The short and sweet question is:Anyone ever mounted a canoe or kayak anywhere on or inside your FW?The long question for those who like to know the details:One of these days we are going to upgrade from our TT to a FW. I have a 15 foot long canoe I like to take with us on our trips to fish out of. One day I plan on adding a second canoe and/or kayak or two to the fleet. I currently have been using a big full length ladder rack on my truck that I mount the canoe on. Problem is obviously if and when we upgrade to a FW I cant use the rack any more. We (Mostly me) would love a Toy Hauler and that would solve all the problems but we (mostly my wife) just are not fond of the floor plans (or price) of most of the TH we have looked at. Anyone ever mounted a canoe or kayak anywhere on or inside your FW? On the roof, would be my first thought.... Got any pictures and details on how you did it? Or would do it?The canoe gets dirty and wet and would prefer not to find a way to store it inside the FW assuming I could find a way to get it in there.Thanks,Robert

I have a front hitch on my Dodge Cummins and put a "T" mount up front to carry one or two kayaks. I also have a single bar going across the cab roof.No problem with visibility.Putting them up on rack is easy for two and doable for one.RON W

I don't have a picture but I put one of the canoes on the roof of the truck. I use the Thule roof rack with the optional canoe rack. You would have to measure from the front of the trailer to the center of the cab to see how much room you have. Obviously it needs to be about half the canoes length. I couldn't do it with anything other then the long bed. The canoe I have been using is a solo boat at 14'6", been leaving roughly 6-12"s between the canoe and the trailer. I could certainly do a 15'er, it would just hang out front a bit more.The only issue I have is lifting it up there, I've got a 16' fiberglass that I would not be able to handle, at least not by myself. Unfortunately, I do not see one available for your truck.

I am in this dilemma right now. We borrowed some kayaks last summer and really enjoyed them but how do I get them anywhere with the 5er? My buddy just stuffs his inside but they won't fit inside of mine. I am looking at 2 different solutions. One is a front receiver with a custom forward rack off my flatbed. This seems pretty easy but just loos kinda tacky. My other solution is a rear mounted vertical kayak rack. I have seen pictures and this looks like the direction I am leaning. Probably won't work for a canoe though Chris

We have 2 kayaks in the 10 foot range. The design of our 5th wheel allows me to get them in the door and up the steps to the bedroom. I put towels across the bed and a ratchet strap under the plywood that the mattress sits on. Lay one kayak on the bed and the other on top of it and strap them in. Storing them inside on the bed does require me cleaning them up after use.

I carry 2 10' kayaks on the roof of my crew cab on a pair of Yakima cross bars, if I went with any longer kayaks I would have to go with a front goalpost set up.

Taveling with Canoes and Kayaks with your 5'er | Good Sam Community

SabreCanuck
Explorer
Oct 20, 2016
One of the advantages of mounting on truck instead of on/in trailer is that you use the same mount AFTER getting to destination and wanting to head out to the water. We had kayaks inside trailer but it was a bit of a pain because we had to unload them when we got to site then load them on truck to get to river then bsck on truck to site back into trailer for ride home. .

That is the main reason I will be looking at T bar on front to carry two kayaks and only have to load unload at home then water.
WE_CAMP2
Explorer
Oct 20, 2016
Fxfymn wrote:
Obviously the boat's length make a difference in the type of carrier you can use.

We plan to upgrade kayaks to likely something in the 14' range someday, I really like your setup and will be doing something very similar. Thanks for posting the pics!
Fxfymn
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
Obviously the boat's length make a difference in the type of carrier you can use. We use touring boats, one is 14' and the other 16', so a roof only system would not work for us. We also have an 8' truck bed, so the fiver will not hit the boats if they protrude out the back of the truck cab.

We have used the rig in the picture from the previous post for several years now and I would estimate we have put well over 20,000 miles on it with out any problems.

One thing I discovered after I started carrying the boats is that a substantial part of the strength comes from the boats themselves. In essence the boats tie the two racks together and act as truss member to keep the system from moving around.
FireRob
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
Also I appreciate the recommendations of other kayaks that have been suggested but I am not really looking to have my mind change on the kayak I want or the canoe I already have. I am very interested in learning how I can transport my current canoe (or the kayak of my dreams) while towing a fifth wheel.
FireRob
Explorer
Oct 16, 2016
Good stuff, thanks for elaborating.

So you were able to keep the use of the tow hooks with that front mount hitch?
2014MegaRam4x4
Explorer
Oct 15, 2016
FireRob wrote:
2014MegaRam4x4, You have any more info on what your using there? What is the goal post mount and especially how its connected to the truck? Has this been stable for you or had any issues?

Also what's on the roof?

Thanks.

Yep those pics of the kayaks on the roof of the RV is what I had in mind and to me would be ideal if I could make it work.

Hey there, no issues at all, I had to make a loader to assist with loading the Kayaks due to the total height. The wife was not able to lift the kayaks height enough and it became a huge issue trying to load them by myself. (not me but you get the idea) Used a telescopic post and 2x3 for the support beam.

The Mount is the same as truck receiver hitch that's mounted behind the tow hooks. I needed to retain the tow hooks.

I purchased a set of roof rail racks to hold it and provide a point to strap it down and remove any worries of dropping the kayaks on the paint.

The center T post I made out of some 2x2 metal and welded it together to a standard receiver hitch insert

I have put on around 3000 miles with this and have not had any issues at all besides a strap coming loose once in a while and will continue to use this for as long as we have the kayaks which will be a long time (we just bought 2 2017 Hobie outbacks that we pick up next week.

here is another photo let me know if you have any questions.

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.
Crodad
Explorer
Oct 13, 2016
we use the Sea Eagle SE370 . It stows away in a bag that I put in the basement of the 5ver. There are different models that you can chose from also.
FireRob
Explorer
Oct 13, 2016
2014MegaRam4x4, You have any more info on what your using there? What is the goal post mount and especially how its connected to the truck? Has this been stable for you or had any issues?

Also what's on the roof?

Thanks.

Yep those pics of the kayaks on the roof of the RV is what I had in mind and to me would be ideal if I could make it work.
sayoung
Explorer
Oct 12, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Advanced Elements makes one and two person inflatable QUALITY kayaks.

We use the Hobi 14ft 2person with the Mirage Drive. Folds up into a suitcase & its tough.
2014MegaRam4x4
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
This is how I transport mine,

But looked at this route once, but the curvature of the roof prevented me from using this option which in my opinion is the best way to transport the kayaks. The plan was to mount a swing out arm with a manual crank or even an electric winch. hook up the kayak lift it to clear the roof, swing it off the side and lower it to the ground.

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.