Carrying pontoon boat

Thanks,that is exactly what I am wanting to do.

Here is what I built and use.

That is just how I have carried mine. No problems. An 8' Buck's Bags, by the way, weighs in at less than 65 pounds, not a problem for bike carriers.

I've been doing it for 4 years. Works great!

I got a swing away rack so I can swing the boat to one side to get in the camper.

The bike and boat tend to sway and bounce a bit while driving, so I use a racketing strap and pull the rack and boat snug enough to minimize bounce. I just got back from a 600 mile trip where I transported the boat inflated on the rack.

I had an 8' Creek Company pontoon at one time. I carried the frame, minus the pontoons, on a bicycle rack in the front receiver. It was easy to inflate and attach the pontoons once I got to my destination.

what about a hitch basket to support the bottom? Then tie it to the camper? Bike rack would probably be fine, just thinking better to support the bottom fully

Thanks. Mine is 9 ft
I will have it deflated and carry it inside on the long journey to my fishing destination but once I am there, for a week or so,I want to put it on the back to travel to different lakes, about 5 miles max. Sound like it can work

I haven't hauled my toon with the camper, yet. I'm guessing you're trying to make a home built version of one of these?


Easypacker

It shouldn't be too hard to come up with something. My only concern with using a bike rack as a starter is the weight of your toon.

Yes I have done it a few times. I found it was easier to do with the pontoon, mine's an 8', mounted on it's side with bungies attaching the frame to the rear jacks at the bottom and the jack on one side and the ladder on the other side on top. The cargo carrier makes this all much easier, but you could go without. Only drawback is that the door to the camper is covered.

pando2 wrote:
I am thinking of carrying a pontoon boat on a hitch mounted bike rack modified to suit.Has anyone done this? I know you can buy special carriers but I'm trying to keep the cost down.

How big is this pontoon boat? do you have any pictures or links for it? I'm not understanding something...

We have a 13' Aire Super Puma whitewater raft that we can haul rolled-up on our fold down cargo hitch... it is a load for the hitch on the 48" hitch extension... then we still have to outfit up to 6 paddlers with paddles, life jackets, helmets, foot operated air pump, etc

... or oars, cooler box, helmets, life jackets, etc for one or two of us (running white water or trout fishing.

We have to haul the extras in the back seat of the crew cab truck

Just because we can doesn't mean we do... it is a PIA

... and it's easier to rent a rig when we get to the destination than to haul it for moths long trips just to use it a time or two.

Looking forward to your solution...