Getting a kayak on top of a truck camper????

We got one of the Sea Eagle inflatables. It was surprisingly not bad! Of course, it couldn't think about keeping up with the 19 foot canoe that goes on the camper roof. We get the canoe up by leaning it against the back of the camper (with the end on a mat to reduce slipping and damage), then someone climbs up and pulls it into position while the person on the ground guides it and says unhelpful things like "you got it? I can't reach it!".

We have a popup camper so it's easier. And because we wanted to be able to pop it up while loaded we got a lightweight canoe so it's even easier.

If you haven't purchased yet, perhaps a canoe would be easier to load than a kayak. I don't KNOW but I think they tend to be lighter and longer (if you buy a light and long one--mine is 50 lbs and holds 4 humans and a big fat dog).

Will you have two people loading? You probably at least want someone on the ground to hold it steady.

See Whazoo's posts on the subject

Side Loader

Might try these guys - I talked to them a few years ago - price was pretty high but it looks like it might work nicely.

Thanks y'all. I was wondering if anybody made a hoist/lift etc. I've also considered a inflatable from Sea Eagle.

I have a rope secured to the bow, get on top of the roof of the camper and pull the kayak up. I have three Yakima bars mounted on the roof. Two of them hold the kayak, the third is mounted at the very rear. The third bar serves as a pivot point and is a great place to secure my feet from and slipping. Third bar is also a great hand-hold for getting on and off the roof from the ladder.

But if I'm just going to the local lake I hook up the trailer and put the kayaks on it instead.

I know it's not the answer you were looking for, but we just towed a trailer with the canoes. Way easier than trying to fight that particular battle.

How tall is your camper? When I had a popup I used a "Boat Loader" extension from Yakima that allowed me to rest one end of a kayak against it and then lift the other end up to the roof by stepping up onto a footstool - the popup roof was only about 8 feet above the ground though. When I switched to a 10 foot tall hardside I found that that method no longer worked. I did find it pretty easy to lean the boat against the front of the camper and then go up on the roof and pull it up, using an old towel between the boat and the camper. The slope of the camper front makes it easier than pulling it up from the rear. After receiving Dr.'s orders to refrain from lifting more than 20 pounds I bought a Yakima Rack and Roll trailer - pricey but it works well - I back down boat ramps and launch and retrieve right from the trailer - no lifting involved. I have a trip coming up next week that will require that I use the roof rack on the camper for my kayak as I will be pulling a different trailer. For that I have come up with a possible alternative method of lifting the boat but as I haven't actually tried it yet I won't describe it here. If it works out well I'll post a report later.

Not real easy, but I can get my canoe up there. Mount a roller or bar along the back edge of the camper. Lean the canoe or kayak on the bar, then get on top and pull it up, pivoting it on the bar. Reverse the procedure to get it down. Kind of scary, standing on top and wrestling a canoe, but I haven't found a better way.

Yes. Get some young buck to put it up there for you.

I have considered tying my kayak to the ladder on the back of the rig, but it's 14'6" so that's not really an option. If it was short enough that's what I'd do.

install a roof hatch