Forum Discussion

Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Jul 06, 2015

Putting a truck cap over Brophy tiedowns??

Next fall, Ed and I will be headed to our condo in Florida. We bought a used fiberglass truck cap, to carry some furniture to our condo.

I also want to carry another kayak down there - a 15' sit-on-top. I have a set of the foam blocks for a car roof that would work on the truck cap - but there's no way to tie down the boat with the cap.

I use Brophy bedrail clamp-on tie downs for my camper. THEY would give me tiedown points for the kayak!

Has anyone ever used a truck cap with the Brophy mounts? I figure I'd need some sort of spacer material between the mounts? I know I can get crossbars for a truck cap - but I hate to drill holes for a one-time-only trip, since I'll leave the kayak in FL permanently.
Truck Campers
  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Jul 08, 2015
    DWeikert wrote:
    Maybe this will give you some ideas?
    soft kayak roof rack
    Tie the kayak down on the truck cab instead of the bed cap?


    They say not to use the "strap around the roof" styles if you have side curtain air bags, which I do.....
  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Jul 08, 2015
    DWeikert wrote:
    Could you tie the front and rear of the kayak to the front and rear bumper(trailer hitch?) instead of trying to come down the sides?


    Due to the length of the boat (15.5 feet) and price tag, I'd rather have it tied down at several points, plus locked with a bicycle cable. Ed says my universal crossbars will work on the topper, so I'll probably use those.
  • 67avion's avatar
    67avion
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2015
    Thanks to you guys I got some ideas for carrying my kayak which is about 18' long and with outriggers. I want to put it on my toad, a soft top Samurai, and pull it behind the TC. Otherwise I have to pull the kayak trailer and leave the Sammie at home. Lots of measuring to do..
  • DWeikert's avatar
    DWeikert
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2015
    Could you tie the front and rear of the kayak to the front and rear bumper(trailer hitch?) instead of trying to come down the sides?
  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2015
    Jaxom wrote:
    As a one-time process, perhaps you could put flat weatherstripping between the truck cap and the bed rails???


    I was thinking maybe some vinyl trim or ripped-down thin plywood? Something the same thickness as the Brophys, so the cap is sitting on a uniform surface? Once we get the kayak to Florida, we can redo the cap so it's a "normal" installation.
  • Jaxom's avatar
    Jaxom
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2015
    As a one-time process, perhaps you could put flat weatherstripping between the truck cap and the bed rails???

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