DCSB - options for hauling a canoe/kayak

A few questions, as I have a Softopper on the way and plan to put yaks on my roof:

I assume you load the kayaks with the Softopper down?
Are you pleased with the softopper?
How does it do in drive-thru carwashes; do you keep it up or put down?
Are those 8' yaks? I have a 6' for the kiddo and am debating between an 8' or a 12' for my own use (6', 220lbs, thinking the 12' will be more stable).

 

Thankfully my Discovery 119k fits perfectly on the OEM rack.

 

The whole reason I got the J cradles was actually so I could load them with the softopper up. I tried the picture below first and was met with the issue of either needing a step ladder to load the kayaks or I had to load them from the bed with the softopper down.

I like the softopper, for the price it's hard to beat at $700 brand new. The only thing I'm not thrilled about is how easily the window can scratch if you're not careful and you handle it or roll it when dirty. It comes with the territory, and isn't really a design flaw, its just how that material is.

I've only ever gone through a car was with it fully up. It definitely bows slightly under heavy winds from the air dryers and I believe the soft-touch cloth is scratching the back window slightly.

These are 9.5' kayaks. I'm a big guy at 6'1" and 270lbs and these feel plenty stable for my use. I can carry them in the bed with the tailgate down, but i cannot do that while towing or with anything in the bed. This was the only solution i could find that let me do it all.

I load them from the side by the way... Just like in this video below. It would be tough with a truck any taller than this without some steps or sliders to stand on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bvy1ckjC4E

 

OEM rack for me as well.



Probably overkill, but I stick pool floaties on the gunwales of the canoe, and these tie down loops under the hood:

$10 Seattle Sports Sherpak Hood Loop Tie Down Anchor Straps for Mounting Kayak and Canoe on Car Roof Top (Black)

https://www.amazon.com/Built-U-S-Sh...kmr0&keywords=Built+U.S.A.+Sherpak+Hood+Loops

 

Not overkill, I really need some bow/stern tie-downs as well, but i don't have a great solution just yet. I am not confident the oem rack will hold together in extremely high winds and the way I secure the kayaks to the cradle, it would basically completely come off the roof if the rack were to fail.

 

I tie down to the rack, the rear bed tie downs, and the hood straps I linked. I think you can see all my tie downs in the pic.

 

What are you using to tie down the rear?

My kayaks don't extend as far back as your canoe, but I'm hoping to find something that can go down to the bed and avoid interfering with the softopper while folded up.

 

The ropes in the back I have tying down to the rearmost tie down brackets in the bed. I just shut my tailgate on the ropes so it's kind of hard to see them in the pic with my tonneau cover. If I (you) had the cover rolled up, the bed rail cleats could be used as well.

 

Really hoping to find something like this for a taco... it would circumvent the softopper.

 

I've been using the Yakima foam blocks that I had from my previous vehicle, but they don't want to easily fit over the wide cross bars of the OEM rack. Out of curiosity, did you just cut a slit down the length or did you take a length-wise section out so it'd be wide enough to fit over the gunwhales? I may try your idea next time I take the canoe out.

 

I just cut a slit down the length. They've worked really well.

 

ditto

 

I should clarify - The pool floaties or "noodles" that I use are not solid, they're hollow core. So cutting the slit lengthwise opens it up to a larger gap that fits snug around the gunwales.

 

I use a bed extender into the bed of the truck. However I would really like to get the kayaks up out of the bed so I can fill it with other gear. Im debating on going roof rack with bed extender or bed extender to bed rack/bars. It would be great to have all the gear under the tonneau cover and the kayaks elevated but below the roof line.

 

has anybody put two kayaks on a roofrack with a rtt on a bed rackand still been able to open the tent without moving the kayaks? Ive been looking at prinsu and frontrunner. I use Yakima jaylow kayak carrier, anybody know if these will fit on either rack?

 

I have Thule roof racks for two 14' kayaks. I'm a firm believer in front and rear tie downs, so I can't have the Softopper up when running with the yaks on top. The only drawback is the Dolphin is f'in heavy and is difficult to load by yourself. I've run this setup at Courtright from the dam to Voyager Rock. It changes the center of gravity a bit having the boats so high up and on the way out last time, my wife paddled to the dam and we met her there. Turns out it takes just as long by boat or by truck.

The Softopper has taken everything I've thrown at it. Drove from Stockton to Durant, OK and back no problem. It goes through the car wash up or down inside the optional sleeve. I would expect as the fabric ages I'll have to start folding it up when I wash the truck. Anyone use 303 or other UV protectant on their tops?

 

Yakima control tower 11 bolts right on to factory hardpoint. They even include the hardware lol.
Coupled with a standard hitch extender I can safely haul long shit now
Just can’t grt into the bed while it’s on there. I plan on installing Yakima tracksnracks on the topper someday but damn those things are expensive

 

For anyone interested, I just switched to Kayaks. Now I just have to figure out how to carry a third with the tailgate up and still allow for my camper to be towed. The kayaks are 10'.