Overhead Kayak Solutions

Great. Follow instructions carefully and pick up some 3M marine grade silicone to seal the holes.

 

"Goal post" hitch and some hully rollers, I use the OEM roof rack up front. Solid

 

All right folks, I solved my own problem and wanted to post some pics to help others in a similar dilemma. My main goal here was an overhead solution for a 13' fishing kayak, since I want to use the bed, with tailgate up, for various fishing/kayak gear. I also didn't want to drive with a kayak sticking out that much out of the bed (personal preference). Shorter kayaks in the bed are no problem. Last, I wanted the continued use of my OEM tonneau cover. So that I can keep that closed/locked with fishing/kayak gear secure inside, i.e. the expensive stuff like the Hobie Mirage Drive, Fishfinder head unit, cart, etc.

I bought the OEM rack on Ebay for $200 and installed it. I used a crap load of silicone for the bolt connections, so hopefully water won't be an issue. I like the way the OEM rack looks and the fact that the arms can stow away. I do not like the flimsy plastic connections for the arms and would not load anything more than a single kayak on this rack.

I reused an old Thule Slipstream rack I had which I mounted to the horizontal arms of the OEM rack. Any 4-piece cradle set-up would work here. I just used what I had sitting my shed.

I had bought a Maxhaull bed extender from Amazon for about $60. Used vertically, it's a perfect load-assist device (see photo). I put some pool noodles on it and the kayak slides up over it onto the roof rack. I could have strapped the kayak on the Maxhaull and one of the cradle pairs, but the extender has too much side to side movement and the kayak looks more stable when loaded ully on the 2 cradle pairs as shown. After loading/unloading, I will simply take the Maxhaull out and throw in the bed. There are nicer hinged load assist devices from Yakima and Rhino, but they are $$$.

 

Thule rack.