Aluminum Boat above cab and hood

[mxdad777]

I'm wanting to haul a 14' aluminum boat along with having my 5th wheel hooked up. I've seen some racks where the boat loads on top of the cab and extends out over the hood. Usually supported by a goal post of some type attached to the front of the truck. Do any of you have a set up like this? I'm looking into either buying one or making one. Thanks!

[JRscooby]

valhalla360 wrote:

I've yet to see a drop of water with a squared off bottom.

Tapering the back of the 5er could make sense. Tapering the top of the truck right before it hits the front of the 5er...not so much.

Yes, it would be better if the boat was not square on either end. And no matter which end is pointed on the boat there will not be a big change in the wind resistance of the whole rig. But the flat at back will be too far from front of trailer to push air away, the trailer will be hitting more turbulence.
Also, the OP is wondering about loosing room back of cab/trailer, with just the rack. To mount the boat, the end must stick past that rack. The narrower the end, the closer it can ride to trailer without hitting. The more of the boat, flat or pointed, that sticks out past the windshield, the more air the windshield pushes up will be caught, so back will be better.

[valhalla360]

JRscooby wrote:

laknox wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
You can sometimes find these used on Craigslist.

https://boatloader.com/

Only thing I don't like about this is the fact that you're loading your boat a$$-end forward. I'd think that'd kill your mileage (even more). I'd figure out some way to load it so the pointy end is in front! 🙂

Lyle

Look at the shape of a drop of water as it falls thru the air. Does it come down point first?
In the trucking industry they have found adding something to back of trailer, reducing that square to just slightly pointed makes a big decrease in wind resistance.

I've yet to see a drop of water with a squared off bottom.

Tapering the back of the 5er could make sense. Tapering the top of the truck right before it hits the front of the 5er...not so much.

[mxdad777]

I found a great deal on an Eide power loader with an aluminum rack that came off of the same model truck as mine. Now my concern is the 2 1/2” I lost in clearance between the front cap and the headache rack that’s now mounted behind the cab. I have a standard bed and no slider hitch which at times was tight before adding the rack. I’m leaning towards a Sidewinder pin box to give me some more clearance.

[Dtank]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Add the steel structure to carry a "Boat ??" ....then add the boat up front on your 2500 GM front axle. I see lots of snow birds going south with a set up like that but the boats look very small and lite weight.
Ya' sure don't want to overload the trucks front axle/tires.

I also see plumbing guys or other service folks doing garage over head doors with full length over head racks that sit at the back of the bed and on the trucks front frame rails. This gives a better overall front/rear axle loading.

And I see boat transport folks usually a one ton srw/drw with a full bass boat/trailer 300 hp merc on a over head rack and pulling another off the bumper.
let google be your search friend.

Excellent "bottom line" above!!

Go to the source = Give Eide Boat loader a call...:S

Check with folks that build (construction) racks for pickups!

Design your own - I did (long ago - as I was too cheap to purchase an Eide).

[JIMNLIN]

Add the steel structure to carry a "Boat ??" ....then add the boat up front on your 2500 GM front axle. I see lots of snow birds going south with a set up like that but the boats look very small and lite weight.
Ya' sure don't want to overload the trucks front axle/tires.

I also see plumbing guys or other service folks doing garage over head doors with full length over head racks that sit at the back of the bed and on the trucks front frame rails. This gives a better overall front/rear axle loading.

And I see boat transport folks usually a one ton srw/drw with a full bass boat/trailer 300 hp merc on a over head rack and pulling another off the bumper.
let google be your search friend.

[TXiceman]

If you use a dash mounted GPS, the boat may block the signal.

Ken

[goducks10]

laknox wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
You can sometimes find these used on Craigslist.

https://boatloader.com/

Only thing I don't like about this is the fact that you're loading your boat a$$-end forward. I'd think that'd kill your mileage (even more). I'd figure out some way to load it so the pointy end is in front! 🙂

Lyle

Agree. I've thought about doing what you're talking about but I don't like the stern of the boat facing forward either.

I don't think it's possible to have the boat facing forward and over the trucks hood vs bed when using a loader.

Only way is to do the pole on the front and manually lift it onto a roof rack.

[JRscooby]

laknox wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
You can sometimes find these used on Craigslist.

https://boatloader.com/

Only thing I don't like about this is the fact that you're loading your boat a$$-end forward. I'd think that'd kill your mileage (even more). I'd figure out some way to load it so the pointy end is in front! 🙂

Lyle

Look at the shape of a drop of water as it falls thru the air. Does it come down point first?
In the trucking industry they have found adding something to back of trailer, reducing that square to just slightly pointed makes a big decrease in wind resistance.

[laknox]

goducks10 wrote:
You can sometimes find these used on Craigslist.

https://boatloader.com/

Only thing I don't like about this is the fact that you're loading your boat a$$-end forward. I'd think that'd kill your mileage (even more). I'd figure out some way to load it so the pointy end is in front! 🙂

Lyle

[mxdad777]

Yes, the kind I want uses a winch to load the boat. You just have to help guide it on. There are lots out there that have the boat over the bed, but I need one that extends over the front hood because of my 5th wheel.

[mhardin]

I have one I use to haul a 16' canoe. It works very well, but putting your boat up there would be more than my tired old body would want to attempt. I'll probably quit hauling the canoe before too long as age is catching up with me. There is a company that makes a roof mounting system that mechanically pulls your boat up without all the strain of the goal post system. A google search should find it.

[Lwiddis]

If you proceed I believe you'll find the "shade" created by the boat enjoyable...like a truck camper.

[goducks10]

You can sometimes find these used on Craigslist.

https://boatloader.com/