Quit the Kayaker's Life?
Greetings All, I've written a number of questions concerning TCs. Thanks all for all the valuable info. So one problem I have is that I have an 18 ft sea kayak. Seems too long to put on a carg...
Forum Discussion
Bill...loading the yaks on the TC is not unlike how you load your car, or how bob and dot load up.
Tie a stout painter to bow, lean the bow against rear of camper (I had a roller on the rear rack of last camper...not the new one...), climb up ladder on to roof, pull boat up. I place an old towel on the edge of the camper so I dont scuff anything (I have kevlar keel guards on the yaks...).Tie down using cargo straps.
If I have a helper they will push stern up from the ground...if not I can do it alone. Our tandems weigh ~ 70# ea, the singles are ~ 50#.
I place paddles, PFD's, sponges, pump, fishing gear, etc inside boats once they are up top.
As crazy as it sounds, I find it easier to load boats on top of the TC than I do loading them on the roof of my truck. It is easier to pull them up and have room to walk around while lashing them down. It's always a bit of a stretch getting them on the truck roof. It is quicker to load the boats on the TC.
I suggest you try it and see how it feels to you. That's what I did a few years back when I was trying to figure out how to carry the yaks with the TC. After I tried it one evening I had a good laugh for over thinking the whole thing...
Good luck...it really does LOOK harder than it is.
p.s. nothing wrong with towing a trailer....I just try to avoid towing unkess we bring the Whaler...or I have the Boy Scout trailer with 6 canoes...
That's another great thing about TC's; choices!
Tie a stout painter to bow, lean the bow against rear of camper (I had a roller on the rear rack of last camper...not the new one...), climb up ladder on to roof, pull boat up. I place an old towel on the edge of the camper so I dont scuff anything (I have kevlar keel guards on the yaks...).Tie down using cargo straps.
If I have a helper they will push stern up from the ground...if not I can do it alone. Our tandems weigh ~ 70# ea, the singles are ~ 50#.
I place paddles, PFD's, sponges, pump, fishing gear, etc inside boats once they are up top.
As crazy as it sounds, I find it easier to load boats on top of the TC than I do loading them on the roof of my truck. It is easier to pull them up and have room to walk around while lashing them down. It's always a bit of a stretch getting them on the truck roof. It is quicker to load the boats on the TC.
I suggest you try it and see how it feels to you. That's what I did a few years back when I was trying to figure out how to carry the yaks with the TC. After I tried it one evening I had a good laugh for over thinking the whole thing...
Good luck...it really does LOOK harder than it is.
p.s. nothing wrong with towing a trailer....I just try to avoid towing unkess we bring the Whaler...or I have the Boy Scout trailer with 6 canoes...
That's another great thing about TC's; choices!
