Kayak set up

Hello,

I'm trying to figure out the best set up for my new 2022 double cab, short bed.

Looking for any suggestions on products that would meet my needs/wants.

I need to carry two bikes and two 13ft kayaks. I'd like to use a bike rack on the hitch and a bed rack for the kayaks. I have J hooks I can use for the kayaks (if needed) already and a hitch bike rack.

I'm only slightly opposed to roof racks for MPG (when not hauling kayaks) and ease of loading reasons. I also haul lumber often enough a bed rack sounds easier and better than a roof rack.

I'd like to clear the top of the cab when hauling kayaks, but I'd also like to adjust the bed rack lower (not a 100% must) when not hauling kayaks to allow for some more storage on top of the racks.

I need a tonnaeu cover too. Retractable.

I'd like the rack to be two pieces or very easy to take off so I can remove it when I want full access to the truck bed.

That's pretty much it. I've considered Yakima overhaul HD rack, but I don't really like how it doesn't go lower than 19 inches. I don't think I'd ever adjust it.

 

Its not what you asked for, and its not going to satisfy that desire to mod your truck, but something that checks your every box you listed is a utility trailer.

Utility trailer can carry both kayaks and bikes. Utility trailer can carry lumber. No effect on mpg (when not hauling). Ease of loading is exponentially easier. No effect on your ability to use your tonneau cover of choice. Never lose full access to truck bed.

That being said, I don't think you'll be happy with the suggestion, so I'll stick to your wanted setup; I wouldn't consider hauling 13' kayaks on a bed rack alone, because nearly 8-9' of them would be unsupported (unless you had a roof rack to strap to). A different option I think you could pursue is a hitch extension like below. You could support the kayaks in the bed/on the extension, then go with something like bed bars above your tonneau cover for the bikes. I still wouldn't choose that over a simple utility trailer thats multi-use, but could be an option to consider if you just have to have some sort of bed rack/bar setup.

 

Yakima Overhaul bed rack with tonneau adapter. It only works with a certain cover though, so you’ll have to figure that out.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

Should have mentioned, storing and manueving a trailer would pretty impractical for me. I'm also not sure I can convince the wife. I have a two car garage in a tight alley way. Hard enough to make the turns in and out as is, though it's possible I'm sure. The taco is the only vehicle so might be able to squeeze one in. Do you have a specific suggestion for a compact trailer that can take the yaks and bikes?

I don't want to mod my truck just because I want to burn cash.
I've hauled the kayaks on top of my Ford Explorer with cross bars and J hooks no problem. I don't see that being problematic with a bed rack, maybe there is something I'm missing. Several feet of overhang each side, but no where near 8-9 ft. of unsupported kayak.

Personally against the bed extender because it takes the storage of the bed away, unfortunately.

 

I've been looking into this one, I'm hoping to find other options and suggestions for this type of set up.

 

No suggestions for a brand new trailer; I'm a big advocate for used when it comes to most truck parts/accessories (when possible), so whatever deals you could find local would be my vote. As for the overhang/unsupported/whatever we want to call it, I'm sure its fine; something like a 13' leaves more overhang than I'm comfortable with though. Even with 10' kayaks on a previous vehicle and j hooks, I tied the fronts and backs down at the hood/tow hooks to keep them from catching wind. Interstate speeds and roof cargo gets real sketchy real quick.

 

IMO there really is no better option, especially if you want tonneau compatibility. I like the prinsu racks, but I’m just not sold on their functionality. Yakima and Thule have been making racks for decades and make racks to fit nearly every vehicle on the planet. They come with warranties and before the pandemic, parts were readily available. Yakima updated their entire line in the past 6 years or so and everything have a much more finished and refined look and feel.

 

I have long kayaks like you mention. Since I use my bed and Voodoo racks for other things, I put the kayaks on roof racks. The only time I don't really like the setup is when I am highway speeds and its windy. See this post for more info about my setup:
What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

And it looks like this:

What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

 

I would like to see a canoe loaded on a Prinsu cab rack. I think if I could know for certain that it would work well with a 16’ canoe that has some rocker, I would maybe pull the trigger on it, over a Yakima bed or cab setup.

 

i have used the tow hitch extension bar before. that is probably the simplest, cheapest and easiest way.

 

It's not cheap, but this looks like it could work for you. I know these things are super light and you'd be able to walk it around by hand even with some kayaks on it.
https://www.etrailer.com/Kayak-Trai...kPDHbBNDf7tdcVdlJs67rDpdXU8N64KwaAt5lEALw_wcB

You could also just find a tiny trailer and put some cross bars on it, then mount whatever you need.
The tiny harbor freight trailer is always an option:

 

I bought a 16’ John boat this week using a bed extender with 4 straps. I need to get a few more trips under my belt before I would swear by it but it didn’t give me any trouble on the backroads or highway.

 

13' is not really a long kayak, as long as they are supported in the middle they'll be fine; use bow and stern lines in addition to your main straps and make sure they are strapped securely, not ratcheted down. I used to carry my 16.5' Dagger Magellan and the ex's 13.5' Perception Carolina on top of my FJ-40; at other times I carried multiple whitewater boats or a pair of canoes (typically 14 and 15' boats but did carry a 17 Grumman once), etc. I did the same on my 1st gen Tacoma and I do it now with a 2nd gen (there are pictures in one or two threads); both with camper shells on six foot beds but that's not really that much longer. If you prefer a cab roof rack, you have options there too including tracks that will mount in the factory location/gutter that will allow you to use Yakima, Thule, etc. bases if you wanted to go that way.

Those tiny Harbor Freight trailers have gotten a lot more expensive but I know plenty of folks who use them as well, especially when I was into VW buses (they were very popular for carrying extra camping equipment, bikes, boats, etc. since the bus only has about 70hp). Look online and there are descriptions of how to lengthen the tongue so that you can carry whatever length small boat you want.* Ideally, make a removable extension for the tongue so that it's easier to store and use for small tasks. HF and a couple of other places sell a lightweight folding trailer that you can fold in half and store upright against the garage wall.

One of my neighbors carries his boats and other junk on his Thule Tracrac; I can't recall if he has a cover.

I'm no help on the tonnaeu cover, I hate the things.



*Also brace the frame and use better quality hardware and lock the nuts in whatever manner you prefer. Clean and regrease the bearings with quality grease or replace them altogether with better quality too (they used to be an odd metric size so you have to check).