10' Kayak on my Montana Ladder-Ideas?

[jaybird]

I don't want to invest in a carrier on my truck for my 10' kayak. Are any of you attaching your Yak to your Montana ladder??? Ideas please!!!

[H. John Kohl]

I would consider using the rear treailer hitch as the main foundation to hold the weight and just use the ladder as a stabalizer.
Just my idea.

[washley1]

My experience is the ladder is too fragile to hold extra stuff, like chairs, bikes, and certainly not a kayak! It was hardly meant to hold a person, let alone have extra weight on it as it bounces down the road. I only weigh in at 176, and climbing up and down for various reasons caused all the face plates to pull through. From now on I will use a step ladder to climb up most of the way before I step over to the built in.

[1retired06]

Agree, that ladder is not a good bet.

[dieselguy]

Some will pipe in here that they carry ladders ... bicycles ... and so on on the ladder without issue. I used to carry a bicycle on an aluminum bicycle rack lashed to the rear ladder ... that was until I happened to follow a friend driving my fiver to a storage facility. It was an eye opener! It well explained the little wear marks here and there on the rack and ladder. The only thing I'll ever use the ladder for again is climbing to access the roof.

[jsmitfl]

I would agree with John. Use the rear hitch for the base to hold the kayak and then tether it to the ladder.

[ccpetr318]

jaybird,
Have you had any further luck with this question? I'd love to know what you found as an end solution.

[DQDick]

Just for grins I'll mention that I would never use the ladder to access the roof. On the other hand, those who know me know I carry a large multi-adjustable ladder on the same ladder I wouldn't use myself.

[8.1al]

If I were bigger I might hesitate using the rv ladder, but for me it works fine.

[Flymutt]

I have an inflatable kayak so no help here. However, last year I did see a carrier specifically made for two kayaks that mounted on the back of a Montana. Sorry, I don't remember the manufacturer name but it was pretty slick. Maybe try google-ing it?
Supported by the Monty bumper.

[ccpetr318]

Google-It. Never thought of it. So I did. After a couple of hours there are a few options out there. There is a website: http://www.rvkayakrack.com/ Great looking solutions but very expensive as far as I was concerned, costing $1000-$1500. However, if you have a $250k+ RV well than the cost probably isn't a problem.

Further research shows that "Flymutt" might have the right idea; inflatable kayaks are quite the topic among other RV Blogs and Boards. Weighing in at between 30-45 lbs for most 9-12ft' kayaks, that goes a long way in the storage compartments.

One solution that has promise is the Thule Goal Post Rack. It is designed to create a "T" by using the rear hitch. What folks have done is have a hitch placed on the front of their trucks and with a roof rack combination the kayaks sit on the front of the truck instead of riding on the back of the 5th wheel. This option with the front hitch will probably run you about $500 (front hitch and goal post solution).

Just more food for thought.

[mobil]

Our kayaks are 13'9" and 14'. We carry them on the roof of our truck with Yakima racks. We slide them forward so about 2 1/2 feet hang over the truck bed, secure them with 2 straps each + front and rear tie downs. We have a long bed so there's no clearance issues. After unhitching I loosen the straps and tie downs and slide them back to center them on the racks. We have a "c" channel mounted on the truck roof, landing pads attached to the "c" channels, control towers lock into the landing pads. This year I installed landing pads on the truck's bed rails so if we're parked for an extended time or we're just using the yaks without "camping", I use the crossbars/control tower setup on top of the truck bed(by re-positioning the control towers-one allen head bolt for each control tower). It makes loading and unloading much easier and quicker and I can still use the truck bed (I have a folding tonneau cover) to keep my fishing and yaking gear in and hidden and locked.

[bikefever]

May be too late, but...
We carry two inflatable Hobie Kayaks in our storage area. They fold and fit in a duffle bag weighing less than 50 pounds. These kayaks have the Hobie Mirage drive in which you pedal your way.

Check them out at http://www.hobiecat.com/mirage/mirage-i9s/