Kayak help needed

[Russell]

Guys,

I have a Darby Extend-a-bed for my Ford F-150 (2009) and, well.. I need the bed to carry other stuff. Hard to do it if I have the kayaks in there, so I want to set it up to carry the kayaks on the roof instead.

Sorta like in this picture:

http://www.extendatruck.com/images/example.gif

So.. I need to know how to do it safely and securely. I need to put at LEAST 2 Kayaks on there, if not three...did I mention without spending 100's of dollars for the Thule etc rack things?

Some of you experienced folks, can ya help me out?

Thanks!

Russ

[Travisheals]

I'm not too EXPERIENCED, but that picture sure doesn't look too safe.

Simply coming out of your trailer hitch? .....I don't think so.

How about havin' some poor workin' man weld you up a frame that you can bolt down to your bedrails?

Maybe?

[Russell]

I appreciate it.. heh.. but that item was $100 and works well.. heh. What I was curious about is the part over the cab. What I decided to do was to get a couple of the larger pool noodles and run them under the yaks where they go over my cab. The back part works well, I was just curious as to what folks use over the cab.

BUT.. that being said.. I'll be calling ya up later in the summer for a different project I need a welder for.. lol

R

[rwnitro]

I don't have a clue but can you rent a trailer from a kayak dealer or another source?

[Chris Coufal]

Out of the trailer hitch works just fine. *Get you a stick of 2" x 2" x 12ga and make your own. *I did...and it's not let us down yet. *We carry 2 yaks (a 13.6ft and a 12.6ft) on it........and it's seen it's way down to Port A many trips as well as to Fayette, Bastrop and many other places. *

Just get good welds, make sure when you build it, you're on level ground so that it doesn't tip up or down to far. * We didn't even paint ours......nice rusty look with pool noodles taped to it!

You could also make one to fit in the bed rails.

[Russell]

Guys, I have a trailer setup. If you click the link, I have a commercial grade hitch setup. I just meant I normally extend it lower and place the yaks in my bed, but since I need the bed for all the other stuff we are taking to the coast, I was curious what others did to carry it like in the link above over the cab.

I think I saw some pics out there with foam under the yaks for the part over the cab. I then will run rope to the front bumper which has hooks for towing. That should latch them down well. The back I have covered... but thanks

R

[Chris Coufal]

IMO what I would do is make it bed rail level. This gives you a good 2-3' below the yaks for coolers, tents and other misc supplies you need to take. It will also keep it lower than the cab and should cut back on the wind drag as opposed to having it above the cab. This would also allow you to close the tailgate so stuff stays in. Make a mount on the front that goes into the bedrails and then comes back offthe back of the cab 2-3ft. This will give you 3 mounting points: front rail, tailgate and rear rail. A kayak only weighs 40-60lbs and you have minimal weight on any of the 3 mounting points. Your rear mount would lock into the hitch with a pin and your front could just slide in and then run straps from the lower hooks in the bed over the kayak.......this will secure it completely. With you gear below the yak, this would help block it from rain as well incase that was an issue.

Another thing to look at is the effect of lifting it above the cab. I don't know you, your age and/or fitness level, but I can tell you I am 34 and there is no way in hell I would lift my 12'6" RedFish over my head to a top rack like that trip after trip. Keep it as low as possible without sacrificing any storage space below. I did see a sweet set up a guy had a Bastrop a few weeks ago where he had installed a track system with rollers. He lifted it onto the track and then pushed it up on the rollers.