How to transport Kayaks

Were going camping this weekend so I dont hace a rack yet....it seemed to do good I just strapped it down well, It hangs out past my tailgate

 

What you guys think about think diy?

 

Just the other day I saw a family running down the side of the highway to retrieve their kayak that had come off at highway speeds, luckily it wasn't stuck in the front end of an oncoming car. Good straps do make a difference.

 

No farring needed?

 

Hey guys, I got that kayak rack that extends the bed. Works REALLY well for kayaks, but let me tell you that my dumb ass used it for lumber. I would encourage you to not use it for something heavier than a couple kayaks.

Ask me how I know.....

 

So I dont need whole rack just crossbars?

 

Not with the Jet Stream bars. I can’t hear them at all. I definitely needed one on my old Thule square bar system but that’s why I paid extra for these jet stream bars.

Warning though, I’ve been through countless car washes with my old 4Runner and a Thule rack, and probably at least a dozen with the Taco and this Yakima rack with no issues, but last week that changed. automated car wash ripped the forward crossbar off, put a few scratches inside the door jamb but fortunately nothing too bad. I’m waiting on a rubber foot that was lost when this happened so right now the racks are off.

The carwash attendant did warn me ahead of time that I shouldn’t go through with racks and that they aren’t responsible for damage, since I had been through so many ones before I told him it is fine... I guess I won’t be going to that carwash again.

 

If they're 9.5' long or less, just toss it in the bed (even short beds) and put two tie downs on it. Done it 1 minute. No need to waste money loading it any other way unless, you are camping or hauling bikes or other crap then you need to look at getting it elevated to clear bed space. I'm in this position now. I haul dirt bikes so I don't want to block the bed with a sport rack and I think roof racks look stupid on pickups so not sure what I'll get.

 

Not very proud of my rig, but it works! Haha

 

That’s turbo ghetto. There is nothing keeping it from moving laterally.

 

And they say to use bungees?!

 

Bad idea ?

 

I put my kayak on top of my 4Runner and use 2 ratchet straps to the left and right platform bars. I route the strap through the scupper holes in the boat so there is no way it’s going anywhere. Bungees are not a good idea.

 

Yeah I used ratchet straps

 

Platform bars you mean frame?

 

4 kayaks short 5ft bed 2 tie-downs and bed mat hold them in place no movement at all

 

I did that last time but takes up whole bed...bad when going camping

 

True I carried all the kayaks and another car carried everything else

 

How do you like using the factory roof rack? Seems to hold well?

 

This was a big factor with us choosing an AC over a DC. A 12' kayak in the 6' bed is not great but doable. And the DC with a 6' bed won't fit in my garage. And I just didn't want to mess with racks, etc. Most of time we go kayaking a place 5 minutes from our home. Slide em in and slide em out with a ratchet strap. Done.