How do you haul your kayaks?

Just bought two tamarack fishing kayaks for a steal. Half price blemish models due the wrong model name sticker being put on them..... says Tioga instead of tamarack no other issues lol. I have a cap and want to take these camping with me which is going to mean roof rack I'm sure, but what is everyone's setup for hauling kayaks

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/how-do-you-carry-your-kayaks.49803/

 

Wth I literally searched the word kayaks and I couldn't find a kayak thread.....

 

https://www.tundras.com/search/4041271/?q=kayak&o=date&c[title_only]=1

 

Had a fiberglass cap and hullavator pro for my old town top water. New truck is a smartcap and the same hullavator.

 

You can also use a hitch-mounted bed extender, although parking can be a challenging situation.

 

This is what I do with no problems. Would be better if I didn’t have a 5.5 need though lol

 

Flat on the bed, ropes through the drain holes. However, I've never been on the highway with that set-up.

 

1 or 2 In the bed or depending on how many or where I am going, in a trailer.
Used to put them on top of a camper,but got tired of lifting them up there.

 

I carry mine on my roof rack with Oak Orchard J-Cradles attached to the rack. This pic has my 12' Wilderness System Pungo's but I can carry two 14.5 footers the same way without interfering with my RTT when I have it on the bedrails. I've had this up to 80 m.p.h. (occasionally, as needed) without any movement or worry. Very secure. The J-Cradles are designed and padded where you can add a second kayak to the back side of each boat if needed. I've done it, but I bought a Continental 6-up kayak trailer for when I want to carry more than a couple kayaks anymore just for ease of use.

https://www.oakorchardcanoe.com/detail.php?product=Oak Orchard Stacker J-Cradles

 

Well I wasn't planning on spending a few thousand dollars today, but damn that looks fun. Been wanting to buy a Kayak and now that I have a truck (same model), maybe it's time. What roof rack are you using?

 

I've got the Victory 4x4 roof rack. I like it a lot. There is a thread on here you can check about issues with previous install instructions from Victory that were not clear and led to some people drilling into their side curtain airbags, which definitely sucks. So everybody has their own opinion about them. I installed mine myself and used drill bit collars to control penetration with no issues, I posted an install thread when I put it on detailing my process if you search for it. The rack itself is very well made, powder coated and I like the design flexibility and have several friends who have the same rack on their Tundra, too. The Prinsu rack is very similar and many here use them as well. You have to drill the roof no matter which roof rack you install on a Tundra, which is a daunting prospect drilling into your +$50k new truck for sure. So... research it well before you buy and definitely before you install it or even if you pay a "professional" to install it for you.

 

I’ve been carrying two or three like this with no problems. Our twins got kayaks this year though so I have yet to try 5. I think the two adult kayaks on the bottom between the wheel wells with the three smaller ones on top will be fine for quick trips.

 

Good to know, thanks for getting back to me. Yeah, I'm not sure I'm ready to drill into the roof of my vehicle. I've also thought about getting the bed mounted rack and some cradles. Lose the bed cover, but it's all swappable depending on what I want to do then.

 

I run a leitner design rack with Thule hull-a-port pro xt kayak racks. Works great. I can carry four kayaks at a time.

 

I hear ya, it's not something to take lightly. I didn't get the roof rack just to haul kayaks but I definitely like having that capability. It's easy to just throw one up there if I'm going alone or a couple if someone comes with me. I have a Diamondback HD bed cover with a Crossbin tray inside and Front Runner bed rails on top of it for the RTT, so laying them flat in the bed isn't really an option for me. I've used Yakima's and Thule's for years on my other 4WD's but got tired of taking them on and off all the time and wanted to go with a more secure and permanent option on this truck. I'm setting this one up more for camping and multi-adventure sports instead of just kayaking and canoeing. I put various stuff up there like my MaxTrax boards, a CVT awning that I mount on the rack and soon I'll have a RoadShower for hot water, too. The Thule MB hitch carrier, dirt bike trailer and kayak trailer get their fair share of use as well as the Kendon trailer for our Harley's. My wife says the backyard looks like we are in the trailer business.

 

Roof rack on the camper shell.

 

Wooden Rack.

 

Getting ready for a day in the lake with the family.

 

I use the Boonedox T-bone bed extender with a locking hitch pin and a padlock that's deep enough to lock the two halves of the T-bone together. You can leave it installed without worries when on the water and its easy to load up the yak. I have an Old Town PDL 120 kayak. It's not small nor is it light so the bed extender is the best option for me.

There's a few different load assist options for topping the kayaks since it sounds like keeping them in the bed is not conducive for the camping trips. Never looked into them much but let us know what you come up with.

 

Have you all seen these yet? Haul the kayak in the cab.

Oru-kayak

 

Made this last week before a camping trip. Worked great and was needed since I wanted to carry kayaks while towing a camper. Does double duty- Use it as a kayak rack in the yard for storage.

 

What brand of rack is that? Looks like it could be used with a cover.

 

That is the leitner forged.

 

I recently had Rhino Rack roof rack installed on my Snugtop camper shell. Really happy with how it holds my two kayaks so far!

 

^^^Love the green. That's not a colour you see too often on these trucks.

I used to have a '97 Dodge Ram that was pretty much the same shade of green. Emerald Green it was called.

 

Thank you! Glad the paint has held up okay so far. This is a 2008.

 

I just picked up a WS Pamlico 145T on CL for cheap. I’ve been watching for a tandem to get the grand toddlers out of the canoe and into a kayak with me, they are at the age now to safely start that. It’s an older hull, with no cracks or holes and shows normal expected bottom wear for its age. I will buff up and 303 the polyethylene and replace the seat pads, it will be perfect for the spring river runs we take them on around here.