Kayak Carry Challenge

Trying to think my way out a predicament, looking to see if anyone else has a solution I haven't thought of.

The Problem: Avid kayaker, sea kayaks and others. Bought new Taco (Access Cab) this year and looking forward to using to go paddling come ice-out. Also planning future non-paddle-related additions to vehicle (damn you TW). Hoping to add a Bestop and a rear plate bumper (possibly with swing out) somewhere down the line.

I can think of 3 kayak carrying solutions that don't require a fiberglass canopy (already have a lot of Yakima gear):
1) Double Yakima Outdoorsman
2) Single Outdoorsman w/ single Q-tower rail over cab
3) Yakima Dry Dock w/ single Q-tower rail over cab

The Dry Dock already seems sketchy. Solutions #1 & #2 are both incompatible with a Bestop, up or folded. #3 is incompatible with a plate bumper, especially with a swing out.

So short of getting a custom made bed rack designed for my needs to fit with, and over, a Bestop... seems I'm SOL, right? If I want to carry my boats, I need to give up something else... unless I buy a trailer (ssshhh!).

Any solutions I'm not thinking of?

 

I quite clearly stated "Ssshhh!" regarding that solution.

 

Yeah, short of that I don't see another solution w/o giving up other plans. I guess it's reassuring to know I'm not missing some other obvious option out there. Haven't been seriously considering the bed rack, just saying "short of that, just trailer, right?". I fear a trailer leads to multi-boat racks, storage boxes... suddenly another money pit. Sheesh, bye bye more money.

 

It's something to look at, hadn't considered starting out w/ a general utility trailer. Have a long time to go til paddling season... so I've plenty of time to find some solution.

I swear there used to be a product out there called BedRack (or similar) that was an upright that mounted in the bed, with ratchet straps to the corners, that supported a crossbar. But I can't find a single trace of it on the interwebs... so I'm feeling like a part of my brain might be missing.

 

I carry 2 14'9" Ocean Kayak Scupper Pros in the back of the Tacoma, no rubbing, no bumping, no tilting.

I use a 1x8 trimmed to fit the pockets in the bed, a truck extender in my hitch, 2 tie straps, 2 rubber bungees, and no problems at interstate speeds.

Your yaks may be longer, glass or something that would hinder using my method, but it's worth considering, maybe altering as you need for your gear.

 

Thought about solutions like that. As you mention, I think length is going to be an issue for me. Ranging from just over 16' (rotomolded) to just shy of 18' (glass)... that's a lot of boat to be hanging out the end of a 6' bed. Something similar might be a near-term solution for my rec boats come early Spring.

Gut says I'm going to end up running Outdoorsman rack(s) and ditching the Bestop. Time will tell.

 

,also consider DOT regulations here is south Carolina anything hanging off 6 ft needs a flag... no more than 8ft can be hanging off trailer or truck bed

 

Maybe this or they could custom something off the base design....
http://www.rackitinc.com/modular/campershell.html

 

3' here for a flag

 

Is there not a bed rack that goes over the besttop ? I thought I remember seeing something like that before

 

Check out what people have done with harbor freight trailers. They're cheap and with a little work it could be perfect for what you want.


http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-turn-a-harbor-freight-trailer-into-a-Kayak/

 

18 feet is going to be an issue.
A short trailer will not give you what you need with over hang.
Plus tight places won't be your friend.

IMO your best bet is a custom rack.
I have seen a few that extend over the cab and will carry the lengths you need securely. If you don't have the skill or equipment then barter with another member if possible. A little ingenuity could make it be a asset for you with other things you haven't thought of yet.

Maybe a frame from one of the new hi bed tents they have now and add a front ext.

 

Here's an option. Since you're looking at decking out the taco with some goodies, look into the PrInSu Design roof racks. Zach makes one for the access cab, but it does require you to add mounting points in the roof. Now, since you'll be carrying long kayaks pick up a t-bar hitch rack. You'll be able to use the hitch rack with both your stock bumper and the new replacement bumper.

 

OP , if you get a rack up over your Bestop , you can haul that length no problem

For example

16'



20'



20'

 

Great idea. I'm currently researching options for the same problem and buying an access cab roof rack plus a hitch rack is currently my favorite option. But I did find a hitch rack significantly cheaper than Thule's $230 Goal Post T-Bar you linked to. Only $70 for a Westin Gear One Man Canoe Loader at Sportsman Guide

 

Whoa! A whole buncha bumps/comments that I'd missed on this. Thanks all for the input, responses by topic not post-by-post. There's no ideal solution within my constraints, just need to figure out what's going to work best for me & which constraints to loosen on.

T-bar hitch rack: (or the Yakima DryDock) Is on the list of possibilities, however a replacement bumper with a hidden hitch or a swing out tire carrier renders that impractical.

Prinsu racks: Yeah, love em. On my long-term list. Short-term already own Yakima towers/bars so have front mounts for the price of clips.

Top-carry length: Yep, not concerned about boat length, just mount points. In-the-bed carry just ain't gonna happen w/ these lengths though.

Trailers: The length isn't an issue there either. I've pulled many a canoe trailer stacked w/ several 17' canoes. Tis a different animal of trailer & takes some getting used to, but is workable. Costly (more than I want now), & then I need someplace to keep it.

Bedrack: Yah, the thing I'd already realized was probably the only solution. Was hoping to avoid that kind of cost.

Thanks for the variety of inputs. Still have 4 months til paddling season to work on something. The short-term solution is probably going to be Yakima bar over the cab & an Outdoorsman over the bed -- and Bestop delete.

And... Ah-Ha! My brain is not broken. The Bedrack product I mentioned did indeed exist, but it looks like they went out of business back around 2001.
https://web.archive.org/web/20010201062400/http://bedrack.com/

And yes... I know just getting a fiberglass shell is also a potential solution.

Tnx again for the inputs.

 

Op, you can do a lot with a Harbor Freight Trailer:

https://www.google.com/search?q=harbor+freight+kayak+trailer&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YmLCVP2QMe7CsASanILwDg&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1626&bih=933#tbm=isch&q=harbor+freight+kayak+trailer&revid=888563030

And they are pretty cheap, just $300:
Hope this helps some