 |
|
08-08-2003, 04:28 AM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Kayak Racks
I have a Dakota and Scamp 5th wheel. I need to figure out how to carry a kayak or two. I'm used to carrying two kayaks on top of my Class C motorhome. That had the steps up the back for access and a steel reinforced roof. I've seen pictures of racks for the truck where your boats extend out front, but haven't seen anywhere to purchase them. (Pete Dumbleton had a pic on one of his threads.) I also just found a truck box that will just barely fit in front of the hitch & I planned on buying it tonight, but it won't fit if I have to mount rack supports at the front of the bed. Any ideas out there?
|
|
|
|
08-08-2003, 07:37 AM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Kayak Racks
P J,
How long is your Kayak? I wouldn't have thought that there would have been enough room for it on top pulling a 5th wheel.
I have kicking around the ideal of adding a rack to the back of my Sport Trac so that I could haul a Kayak or john boat. But I am pulling a regular trailer and the boat will stick out over the windshield. And I planed on having one end of the boat extending out over the tailgate. I planned on adding a support just inside of the tailgate, to support the end of it.
I would think yours would be all the way forward to the front bumper. In that case it sounds like that you need a support coming up from the front bumper. And then another one behind the cab or on the cab.
|
|
|
|
|
08-08-2003, 04:39 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Ron & Bernice,
I have the Dakota Quad cab so I have quite a bit of cab space, but, yes, the support brackets would have to come up the back of the cab from the truck bed and the kayak would hang over the hood. The ones I've seen have some kind of hitch receiver on the front of the truck with an angled vertical support over the hood. Couldn't check your oil! I have a couple 9's, a 15', a 17', an inflatable which may be my interim answer though I haven't had it long enough to really trust it. I just sold my folding kayak, but didn't like it comfort-wise. I usually carry a 9' and a 15' or two 9's.
I would think a front support would be perfect for you too. I'll let you know if I find one. There is someone in the Scamp Club who told me he made his own. I think he's still traveling without computer access, but I will track him down though I would never be able to make my own.
|
|
|
|
|
08-08-2003, 05:18 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Rack
P J,
I think that I would rather bolt a rack to the back of my bed and use the roof rack on the truck. I could haul an 8 or 9 foot one real easy and could handle up to 12 feet if I decided to. One is all that I would haul, so weight shouldn't be an issue. In fact I could probably get by with just the roof rack, if I stay with the smaller one.
|
|
|
|
|
08-08-2003, 05:51 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Ron,
Yeah, I have actually thought about just using a roof rack & securing the boats front & back if I just carried the 9's. I need to measure the length of my roof. I'd probably have to use top bolters as I don't know that there are any clamps that would fit the truck. I have developed quite a collection of clamp styles as every vehicle change requires a new set-up. Let me know what you come up with.
|
|
|
|
|
08-09-2003, 12:04 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
I'm from there too
PJ,
I too hail from Michigan. Moved to California a dozen years ago.
I too love canoeing and kayacking.
I found that my lightweight canoe rests nicely on roof rack I made for my skimp. I have not had it on long stormy trips so I don't really know how much of a wind beating it can take though. But I bet with stronger conduit I'd trust it.
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3f348eefbe6f5scamppaint.jpg/>
|
|
|
|
|
08-09-2003, 06:49 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Now that's a roof rack!
Tom, I've been watching the evolution of your Skimp. You are quite the artist. Now can you design a roof rack like that for my 5th wheel? I especially loved your idea of having a built-in tarp support for the winter --winter, hmmm, that's right , you left Michigan 12 years ago. Probably forgot what winter is.
|
|
|
|
|
08-09-2003, 03:04 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
I have seen a custom rack on a full-sized Dodge pulling a full-sized 5W that held a 16-18 ft canoe. The rack was held in the front by a receiverhitch-mounted vertical post and in the rear by two vertical posts set in the front holes of the pickup bed.
Pete, in the RatHaus with kayak on camper shell rack on truck
PS Were I to want to carry one kayak on top of Egg, I would get some good foam pads (with no-slip stuf contact-cemented to bottoms) and put it on top. Drawback is that it is high and you would have to take it off to open vents more than just a little.
|
|
|
|
|
08-09-2003, 03:50 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Kayak
Pete,
What size Kayak do you have? I am still toying with the ideal.
|
|
|
|
|
08-09-2003, 05:44 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
kayak
Ron - We've been using a couple of Stearns inflatables (B-500) and have been very pleased with them. They're not self bailing, so we limit them to class II rapids and have had them against the rocks many times without damage. They weigh about 30#, fold down into a suitcase sized bag and set up in about 5 min.
See them here -> Stearns Inc
|
|
|
|
|
08-09-2003, 06:27 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
I am condsidering an 8-9 foot Fiesta at Sam's club.
|
|
|
|
|
08-09-2003, 06:44 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Rick, I have that kayak.
I have the Stearns B-500 too! I just got it & have only used it once on my inland lake. I was afraid to trust it on a river without more experience. There's my solution for now. I will eventually get racks for my hardshells - I find them more comfortable than the inflatable for longer trips. I don't think I can carry my boats on the 5th wheel because it was not built with the reinforced roof (no AC) and how would I reach them?
|
|
|
|
|
08-11-2003, 11:29 PM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
kayak/canoe
Recently sold my Scamp 5th wheel, but before I did; had consided roof top rack, but settled on a canoe/kayak trailer pulled behind the 5th wheel, via factory receiver hitch.
Bill H
The K-bears
Kodiak 5th wheel
|
|
|
|
|
08-12-2003, 01:54 PM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
My kayak is a Perception Acadia (have had it in waters of all three Acadias, the Natl Park in Maine, the coasts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and of course that great eating place with swamps and bayous called Louisiana, home of the American Acadians a.k.a. Cajuns) and is 12'4".
I dug out the photos of boat carriers I have encountered but am unable to upload (I get Error on page message when I click on Upload Photo). I will post them in future.
Pete in the RatHaus
|
|
|
|
|
08-12-2003, 03:23 PM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Pete, I'm just guessing but the last time we had someone with that Error message on the Photo Upload, it turned out the PC he was using was set to suppress pop-up windows.
:shg
|
|
|
|
|
08-12-2003, 03:46 PM
|
#16
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Bill H.
So you were a triple tanker?:omy Hope you were careful where you pulled in so you didn't have to do a lot of backing.
And Pete, I did see your posts previously. I would like to find the rack like on the full size pick-up with the bracket mounted on a front receiver. I need to get on the net & search.
|
|
|
|
|
08-12-2003, 05:01 PM
|
#17
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
front racks/ receivers
Check Cabelas for front racks/ receivers
also reesehitch.com
or check out a search for dualport hitch systems
|
|
|
|
|
08-13-2003, 05:52 PM
|
#18
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
The rig I took photos was a one-time custom build by the owner's local welding shop.
Pete in the RatHaus
|
|
|
|
|
08-13-2003, 07:33 PM
|
#19
|
|
Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 18,870
|
Pete,
Now you tell me! I've been looking everywhere for that. I did find the front receiver on dual port's site, but not that angled thingy that comes from the receiver to the support over the hood. I have passed similar racks on the road. Saw one in the Albany NY area at an RV dealer & I'm headed out that way in Sept. I'll check it out & let this thread know what I find. In the meantime I'll use my inflatable. Thanks for all the help everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Upcoming Events |
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
|
|
