Canoe/Kayak Racks for your Taco?

Anyone have pics or suggestions for a rack on my DC for kayaks or canoes?

 

not cheap, but a nice setup. I am sure there are other options, hopefully someone else might chime in.


http://www.thuleracks.com/product.asp?dept_id=75&sku=421

 

I've got the Thule Xsporter. It works well enough, but has some issues:

1) it has two hight positions, but due to the wheel wells on the doublecab the lowest position isn't useable. I may take it to a machine shop and have a third height notch cut in to keep it lowered.

2) Without a canoe on top it whistles. The noise gets to me, so I usually leave the rack off.

3) You can lock the rack height with a key, but it would be trivial to steal the thing with a simple wrench just by undoing the bolts holding the rack to the rails.

 

Here is my Thule setup. I bought it at Rack Warehouse.com which is actually local to me. Its on year-round (bars/feet/fairing). The J-Hulls I only keep on when I'm in season. They come on & off easy. I can put three 12 ' kayaks up there. The system works great for lots of things, not just the boats. Also, my nerf bars help with securing the straps. I have to say this is one of my favorite mods. I opted not to have the lock cylinders so at first I did experience a whistle on the driver's side tower. A piece of electric tape stopped the whistle & blended right in. Anyway here it is:

 

I just throw them in the bed. 11 and 12 ft despite only having shortbed. Adding two low front D-rings holds the noses down. Sure they stick out the back a bit, so on goes the token orange flag. Easy on, easy off, no rack.

Canoe, I'd def need a rack, not sure I'd want it on the roof with foam blocks, roof metal pretty thin...

 

It'd be cheaper to buy an old boat trailer and modify it. Weld you some tubing on it for racks so you can fit as many kayaks and canoes on there that you want.

 

You may want to make your own rack. I made me one 7 years ago, I made it to use in my 2001 Tacoma and then had to change it a little to work in my 2005 Tacoma... today it is still going strong in my 2008 Tacoma.

When I was shopping for a rack I wanted one that could easily haul 2 - 12' Kayaks. I also wanted one that I did not have to drill any holes in my new truck and one that did not touch any painted surface. I could not find anything like that so this is what I came up with.

It mounts by using two bolts in the existing d-ring holes in the back of the truck bed and two turnbuckles in the front of the bed. All you have to do is take out two bolts, loosen two turnbuckles and set it out of the truck when not in use.

 

Nice rack ! he he. Seriously though that is well thought out, what part of West by God ? I call Parkersburg/Vienna home .

 

I did have the Xsporter on my '99, then transfered it to my '07.. I have the long bed.. If I didn't want a snugtop, I would still have my Thule.

If you have the long bed, you shouldn't have a problem with the racks going to the low position. You wil have this problem if you have the short bed. As far as the whistle, if you put the included rubber stips (top and bottom), you shouldn't have any whistle.

Now I have a snugtop with thule racks mounted on the camper. The racks have 60" bars, perfect for 2 kayaks (doubles) side by side..
Also found thule bike racks which attach to the racks as well.. Bikes up on the top free up the bed for the coolers and other stuff...

 

I made a kayak stand out of 1 1/2" Sch 40 PVC a few weeks ago to hold my Klepper kayak while I made repairs on the bottom. It would probably work great in the back of the Toy, but I have yet to try it. The Klepper weighs a ton, too but for the lighter kayaks I don't see why a rack made from PVC would not work. I'll snap some pictures and show you what I built. It is definitely cheap and no welding.

 

PVC with speed on the interstate? I had a cheapo rack (that actually wasn't cheap) made of PVC once, it got trashed the first time I used it. There was way too much flex for my liking & obviously for the kayaks too. We ended up shoving them in the bed.

As far as the welded setup, that looks very sweet. Rachunter, nice ingenuity. Any pics of the mounts in the bed you speak of?

I find since I don't run a shell but a tonneau, my selection for racks is limited. Your set up looks like it is on off correct?

 

Flatwoods is home for me. I grew up in Wyoming county and have been in Braxton Co. for about 10 years.

I should have some pics at home, I will post them tonight.

 

system works great
quality is great
the wife bought me another rack as a surprise! we'll call it a timing issue!
check it out:
http://www.usrack.com/railrack.shtml

let me know if you're interested

 

Here are some pics of the mounts, the rear of the rack bolts in where the factory d-rings are mounted and I had to make a small spacer to go between the rack and the bottom of the bed.

 

The front of the rack just mounts to the d-rings that Toyota sells for the front of the bed. I use one turnbuckle on each side.

The pieces of square tubing that you see welded on the rack at a angle was how I mounted it in my 2001 Tacoma. I used 4 turnbuckles that went through the square tubing and hooked on the factory front and rear tie-down points.

 

one more pic

 

Here is what I did, I purchased the below, I made an offer for $135 that was accepted.

But it didn't bolt right up, I purchase 8 large bolts with an "O" on the top, bolted them through place they show with the clamps, then I ran some flat metal from the top "O" at an angle & bolted it to my bed rail.

It's probably hard to visualize but it works great & its sturdy as hell. The rack was less than two hundred dollars delivered & maybe $15 for all the additional hardware. I will try to take a picture when I get a chance.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Univ...ryZ33651QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Frints,

Do you have any pics of your rack installed? I would like to see it. I'm always looking for new ideas.

I just have this problem with drilling holes in the top of my bed. The only two holes I drilled in my truck were inside of the bed and it was for the factory d-rings installed in the factory recommended location.
Drilling holes in the top of my bed would drive me nuts (it would be a short trip lol).
Speaking of drilling holes in the bed, the bed is much stronger than I would have thought. It was like drilling through metal.

 

Thanks for all the pics rachunter! I like how the frame is boxed at the bottom and your have bars above the bed rails. Nice to lock stuff down like bikes etc. Cool rack!