Just bought my first canoe, We No Nah Escapade. Also picked up an extend a truck for transport. People at the shop suggest carrying up on roof of my F 150. It looks a bit unstable up there but does not seem to shift if tied down. Anybody use it in the low position? My only concern is that is a lot of canoe sticking out behind the bed. The plus in the bed is ease of loading and unloading. Any thoughts are apreciated.
Jay
put it up on top …
– Last Updated: Jun-05-09 9:17 PM EST –
.... get the Reese canoe loader to go in the 2"x 2" reciever ... it's a vertical T bar and the T swivels 360*
I use low
position with plastic kayaks up to 16.5’ long in my 8’ bed with the extension, which is about 5’ long. Tailgate down gives a 10’ flat area, then 3’ unsupported, then the support, then 3.5’ sticking out.
Flags on. I also use a load-bar across the top of the kayaks at the tailgate position, to keep them from jumping when I go over the bumps in the California roads I must travel. This keeps the tailgate cables from coming undone.
I drive an F350 (stiff suspension) and I recently read that the CA roads are within the 5 worst states in condition. You may not need to be concerned with this.
If I had a $4K composite boat I might do differently, but poly has it’s advantages.
Thule Slipstream
– Last Updated: Jun-06-09 9:08 AM EST –
Hellow Drjay!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaI75CfiHck
Not only for ease of loading, but also provides that extra length you're looking for on cab roof. By the time you get the Thule system, the Slipstream, and accesories, this rig will run you about $500-$600, alst I checked.
Other option is "saw horse" type bed cradles, one on front and one on back of bed--sold many places, check eBay. I bought a pair for Silverado that is outstanding, metal, and fit great. Sold the truck, bought Avalnache, and now I have no place to put a truck bed "sawhorse" because it's enclosed in back. Go figure. I initially had wooden top rail type ($199), but do not advise it--the wood shrinks, warps, and is a splintery pain in the butt.
The I splurged for this and did cost this much, shipped:
http://tinyurl.com/ltr7jl
I did not drill or scew into bed side--I merely bought some heavy duty C-clamps at Lowe's for $5 each, and clamped each right onto upper truck bed rail with rubber mat underneat so as not to scratch ther rail. Never moved a bit! And when rains, clamps get sort of rusted and really never move. When I was totting my big screen TV home from Circuit City and it was too high to go under the metal sawhorses, I sure thanked the Lord for the C clamp idea--boom, take off the clamps and the bars right there in the parking lot. I am a zealot when it comes to things being rigid (call me the Viagra of rigid boat mounting)--the C clamp idea, met with skepticism by me when someone on here first mentioned it to me, was ideal.
I added these for the boats at $100 per boat:
http://www.canoegear.com/catalog/product.php?productid=359&cat=46&page=1
I bought an Extend A Truck but never used it--perhaps it's great, but like you, I don't like things hanging out back, hitting if I go through a down angle off-road canoe access, and most importantly, having some half drunk dolt slam into it at night and sue me, taking my 401k and garnishing my wages for the rest of my working career. Makes the Slipstream or racks and saddles downright inexpensive in comparison. And if you ever quit the sport, you can always sell the rig on eBay for at least 1/2 what you bought it all for.
Oh, and I even bought and still own this--when I got my Chevy Av, I thought it would work:
http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=51
Waste of money--some on Pnet swear by it--I find it a pain to put on (whereas the tow systems above are always on the truck, this one you take on and off), blocks access to tailgate, and is really not as stable as either of the above --the Thule or the sawhorse type.
So you can see, I have been through loads of trials and tribulations with precisely your question. I consider the metal sawhorses with the Spring Creek saddles, and tying down to the saddles or the truck bed itself (with nice spread so no need bow or stern lines), all done while comfortably stadning in the truck bed, the absolute best boat transport system I have ever had, dj9015. The Slipstream is best if you cannot put racks (eg have a tornneau cover) over bed.
Bye bye. I'll let you ponder some of your options while you enjoy Starlight--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZMyVS1aJo
flag it…
dont forget to put a hi-vis flag on the end of a boat , hanging from the bed of a P/U…the person behind doesn’t always have the greatest eyesight or depth preception.
In dark, flag useles…
Disagree. Not useless.
Red or similar flag is visible to following drivers in the evening less for color, but more so by providing a shape/object that stands out or differntiates from the “normal” expected view by a following driver. In many states, it’s also the law.
bed extender
I used a hitch extender for years - and never had any issues. I’d tie the canoe or kayak down in the front and then at the hitch extender t-bar (harbor freight), and it was rock solid. I used old lawn cushions under the boat, and a huge piece of foam sponge on the t-bar, so bumpy roads never damaged the boat. In addition to the red flag reflective tape/decals on the boat make it pop out at night. Using the bed meant quick and easy loading/unloading too.
Jeff