Texas BS Thread

^I remember that lol.

PS: Anyone have some good ideas for building a kayak rack? Yesterday's exercise (although surprisingly stable) didn't inspire confidence. The blue Kayak is one a friend let me borrow and apparently is waaay longer than the orange one I have.

 

Not sure about building, but http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/229440-bgrs-build-thread.html has a nice kayak rack on his roof rack

 

I need to be able to fit two of them. And I don't currently have a roof rack of any kind. I'm thinking the best way is to set them up on the roof with one end of the kayak just over the windshield and the other end level, up in the air over the bed. I recall seeing some home made contraption someone made from PVC a long time ago that was basically a support for the end that hovered over the bed. I might try something like that.

 

If I get some time I might see if I can come up with some designs for ya on the computer. I doubt one would be very hard to make. Im sure we could build one out of angle iron for under $100

 

I have the welder to do it

 

Two sets of racks = two yaks.



Just my opinion. I wouldn't be carrying anything on the roof itself. I realize kayaks are light, but that's some thin sheet metal they use on cars today and I doubt there's any support of the roof except along the tracks where roof racks attach to.

 

Got my brute force fab hybrid in yesterday. Now I just need to paint it and put it on!

 

I made this out of angle iron and flat bar. Cost me about 120 bucks in materials. You can kinda see it carrying my kayaks in my avatar

 

Pics?!?!

 

Clayton, that looks great. I might try something similar. From the looks of it the kayaks are fully supported by the design and there's no weight on the roof?

 

What bolts/hardware did you use to interface with the bed rail system?

 

all i got for now


Ill update once I get it installed.

 

^^wooohooooo pretty!

 

And I have access to a brake, shear, ironworking machine and such at work.

 

How good are you or how accessible are plasma cutters and/or welding for you?

This is what I plan to one day attempt to make a variation of that will carry kayaks:

http://www.love-2-surf.com/products.html

This company has not had them stocked for a while so, but I figure I can make something that works with or tie downs to support the weight of kayaks (when I find the time of course).

 

What do you do out of curiosity?

 

These are meant to bolt to your bed cleats and use Yakima or Thule bars. I figure you could make something similar and extend it to right above the roof line so it doesn't rest on the roof.

 

^Interesting idea. I've never seen those before.

 

I found them years ago and the guy has not said he has stopped making them, however they are never in stock.

One day I will try to make them. My thoughts for stability is to make a flat plate for the bottom of the cleat to give more support if you put a taller shaft on them.

Haha, shaft!

Anyways, maybe I will finally find time the spring so I could use them.

 

Correct, there is no weight on the roof, it is all supported by the rails.

I used just a square nut small enough to slide in the rail, but big enough it doesn't spin when I tighten it. Using a set of dedicated attachments for the rails would be the only thing I did different. Something like this



This is similar to what I used



Edit: The system is super sturdy, each rack will hold my weight by itself with no movement. It also required no welding which was a big plus