How to put kayak on top of TC

[punomatic]

No, this is not a how-to. It's a "how do you?" I just acquired a 12' polyethylene kayak. There is room on top of my TC to carry it. Any idea how I can get it up there and then secure it for travel?

Thanks for any clever schemes you may have to offer.

[Bumpyroad]

stevenal wrote:
Anyone try one of these?http://www.orukayak.com/

cute but $1200-2500?
a stearns inflatable is a lot less?
bumpy

[stevenal]

Anyone try one of these?http://www.orukayak.com/

[Powelligator]

punomatic wrote:
Powelligator, I like this idea a lot. Is the roller mounted on the luggage rack, or directly on the roof?

Thanks.

The roller itself is attached to the rack, but hangs over the roof to protect it. You can kind of see it a bit better in the below image, it's on the far left side. I put a piece of foam pipe insulation on the rack forward of the roller to protect the 'yaks as I pull them up. It's the same stuff I use on the racks that I tie the 'yaks down on.



Joe

[MKish]

We gently lean our canoe against the rear of the camper (with the tip of the boat on a foam pad the dog rides on), someone goes up the ladder, and it somehow gets there. We have Yakima clampy things (you'd naturally want the kayak version) on the factory-installed boat rack as well as foam blocks because our rack is only on the back half of the camper and it didn't seem right for a boat of any length.

It helps that our camper is a popup so it's not too tall, and that our canoe is only 50 lbs, but it is very awkward at 19 feet long so it takes a second person to guide it.

Over all, it goes up much nicer than I had anticipated. Check out some of the accessories that Thule and Yakima have. There are roller things, etc., but most do require a rack.

[punomatic]

Powelligator, I like this idea a lot. Is the roller mounted on the luggage rack, or directly on the roof?

[Powelligator]

I use a roller with a couple of guides on each side to pull the kayaks up, then when up there I use a standard gutter rail mount with long bars. To keep the bars from sagging I put some PVC pipe in the center. You can see what the roof looks like below:



When loading I just stand the kayaks up on end leaning on the roller, it won't topple because it rests on the guides. I climb up the ladder and pull it up nose first, then the move the first kayak over to the passenger side and the second stays on the driver's.



Then I just strap it down upside down and they stay there just fine. Not a significant increase in height over the A/C unit, maybe two or three inches (and the antenna is taller than that). I can do it all myself as I rarely have someone around to help, but it is easier with a second person.

Joe

[beachseekers]

We are kayakers and ended up buying an Aire's Inflatable Tandem Kayak. We love it! Takes about 15 min and we are in the water paddling. I know you already have a kayak but if anyone is looking to buy and not willing to try and hoist one or two kayaks up 12 feet, there are options. We have a full back seat in our F550 and make room when we know we will be near water.

[franco_ontarien]

I have a 12' that I carry on my Lance 855. Yes it is a little taller but easy to load.

My kayak is about 63 lbs. I lean it against the rear rolled-up awning and slide it up and onto the Thule rack that came with the Lance, (I have a piece of rubber-backed carpet to make sliding easier and to protect the awning) And I have a ski pod on the other side. I bought a 12 footer to make it easier to haul up, a shorter kayak made me lean over and down a little too much.

[billtex]

FreeLanceing wrote:
A while back, maybe quite a while back, a guy had a system. He put a roller at the rear of the camper. He could pull his up on the roller. I found some fitted foam pcs at cabelas. I was thinking of cementing the foams up there then some eye bolts. Mine only weighs 55lbs . I can pull that up the ladder.

That was probably me...we don't have the rollers on the new Eagle Cap (different rack than the old camper)...but we do just like ejfranz. It's easy really...
We have several yaks, the big ones are 16' and 17 '. Lean them against the rear, climb up, pull up the bow, strap it down.

Don't forget to check your OAH.

Bill

[1stgenfarmboy]

We have a 13.5 tandem Pamlico Wilderness systems, we stand it up on end the wife will hold it over a bit and I climb on top then we use the ladder as guild runners and I pull and she pushes until she cant reach, by then it's far enough for me just to pull on up, I use the foam pad kayak things you can get and use motorcycle tie downs to secure it, it works well......our kayak weighs 75lb empty and probably 90 with the add on things we have, I have a splash deck, paddle holders, both paddles, life vests, pump, and some other small things.

[Bumpyroad]

for my square end coleman canoe I bought a support that fit in the receiver, and was a column 6 or so ft long with a fitting that would slide up and down that could be clamped to the transom of a boat/canoe. turn canoe upside down, clamp onto transom, slide fitting up to proper height and lock it down. then swing canoe around 180 to fit on top.
'bumpy

[punomatic]

Thanks for all the ideas. I have been thinking of building an upside down U shaped frame that would span the top of the TC and pivot from the lower edges of the camper. Then I could attach one end of the kayak to the frame and lift the other end of the kayak from behind the TC allowing the frame to swing forward, lifting the front of the kayak into place. It works on my drawing program!

First, though, I think I may just try muscling it up there. It isn't heavy, just awkward. In the meantime, please keep the ideas coming. I'm sure someone has thought of a better plan than I have come up with.

[_DJ_1]

To haul it without damaging the kayak or TC you would have to build some type of rack. A canoe could use the foam pads. As far as getting it up there I just lift it.

[FreeLanceing]

A while back, maybe quite a while back, a guy had a system. He put a roller at the rear of the camper. He could pull his up on the roller. I found some fitted foam pcs at cabelas. I was thinking of cementing the foams up there then some eye bolts. Mine only weighs 55lbs . I can pull that up the ladder.

[ejfranz]

I have a roof rack that I added some 2X4 length wise that I place our 2 play kayaks 10 & 9 foot on. I also carry a 18' canoe on top. I lean the kayaks against the camper, climb on the roof a drag them up. If my wife is around she helps lift the kayaks up. With the canoe, I raise the bow so it sits on the roof rack then go on top and drag it up by myself.