Homemade Kayak Rack

Just wanted to share my kayak stand I made to fit on my 2012 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab. It is made out of 2inch ABS plastic with custom shelf. I am able to carry 2 kayaks and all my fishing gear no problem.

 

That's sweet, have any pics of the rack by itself?

 

Here is the stand by itself. I use it to store my yak in the backyard. So it has dual functions when I am not transporting it to the lakes or oceans.

 

How long is the kayak? 10ft?

 

yeah 10 ft. I can put up to a 12 ft kayak with no problem.

 

I really like that it's down below the roofline, I definitely get worse gas mileage with mine over the cab. But I do enjoy all the space over the cab affords.

 

Yeah I wanted something that wouldn't create a lot of drag and I added the shelf. I can still store my gear on the shelf and I still have enough room to put anything else on the truck bed.

 

Nice, creates plenty of space underneath. Your kayak appears to be a sit-on-top. Mine are sit-in kayaks, and should be transported and stored on their sides to prevent distortion. Yours maybe different, it looks like your rack could support kayaks on their sides as well.

 

Nice job, thanks for the extra pics. I smell a new project...

 

I might need to do something like that for my double cab for next duck season. I love the shelf idea, what is it made out of?

 

I know you are in CA, but be forwarned of any cold weather. If it gets below freezing anywhere you go, PVC will crack. I found out the hard way. Course we are talking a kayak rack here, not a ski rack.

 

The shelf is made out of wood and I wrapped it with gravel bags.

 

I like the ingenuity!

Flip them over and keep them low. My MPG on camping trips with my truck packed with gear and the yaks on top is no worse than any other tank of gas during normal driving. I guess because when going camping I'm on the highway vs 1/2 of my driving around town being in a city.



What do you do when it rains and your transporting your kayak facing up?

or upside down. I only transport them on their sides when I have three on my truck and that's only so they fit. when I store mine they are stored sitting face up but I also have them hanging from my shed ceiling.

 

Sit on top kayaks with scuppers, no problems with them right side up. I would put them upside down, but I didn't think about that when making the rack and it is too short, the kayaks hit the roof when upside down.

 

Been there and done that. I cut my rack down and used my yak sitting up as a guide. When I flipped them over like I always do the dam handles hit the roof when the cab/bed flexed offroad I felt like such a moron for ruining a $300 rack.

Luckily I saved my cut offs so I got longer screws, tapped out the tube further, added back 1" of height to the front racks. Now no more hitting.