Tall Bed Bars for Kayaks

Edit: Let me preface with the fact that I would love to have a Thule, Yakima, etc. set up but I'm looking for a cheaper alternative. I still want to use my bed for storage which is why I'm looking at something like this.

I know there are already a ton of threads related to how to carry your kayaks...I'm wondering if anyone has specifically used these from TacomaBeast...I'm thinking about using these with some J racks but worried about the bars being too low. I know the kayak will curve up once sitting on the racks and it says on their website you can carry kayaks with them. Just curious if anyone has an experience with them.

Thanks!

 

looks way too low. it might clear but youre only increasing the odds of an accidental dent to your roof.

 

I don't see how your hull would clear the roofline unless you attach some holders that raise the hull mounting point higher.

 

Throw the yak in your bed with an extender for short trips. Get a Yakima or Thule system for longer hauls.

 

Thanks for the feedback from everyone!

I'm not sure what I'll do yet. I'd like to get the Thule or Yakima racks but they are also more than double the price, which is a factor.

I'm definitely going to see how flexible they are with returns before I pull the trigger. Their site specifically says these are for kayaks but even with J racks it has to be a close fit.

 

How long are your yaks? Mine are 12' & 12.5' and I carry them around in the bed just fine.

 

I carry my yak in the bed all the time. I got some chains at Home Depot and pop them in the tailgate so it can rest at like 50% down. Kayak goes in and stays in more of an upright angle. Works great, even with my low profile bed rack.

A cheap option if you have bed room.

 

They're both around 10'. That's how I carry them now with no problems but just looking for something so I can still use the bed for storage when we camp or something like that.

 

I do the same thing. At 12' I don't feel like I need a rack.

 

I put a 17 in my LB with the Yakima bed extender. Two cinch straps. Fine for local stuff. No interstate.

 

I would not use that particular rack for kayaks. I've been pretty happy with the Rola Haul Your Might. Cheaper than Thule/Yakima and includes cross bars.

$474 ROLA 59799 Haul-Your-Might Rack for Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra and Tacoma Pickup Trucks

https://www.amazon.com/59799-Haul-Your-Might-Nissan-Toyota-Tundra/dp/B00V9T0HZ4

Previously had the yakima bedrock low rack on my 2nd gen. Great for bikes, horrible for kayaks over 8ish ft. Loading and boats shifting resulted in scratching up the trucks corners, and even a minor dent. Went with a rack where the boat easily clears the roof this time.

 

I appreciate all the feedback!

I am looking to get these so that my bed is free for additional storage while carrying my kayaks though...and without spending twice as much on a Thule or Yakima set up.

Thanks!

 

@

I'm looking for the exact same thing. Something so I can take both kayaks (GF and I) and still have our bed for camping gear. We have 10'6 kayaks that measure 32" wide. I've been considering going with a Diamondback cover, hoping I could strap both kayaks to to the top of that but with the bed width of the truck being 64" I'm not confident it would work. It would have to be one kayak on the diamondback, and the other in the bed. Which still might work.

Anyways, if you go with these, I'd love to know how they work.

 

Thanks! This definitely gives me an excellent alternative option to consider.

 

I get that. I would probably look at a roof rack then. I am so that I can carry the yaks over my RTT and my camping gear in the bed.

 

I'll let you know when I finally decide on something! I'm not sure how wide my kayaks are (I'm at work right now) but ours barely fit side by side in the bed but they do still fit. I would think in that case that they would both fit on top of the Diamondback cover.

 

I got a couple sit on top fishing kayaks, which tend to be a little wider. If you have more of a standard sit inside, I think you'd be golden with a Diambondback but they are much more expensive but you'll also get a lot more benefits.

 

X2

Rola is awesome for kayaks, lumber etc.

 

Another vote for the Rola rack. I haven't used it just yet for kayaks or my 17' canoe that I bought them for, but it has done excellent with lumber.

Side note: I also have the factory tonneau for the winter months. Because of that I had to extend the mounting slots on the Rola rack and drill some clearance holes for the tonneau latching pins.
Not a big deal and I can switch from one to the other in less than 15 min.

 

Alright well you guys have me sold on the Rola now. Thanks for the feedback!