Canoe/Kayak Racks for your Taco?

http://www.thuleracks.com/featured_product_hullavator.asp

I've used the Thule Hullavator. Really helps if you are out for a paddle by yourself. Easier to load the boat if you are only one person. Especially with the roof height.

 

DAMN ! That is one badass piece ! Nicely done !

 

4 boats


Dont do it, this is the product.

 

paintless/dentless repair. Got 95% of the damage out. Not perfect but I cant complain for $40. body shop would have been outrageous.

 

Forgive my ignorance , are these Thule rack feet a no-drill mount ? I didn't see anything on their website that show exactly how they mount to the roof .

 

Yes they attach with clips to the door frame. I did track down the cause of that near catastrophic failure. First, way to much weight, I think the racks are rated for close to 200lbs. I had close to 260 on there. Second, the way all the boats were strapped. The weight of the boats were inside the Q-Towers (Yakima) while the straps were attached outside the towers causing the cross bars to bow down. When the cross bars bow down like that it essentially loosens the tension of the clips holding the rack to the roof, The rack then slid backwards causing the damage.

Edit: also the tower landing pads were dry-rotted (see pic), that didnt help much either.

 

not a dc, but it would work on one too. i have put 2 kayaks on it, but if you stacked them right you could get 3 or 4. i drove from panama city florida to corpus christi at 70 most of the way with no problems. best part, it was a total of $30. $20 for the racks (from pep boys), $8 for the proper clips, and $2 for the pool noodles. on he front rack, i drilled new holes about 1 inch further out on each side so the feet would sit as far out as possible.

 

has anyone ever seen a roof rack made of tubing, but using the factory mount locations?

 

There was a guy over at TN who used the factory mount locations & attached thule tracker kit that gives a fixed point where you can attach tracker towers & load bars.

Here are the pics of what he did showing what is under the factory rubber strips & finished job with the tracker mount point. The towers & load bars clip into the cleat. Never seen any other system other than the clamps or factory rack on the roof.

 

is there a link for that?

 

Here is the link, his pics starts at post #13, username 69I46VERT
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211687&highlight=rack

 

I use an extension that comes from the hitch, then they lie side by side in the bed. Throw on the orange flag after making sure the ratchets are strapped tight and away you go.

 

Yakima Dry Dock and Yakima rack over the cab for a 13' kayak (so we could leave the tonneau on and lock things in it).

 

this is how i get mine around. it's a pretty slick setup that lets me easily load a 16', 75lb boat by myself. just pop the front of the boat on the rollers and push her on up to rest in the front saddle. i'll try to get a pic with the boat on next time i load it up...

 

Thule Xsporter is a good one. i like it and it works very well..

 

I have a trac rac g2 for sale if anyone is interested! Its rated for up to 800 lbs.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/buy-sell-trade/93768-fs-t-rac-g2-2nd-gen-tacomas.html

 

I just throw them in the back and tie em down really well. have had 3 back there with no problem.

 

Ha! I knew that would work! Awesome!


Take it from me racks can hold lots and lots of boats (I've done 10) if you know what you are doing. However if you are going to push it with your racks make sure they are the bolt on type and you are putting your straps through hard points otherwise all that is holding the boats on is friction.



Things like DarkNight's story are pretty common with that type of rack. Those types of clamping racks are known for completely detaching from vehicles while under load and flying onto the road. I remember a story of a kayak expedition to central Mexico where a bunch of guys flew in with boats, gear and those racks. 3 hours later after installing the racks on a rental and driving on the highway the rack completely detached without warning and went boats and all off a bridge.

Edit:

Also the only roof rack accessory worth buying if you own a platic boat is a stacker (and then you want yakima's with the universal mount). The racks aren't going to deform or damage your boats if you mount them properly, just look at what whitewater kayakers do to their boats. People are pushed into buying them mainly because of how much they are marked up.

The only people who need them are those with wood, fiberglass or carbon composit boats. Basically if the ONLY appropriate method of storage for a boat is to be hung because it will otherwise deform then you have to buy a rack system. Otherwise save your money

 

Anybody have one with their factory roof rack?

 

this is what my near future plans are.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/22869-roof-rack-double-cab-3.html#post334245