Roof or Bed rack hauling for sea kayak

Hi All,
Have a new 2023 Tundra 1794 with moon roof and need to get a rack system up to haul my 17.5' sea kayak. Past Crewmax had a roof rack. I'd like a bed rack option but with the 5.5' bed and the long kayak too much of the boat would stick out the back complicating things when hauling a camper. Would like to have some type of bed rack that also extends over cab but allows moon roof to open and not obstruct much. Ladder racks seem the best option. Are there any out there that look less utilitarian and maybe mount with the factory side rail system on the bed? That would allow an easier option for removing if necessary. Thanks.

 

I went with this modular ladder rack, either Amazon or auto anything. I welded a tab on the mounting bracket to use with the rail system and a tonneau cover. Comes off very easy, inexpensive, and is versatile.
this is an old picture.

 

Thanks, that looks good. I'm thinking I need something that will extend over the cab at least part way, as my kayak is so long I'd need the center of the boat to be near the front end of the bed, instead of centered over the bed. Wouldn't be an issue if the 1794 had a longer bed. I'll look into this rack, appreciate it.

 

If you use the search function and take a little time I have seen someone on here that had a rack with an extension that went over the roof.

 

A few thoughts from hauling around my wife's NDK sea kayak.

• One line of thinking is go ahead and let it hang off the back. As along as you aren't towing a tall trailer behind you, it isn't a big deal. She used to have a subaru crosstrek, currently has a Mazda CX5. There is no way it won't hang off the back (and nearly the front...).
• Other option is go just on the cab. Get some some roof bars like https://www.etrailer.com/multi-prod...5701&HHYear=2020&HHMake=Toyota&HHModel=Tundra
  These will center the kayak over the cab and you can easily remove them when not needed.
• I've got an ARE topper i put the yak on, but i'm a DC with a 6.5' bed. Still hangs off the back a bit, works just fine.

Previous truck setup when towing, i would have the kayak mounted to the cap and the cab to get it forward. No longer have the camper, so not as much of a concern.

 

If you "cheat" the boats forward a bit, a bed rack will definitely work for you.

We have a new kayak rack system that uses the full length of your bed for better support.



https://www.kbvoodoo.com/vrs-bed-racks

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm thinking I'll need a ladder rack like Mattefred above recommended. Wish I could find one off the shelf that would mount with the bed side-rail system, I think I'll just need to modify. Just like the idea of easily removing it if not needed.

 

20’ outrigger canoe… I move it forward a little when pulling the trailer…. ‘Good boy Racks’… highly recommend…Solid

 

Just got my rack and Hobie on. I only use half the rack so it fits forward when we tow our trailer.

 

What Roof rack is that ?
Thanks.

 

It's half of an Elevate bed rack, Truxedo Pro X15 Tonneau and Rhino rack bar over the cab. It all works great for my tandum Hobie, 14' long and 80 lb.

 

I got x4s and elevate rack too , how did u install the elevate rack ? Did u drill into the bed ? Clamps that come with elevate rack are not working well , bolts are too long and hit the bed frame.

 

This was the problem I had with Elevate. It took a week or two of emails to get them to send different clamps. The ones that fixed the problem were shaped more like a rectangle and it had a carriage bolt instead of what’s on the clamp you have. The carriage bolt then had the nut on the end pointing to the inside of the bed. I can post a photo once my tailgate un freezes, it’s 5 degrees and snowing here now. Elevate doesn’t want to believe that the 2023 bed is different than the 2022 bed. Don’t drill anything the right clamps will work.

found a picture of the correct clamp but I was holding it up the wrong way. The nut goes on the inside of the bed.

 

Here’s a photo of the clamp installed correctly.

 

Thanks alot , made my day.

 

Any chance you got an item number for that.
I ve been back and force with there customer service , sendt them pictures, and they can't figure that out .

 

I'll see if I can get a responds from someone I was dealing with.

 

I finally got into my truck bed, it thawed, and I was wrong about which clamps finally worked. These are the ones I got that finally solved the problem. The others they send didn't work as well as these. I'll still try and get a part number.

 

Truxedo uses the clamps you need for the Elevate on their bed covers. I don't know why they don't send the right ones for the Elevate Rack.

 

Thanks

 

I’ve been emailing with TruXedo and they responded that the clamp that works with the 2023-2024 is part # 1118959. But I haven’t been able to find a photo of it on any TruXedo parts list yet. I would believe this number unless they send a photo for proof. I also ask them why after I showed them, 6 months ago, that the clamp they were sending out was wrong for the 23-24 tundras. They said they’re working on it. So if you by any covers or racks from TruXedo be ready to do battle with them over clamps. Because the haven’t actually tried anything on the 23-24’s just the 2022 tundra which has a different bed.

 

Thank you, forgot to post results.

 

Our 2 x 12' long 50 lbs kayaks fit pretty good on our DB cover with their cross bars when we had the Ridgeline. During one of our camping trips, we switched our WDH to a regular hitch for parking our Airstream in our weird parking spot. It turned out that the hitch brought the kayaks close enough to touch the front of the trailer and put a little crease in the aluminum skin.

The Tundra is a bit longer with the 6.5' bed and the kayaks sit up there with loads of room. We use a DB SE cover and Thule TracRacs bolted to the cover. This works quite well and the kayaks are rock solid.

Going to get a rack mounted tent soon and will still put the kayaks on top but now with the racks provided by the tent manufacturer. Should be the same end result for carrying.

 

The BAK Revolver X4S with the Elevate Rack System is what I'm thinking of going with for my 2014 SR5 CrewMax. Did you have any fitment issues with the Elevate TS Rails and the the rails for the X4S? Did you have to replace the rail seals?

 

I know this is a zombie bump for this post but quick question....how easy is it to take the crossbars off? I like the look and versatility of a rack plus bed cover but I throw dirt bikes into the bed a lot. Would I have to completely remove the rack each time or can you just quickly remove the crossbars to get the height?

Thanks!

 

It would be much easier to remove the rack from the bed.

Pop out a couple bolts and lift it right off. One person can handle the weight of the rack.

 

I have your guys old school mountain bike holder from when I had my tacoma. It mounted underneath my softtopper so it wasn't that easy to just remove. The softtopper rails were on top of the mountain bike brackets so I'd have to completely remove everything to get them off. It's not like it was a lot of work, it would just be annoying because I'd have to make sure everything was perfectly lined up each time. I assumed this setup would be the same.

 

This system is quite a bit different.

Are you running a tonneau cover?

 

Yes. I will upgrade the tonneau cover before getting a bed system so I would look to do one compatible to this system