Which Racks do you guys use to haul around your kayaks? What is the best for the money and easiest to load/unload? Any help would be greatly apprieciated!
Thanks
Dawg, I’ve got a pickup with a toolbox in the bed. I didn’t want to lose my toolbox and have some of my yak sticking out the back of my truck (plus I would lose space in the bed of my truck). What I ended up doing was getting Yakima’s Q tower(but half of a set) which goes on the cab and then half of their bed rack, cut three inches off the bed rack to put both racks at the same height. I priced both Yakima and Thule. By far Yakima had the best price.
As far as taking the boat off isn’t a problem. I haul the yak with the stern towards the front of the truck. After un strapping the boat I lift the stern up and over the rack and then place it on the ground. Then pick the bow up and then it goes to the ground.
Mud
Thanks for the help Mud. Sounds like you got a good set up. The Yakima racks and accesories look handy. Thanks again
ive got a full rack for ladders made by trac rack its great but fairly expensive but can easily haul to yaks if your only toting one look at a weekender ladder rack just over a 100 bucks there very easy to install and the post can be taken in and out in seconds
Patrick E Crawford
Dawg,
I’ve been able to put my 16ft touring yak on a number of cars. Yakima makes great racks and mulitple q-clips for your rack to be used on other vehicles. If you go alone and have: (a heavy yak, tall car, bad back) the BOATLOADER is a must! An extension arm which allows for simple loading.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau
dawg, i have a yakima on top of a avalon its really nice and carries it real good. I would suggest putting a fairing on it, unless you like the sound of a jet engine strapped to the roof. I put one up there now i dont hear a thing
Thanks for all your help. Looks like I am going to go with the Yakima. I am going to Florida in 3 weeks and am renting a Wilderness Tarpon 14 for the week. If I like it, I am going to pull the trigger when I get home.
Dawg, I am a big fan of the Thule Roof Racks. The big advantage in my opinion over Yakima is the bar shape. Thule uses a square bar, where Yakima uses a round bar. It has been my experience that anything that goes on the yakima round bar will rotate around the bar when you don’t want it to (Like when you are loading the boat on the car) Check out Thule, I think it is a better product for boats than Yakima. Time OUt in Mt. P will even install it for you!
Dolphin D