Carrying a canoe on the roof??

Here is an auto loader that can be put on top of the RV or TV. http://boatloader.com/campers.htm

http://boatloader.com/boatloader.html

Here is one I designed and had built for my PUP. It allows me to load it by myself without lifting it. The top is easily removable as so I can pop the camper up.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54714192@N07/5707253283/

I have seen something done like this a couple of times... Just requires a support on your truck roof and down to the front bumper...

Looks pretty easy to setup... Probably can find a kit somewhere to do this with...


Google Image


Google Image...

OOPS DISREGARD - Just noticed you have a Class C RV...

Mounting on TOP of the unit will probably get you into the MAX Height for roadways...

Roy Ken

BPRescue wrote:
Here is an auto loader that can be put on top of the RV or TV. http://boatloader.com/campers.htm

http://boatloader.com/boatloader.html

Here is one I designed and had built for my PUP. It allows me to load it by myself without lifting it. The top is easily removable as so I can pop the camper up.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54714192@N07/5707253283/

that eide loader, et.al. was the one I saw years back at Kentucky Lake and got info from the company. I put that kind of flip down wheels on the stern of my inflatable. when I questioned the vehicle to be too high to use the loader, they pointed out that the higher the better for loading. they had a motorized and a manual one. also had a neat swinging bracket that would swing out, you could mount your outboard on it and swing it back into a pickup bed.
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:

BPRescue wrote:
Here is an auto loader that can be put on top of the RV or TV. http://boatloader.com/campers.htm

http://boatloader.com/boatloader.html

Here is one I designed and had built for my PUP. It allows me to load it by myself without lifting it. The top is easily removable as so I can pop the camper up.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54714192@N07/5707253283/

that eide loader, et.al. was the one I saw years back at Kentucky Lake and got info from the company. I put that kind of flip down wheels on the stern of my inflatable. when I questioned the vehicle to be too high to use the loader, they pointed out that the higher the better for loading. they had a motorized and a manual one. also had a neat swinging bracket that would swing out, you could mount your outboard on it and swing it back into a pickup bed.
bumpy

Yes, it is a slick unit and unlike mine, you don't even have to flip the boat over; it does everything right out of the water. The problem for me was I wanted it mounted to the frame rather than putting on my PUP roof, and it would not flip it because it was too low. Like you said, the higher the better. It is actually what inspired the rack loader I had built for my PUP , though mine uses a boat winch that I can attach my drill to. It's so easy though that I, or shall I say my daughter does the loading alone...

Like you, I do have their reversible/removable pneumatic wheels which are nice since I don't need the TV or camper to get it to the lake, and for me, they aid in loading, so all I have to do is attach the winch strap. Either way, if/when I get the TT, I will be getting the eide loader... Awesome product.

This is my roof rack for carrying my 17' 47 lb. kevlar canoe.
There is a pair of these, the second is in the back ground. The risers are wood from 2x4's cut out using a 3-1/2" hole saw, they are 2 tall. I've inserted stainless 1/4" carriage bolts. The 2 pieces are epoxied together and to the fiber glass roof.
The metal pieces are scrap aluminum awing arms. I used 4 risers on each for 2 reasons, 1 it gives me some adjustment between the 2 carriers, 2 it eliminates side twisting.

Also I use a piece of Unistrut temporarily fastened to the top of the ladder, with pipe clamps, when I drag my canoe up and down.

Clear as mud?
Have a question? just ask.

Dusty

Chag67
I carried a 17 foot Old Town canoe years ago on the roof. Weighed close to 80 lbs. I installed Yakima bases and risers on the metal roof of a 79 Itaska Class A. For bars I used iron pipe, not the best but it worked. Getting it up was a bit of a hassle but I was much younger at the time.
Stan

It will work fine. Get the right carrier for it and it will tie to the carrier. The main downside of carrying on a C is that you have to go way up the ladder to load/unload.

If you have a toad, I'd highly suggest a carrier on that... OR get a CHEAPO trailer from harbor freight (I think you can get a DOT trailer for $100-125 without a floor). Weld on some carry bars (Basically a T in front and a T in back) and put the canoe on that.

Climbing and loading is your biggest challenge on the C. It's higher than most think.

chag67 wrote:
I've tried to do a search and nothing has come up about canoes on the roof.

2007 Itasca Impulse 31C and it does NOT have a roof rack. The roof is actually fiberglass.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to bring a canoe with us when we don't bring the trailer and we only have the RV. Attaching it vertically to a hitch rack will have it still up to tall. Our canoe is 15 1/2' long and 120 lbs.

As an active canoer for almost 50 years and have had numerous kinds and lenths of canoes the latest being 17' and weighing in at 60lbs, what is your 15.5' canoe made of to weigh 120lbs? The heaviest boat we have ever had was one that weighed 75lbs and was 18.5' long. The reason for asking is the heavier the boat, the harder it is to manually lift/pull it up on the roof.

First off, you need a front and rear bar rack. When we carry our canoes on the RV, the rear rack is close to the back. Our canoes always had a yoke in the middle for portaging so when on my neck and shoulders, I would lift the bow of the canoe high enough to just rest on the back rack dropping the stern on the ground. Lifting the stern and pushing the canoe up until just past the balance point and holding on to the stern rope, I would gently lower the bow onto the front rack. Climb up ladder and tie down canoe.

Dave