Canoe and/or Kayaks on roof

[Dui]

Anyone done this? I have pads for the canoe but imagine to strap it down one would need to install some supports so you could tie down. Any products suggestions? I guess also vertical clearance might be an issue.
Thanks in advance...
Dui

[cdaniels]

We have a friend that has his strapped to a rack on top of his truck. I think he used a ladder rack from JC Whitney and straped it to that with a T bar from the front of the truck.

[Art-n-Marge]

If you mean strapping them to the tow vehicle there are quite a few companies that sell rack systems (gutter, non-gutter) that will then provide rails to attach the supports for carrying the canoes or kayaks. Yakima, for example. Most people put these on the truck's cab as far forward to avoid contact with the trailer when towing.

Can you describe the pads you are talking about? This might make it easier to refer what company provides the rack and rail systems.

DO NOT put these on top of the fifth wheel. The trailer is already at the height limit for most States. If you have a bumper tow you might make it, but with the wind forces and height requirements you might want to fasten these to the tow vehicle, plus it will be a lot easier to remove. Avoid the trailer's ladder.

Here is a website you can start with. You'll probably need a system that carries the canoe/kayaks as far forward as possible. There might also be a concern if your canoe/kayaks are very long to not interfere with the trailer behind you especially on sharp turns.

http://www.rackwarehouse.com/

[CasaDelSol]

We installed a hitch receiver on the front of our Dodge Ram and carry our kayaks on the roof

[camper4]

I use a Yakima rack. You just have to be careful that you keep the boats far enough forward that they do not hit the front cap on the Montana when making sharp turns.

[Art-n-Marge]

I like CasaDelSol's idea. A front hitch means you can put the rear vertical T brace that normally fits in a rear receiver, but now it's in front of the engine and along with the cab's roof, the kayaks and canoes can be plenty forward. I believe this is legal because you'll only have the one vertical pole in your view and the boats will be above the roof and your view. I see delivery trucks with rack systems that have two poles in the front corners driving around, sometimes with two poles, so I would guess this is okay.

[CasaDelSol]

That's right Art. I wasn't sure at first when Dave suggested it, but we see commercial vehicles with the same setup. We only have the one pole in front like you said and the kayaks sit far enough forward so they don't interfere with the Monty turning radius. It works for us. When we don't bring the kayaks, we put the bicycles on the front instead.

[The Sunflowers]

I'm trying to figure out if I can somehow get our kayaks through the door to put them in the trailer until I can work out something better.

On the roof of the trailer doesn't appear possible due to height issues, and getting them up there sure would be a pain!

Eventually I'll probably have to get a front hitch and put a vertical T brace (like Art suggested) there and one roof rack on the cab of the tow vehicle.

The one kayak is short (10') but the other is longer (13+') and I've got my eye on something even longer, someday. It should be interesting! But that is off in the future.

Nice thing about living in Florida is there are *LOTS* of places to camp within a reasonable drive of home, and *LOTS* of places to kayak. DW and I hope to be doing a lot of both starting this Fall.

[hookman]

This is the site for the loader that I use it will give you some ideas on mounting something for your kayaks. My loader will handle boats from 10' to 16' with no trouble.

http://www.loadit.com/

[Captain Joe]

Don....nice setup. Do you have a motor or do you use a trolling motor? If a motor, what size do you have and how do you store it?

[hookman]

I have a 9.9 hp and a 15 hp Evenrudes. I mostly use th 9.9 and this year I bought a Minn Kota 45 lb. thrust variable speed. They are carried in my lock box in the truck box. I mainly fly fish for trout.

[Dui]

Thanks folks. Am looking at a front hitch to the vehicle and yakima back rack on the cab roof. Should have mentioned I have a jack rabbit roll cover which takes away the option of using the bed holes for a support system. thanks for the ideas.
Dui

[Pete Hanson]

We have traveled with our two, 10' kayaks inside the Monty (2955 floor plan) Needless to say it is a little awkward but works very well for us. With the slides open it is no problem to get the kayaks in and out. We use two standalone kayak racks made by a company named Suspenz www.suspenz.com The kayaks are stacked on the racks and so far they do not move while traveling. When parked we store the racks underneath the 5er with a bicycle lock or inside if it's just the two of us.