Front Tie Down Ideas for Canoe

Hey there....new to the forum. Trying to get ideas on how/where to connect the front tie down for my canoe since there are no tow hooks on the 3rd gen tundras. On my 2016 I simply connected the front tie down hook to the tow hook. Any ideas? Short of an aftermarket tow hook install? Looks like mostly plastic under there....nothing solid enough to hook on to. Thanks!

 

Not too much to support a tie down on the front. Even wrapping around the grille to a tow hook will do some free modifications to the plastic parts.

Perhaps a substantial roof rack or bed rack where you don't need a front tie down.

I carry 2 x 50 lbs 12' kayaks on my rack and they are solid up there.

 

Thanks PBNB. It's a Thule rack system. It has cross straps as well so it's pretty solid that way. The front tie down is more for extra stability I guess? It came with the kit so I never tried without it. I never had any damage on the 2016 tundra connecting it to the tow hooks. I wonder if the 2024 grill, etc. is less substantial.

 

Can’t you just tie down the front of the kayak to the roof rack as well?

 

Not sure if that would work. Canoe extends maybe 5 or so feet beyond the front crossbar. I will try and see if that makes it more stable or not. Thanks!

 

$13 Quick Hood Loops Trunk Anchor Kayak Tie Downs Straps Bow Stern Canoe Transport Secure Lashing Point

https://www.amazon.com/KAPMOZ-Ancho...35&mcid=27ce14200de735ceb9dbb6df89f55315&th=1

 

Front of canoe to each forward corner of rack could work. Then each side stops the other from moving as they are pushed side to side.

 

The front of these trucks are a bunch of plastic clipped together. Even with a tow hook underneath, your strap would be wrapping around the plastic.

One thought would be a custom steel mount that connects to the aluminum front bumper rail behind the plastic and extends out just above the front license plate. This would provide enough support to tie down the canoe without damaging the plastic.

 

Here is an idea of how the front shackles could be mounted. I am not suggesting this kit, just an idea on how to make a forward attachment point.

https://theyotagarage.com/products/...ch-mount-w-d-ring-shackles-2022-toyota-tundra

 

I used these to haul my Old Town 147 on a Grand Cherokee I used to own. You screw them down to a fender bolt under the hood. When you need them, you pull them out between the hood and fender. When you don’t, you tuck them back under the hood. 6 bucks at REI. Or you can buy the exact same thing from Thule and pay $30. And in case anyone is wondering, I never had any issue with them rubbing the paint off the side of the hood.

 

Here's another shot of how they look.

 

There was a thread a year or so ago regarding putting a front hitch on a Gen 3. That could also act a tie down point.

 

I believe I remember @Mattedfred having a good solution to this?

 

Just buy some strap material, cut it tp 12 inches, double it over and push a hot nail through the tag ends. Hot nail pokes a hole and melts the strap material for a homemade grommet. Attach to bolt under hood as shown. Cheap diy version.

20 years and hundreds of miles of hauling canoes in multiple trucks and never had any paint wear issues either. Better than strapping down over the hood and bumper.

 

Mine for kayak..