Canoe and 5th wheel

moll672 wrote:
Looking into options for a fishing vessel along with the 5er. Where can I get one of those racks for the front bumper of my truck so that the canoe can sit over the cab and forward over the hood? Is this a good idea? Any experience, knowledge, advice or comments appreciated.

Check out saturn inflatable boats. Light and easy to carry.

Best setup I ever saw was putting the canoes on a rack on top of the truck extending out over the hood.

Doing it this this way keeps you out of trouble pulling a trailer behind your fifth wheel and fighting with the local state laws you may encounter.


Photo from google images

Roy Ken

I just purchased a Sea Eagle 370 to take with us. It is a kayak, but Sea Eagle makes several different models. The 370 will hold 625 lbs and is rated for Class 3 rapids. It weighs 26 pounds and is in a carry bag with foot pump as well as the oars.

We haven't used it yet, since it's been below freezing for a week, but we will as soon as it climbs above 50 degrees.

They carry several different types from fishing boats, canoes, paddle boards, etc.

We have an inflatable Sea Eagle kayak that we keep under the sofa. There are numerous inflatable boats to choose from. I like our Sea Eagle, Saturn mentioned above has some nice ones.

Doug

Will add I have the SD365 Saturn 12' boat. Weighs just 110lb. And lays just ahead of the fifth wheel hitch, nice and flat. A Suzuki 20 HP EFI motor weighs just 97 lbs and lays behind the hitch. Long box of course.

My Sea Eagle Fast Trak can be paddled solo or tandem; the boat in the bag fits under the dinette table.

If you really must take a hard-side canoe, I think the easiest way would be to put a hitch on the front; and then get a truck-bed extender (which can be reconfigured to make a tall "T"). Then you'll need a single crossbar mount on the truck.
Truck bed extender

Etrailer.com carries the parts you need for a front receiver hitch to mount a T bar in, and also a roof rack. Bridge the canoe between them.

Most I have seen are homemade mounted to a front hitch but here is one I googled http://www.castlecraft.com/hitch_racks.htm

I just purchased a Sea Eagle 370 to take with us.

I spent the last three years of thinking the Porta-bote way but I think that the Sea Eagle is going to be it.

I was going to go the front hitch way but I am not interested to see all the scenery in the U.S while driving with a post in it.

For the front, I removed the tow loops and made a receiver type tube for each side. I used the original hardware to mount the new tubes. Two post will be better than one. I been making and using a front and rear bar to haul 20-24' steel tubing home for my projects. I never had a middle support and had to pad the top of the cab.

For a boat and 5er I would be using my air deflector mount for the rearward support. With my dual cab it will be just under 14' between mounts. I'll tie the two supports together.

I have thought of using a couple of 14' 2x4's for a one man loader and then the 2x4's could be used to tie the front and rear supports together.