need a rack to carry the canoe

i have a fiberglass cap, anyone ever build a rack that would be able to carry a 15 ft canoe. Not interested in putting a rack on the truck, but i wouldn't mind drilling holes in the cap to bolt on a rack??

 

I have a rack that attaches to the receiver and comes out about 6 ft and than angles up to hold the canoe level with the bed. I picked it up at harbor freight. I think they called it a bed extender. Works perfect.

 

call Eric at ANB Fabrication. He will build you one and ship it to you.

 

that is a great idea, i was wanting to get the canoe on top of the truck so i could carry some camping gear in the truck bed.I need a roof rack !!

 

I am trying to do the same thing. Found some interesting DIY wood jobs that just sit in the bed. I think I'm going to try to build one this weekend. I've been playing around in Google Sketchup, but the first design I came up with is a little bulky, but I could use it to store the canoe when not in the bed of the truck.

 

Actually, googling "Tacoma Canoe Rack DIY" is how I discovered this forum:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-bed-rack-hauling-kayak-canoe-surfboards.html

 

The Bed extender works two ways. The piece that fits into the hitch receiver is an "L" shape. Put the short end of the "L" into the receiver and the long end stands vertically and matches the height of the truck roof and any roof height cap. Put the long end of the "L" into the receiver, and the short vertical end reaches the height of the bed of the truck, so you can carry your canoe at bed height. The extender works either way. Great, and inexpensive way to get both options in one piece.
I bought one at Cabela's, but don't see it in their catalog any longer. Here is essentially the same thing.

http://www.realtruck.com/extend-a-truck-bed-load-extender/

 

Getting a dedicated rack on top of the cap would be your best best bet. Some thing specifically designed to distribut the weight evenly. And it would be a whole lot more versatile.

Get you some of these http://www.prolineracks.com/proline-roof-end-track-slats.html

And then some crossbars to go with and I think you'll be very happy.

 

I just went through this same problem trying to be able to carry my kayak and save the bed for gear.

Commercial racks (Yakima, Thule...etc) will run at least $350, but probably more like $500 all said and done. This is just wrong to me.

I ended up buying a welder from Harbor Freight ($100), some metal from Home Depot ($60), and a few other unexpected items (~$50) and made my own. I coated it with spray on truck bed liner, it has held up nicely, and I like the simpler design than the commercial ones. I could post pics if you are interested.

Ended up cheaper, better, and I also have a welder now.

 

Where are you, Speck? I'm in Baton Rouge.

Interested in what you did there. I was considering building a wooden rack that could be put in an out of the bed. It would also give me a place to put it when not in the truck (right now I kill grass in 16 foot sections).

 

I'm in Baton Rouge also. I'll try to post some pics, but need to figure out where to upload them to first.

I thought about the wood rack also, but knew I would get a camper shell at some point. You can also get a ladder rack from Harbor Freight for about $100, but I didn't trust bolting it vertically against the bed for support at highway speeds.

I hear ya with the storage problem, good justification to take it out more!

 

What year Taco? I made this one - http://jasonspecht.com/welding_photos.htm

Now I'm driving a 2013 DCSB. Planning to install artificial rain gutters on the upper sides, above the window, of my new cap. This would allow you the option of installing spacers to lift the rack even higher off your cap to install a basket or platform underneath your cross bars.

Google "tacoma camper shell rain gutter rack"

 

I am definitely looking at the Bed Extender from Harbor Freight ($69). You can actually, turn the bracket and make it into a goalpost type carrier. That's tempting.

 

This is what I did for my canoes. That is a woodstrip canoe I made.



factory roof rack and a rack that goes over my Bestop.

 

That is what i am looking for, i think i would have to install a rack on the truck to make it work though

 

I built this for my taco. Cost me around $60, made out of pvc pipe. Holds two kayaks. Driven through strong winds. No problems.

 

What do you have on the roof of the truck? I just looked at roof racks Thule & Yakimi they are pricey around $500.00

 

What size KM2's are you running ?

 

255/85/16

 

That's what I thought

Looks great

Thanks