades

Underground work parking lot. It's a city lot, but I work for the city

 

All good. I appreciate the education. The bars only look to be a few inches over the roof, so just how low is your clearance for the parkade? Or are you lifted to the point that it is already close?

 

@BravoDeltaRomeo if you don't mind spending more (a lot more) there are some Yakima ones that are adjustable height. You could drop them down below the cab when not in use.

$1,200 Yakima Adjustable Truck Bed Rack with Tie Down Points & T-Slots, Overhaul HD, Black

https://www.amazon.com/Yakima-Overhaul-Truck-Bed-Rack/dp/B07MDSP8T8/ref=psdc_15735251_t1_B00V9T0HZ4

 

Yeah I've seen those. I think they run around $1200 Canadian, they don't come with cross bars and I have to pay 12% taxes. I'd be looking at $1500 landed. The top of the line Thule, with canoe holder and locks, will run em around $850-900 landed....still expensive but easier to swallow.

My canoe is 15', so not sure it would work with a truck bed rack and over the cab. I'd worry it would hit the roof up front when I had to position it with a trailer behind for camping.

As for the clearance. I think it is 6'8".

It'll be close. My other option is leaving if on full time and just finding and outdoor parking lot nearby for the odd time I drive to work

 

Ah, I wasn't sure if Amazon's global reach might have had a distribution bit in Canada for you. Do you have a link for the Thule one you speak of?

Also, you could always make a trip to the states and pick up something like this -> http://www.bayareametalfab.com/2007-to-2019-Tundra-CrewMax-Bed-rack_p_73.html

 

https://www.thule.com/en-ca/roof-ra...m711xxx?car=toyota-tundra-4dr-crew+max-_-qprA

Those bed racks are nice ..one day I'll have something similar

https://youtu.be/4V4Po6itr04

 

ooooh! I didn't know you were looking at roof racks. I'm trying to avoid anything on the roof if I can, but I totally understand that the budget has to be pleased with whatever you go with.

 

It was easy with the 05 Sienna and factory roof rack. One place for canoe/kayak, no options, didn't care if I scratched the roof.

 

I was doing some more research tonight and Googled "tundra canoe rack"....this came up.

https://localtvkstu.wordpress.com/2...to-trailer-sending-boat-onto-roof-of-vehicle/

 

I have the Yakima longarm and it works great. Super light at only 15lbs and has a 300 lb load capacity.

 

If I didn't have a trailer to pull, something like this would be perfect.

 

Damn you're gonna be kinda limited with a trailer. Have you considered a roof rack on the cab and one of those racks that attach to the bed rails?

 

I'm doing everything I can to avoid the roof racks. I'll likely go with a bed rack like what SpooledReel posted on the previous page.

 

Yeah if you can use that hitch. The bed extender is definitely the best option. When my yak is fully loaded with all my fishing stuff I bet it's pushing 130-150 lbs lol so there's no way I'm trying to get that thing to roof level

 

Thanks granny; appreciate the info. I currently have the truck covers USA America work cover. You convinced me to add the Yakima tracks to it so I can use either 1) the overhaul hd for transporting surfboards and long wood planks or 2) skyline towers with crossbars for bikes/skis.

pretty pumped as I don’t think I’ve seen the toolbox/tonneau/overhead rack/crossbar combo yet

 

That makes sense. I am just wanting the kayak for recreation, so it won't get a whole added to it for weight. I'll take any odds and ends out of it to put in the cab or bed.
I've got a good friend who has been teaching me to fly fish, and boat fishing seems so boring now. I don't eat fish (except sushi) so it's purely for the fun of catch and release. If I can get that kick without buying a boat, all the better.

 

If you want to have full use of the bed of the truck then there are only two options. Mount the kayaks on a roof rack or get a boat trailer. To get our kayaks onto the roof rack on the cap for my truck the kayaks need to be lifted more than 6 feet off the ground. I did this for years with an assortment of kayaks.

I now have a jet ski trailer for which I paid an extra $400 thanks to the Trump tariff/tax as the aluminum came from Canada even though the trailer was manufactured in the USA. There are several advantages to using a boat trailer. First is having the entire bed of the truck available for gear, which in my case meant either scuba or fishing gear but for others it would provide room for camping equipment. Second advantage is that it takes less than 5 minutes to attach the trailer and head down the road. Third advantage is that at a boat ramp I can get both kayaks ready to go and then back the jet ski trailer into the water and float off the kayaks and my wife can hold the two painters at the finger dock while I park the truck and trailer. Forth advantage is not having to get the kayaks up onto a roof rack and strapped down and locked, although on the roof rack they are much less likely to walk off then if in the bed of the truck.

Much easier to get kayaks ready in the parking area and then launch them in a few minutes than it is to haul the two kayaks down and then leave them and go back to the truck for other needed gear and then carry the kayaks to the water and so forth. And getting the kayaks back out of the water is a snap with the jet ski trailer and we are away from the boat ramp caos in a few minutes and then can take our time stowing our gear away in the truck. The great thing about a jet ski trailer is that the boat supports are much lower to the water and so the kayaks slide off easily which is not the case with standard "kayak trailers".

I have also had items stolen out of power boats and inflatable boat when stopping for groceries or getting a bite to eat at a restaurant and so I have learned to put everything that is not screwed down, out of sight and locked safely in the bed area with the bed cap's windows tinted so no one can see inside.

 

I don't have a picture of it, but I purchased a ladder rack of Amazon for $120ish I believe. It mounts to the top of my bed and it holds 2 kayaks perfectly. Very sturdy setup and the price was right for sure! I have used many different types of racks in the past, but the bed rack works awesome, very secure and easy to get them loaded, unloaded, and strapped down.

 

I just order an ADARAK and access tonneau cover combo so I can take my Kayak when pulling the RV. I will have a covered bed also. Should be a great combo.
I have a bed extender for when I am not towing.

 

I ended up making my own rack out of 80/20 and some custom brackets that I had built.



Google Photo Album:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qJSBob8aYxk5Cv9d6

My build Thread:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/tonneau-capable-bed-rack-rails.42036/