Need advise on transporting

Hello everyone! My wife and I just got two Hobies (Revo and a Outback) and now need to buy a rack system. I tried searching the forums here, but I haven't found the information I was looking for. So, here is my problem and I hope someone can give me some advise on which way to go.

We are going to buy a 5th wheel in the near future and trying to figure out the best way to carry the yaks. I have a F-350 crew cab with an 8ft bed. I think I have the clearance (kayak to 5th wheel) if I carry the yaks on the roof of the cab so I am thinking of buying a Thule base system. The problem I am having is figuring which way to carry them on the rack and how to get them up there. I went to a rack dealer and they suggested to get the Thule base system (he suggested the permanent ones) and put on Yakama hullyrollers and saddles. He suggested loading the yaks from the bed of the truck to the racks since the truck is pretty tall. This sounded good, but after reading postings here, will this setup cause the yaks to deform over time? A lot of people here like to carry the kayaks upside down, so if this is the recommened way of transporting, how would you suggest getting the kayaks on the racks?

Does anyone who has a 5th wheel have a better way of transporting? The rack system is not cheap and would hate to spend this amount to find out that it does not work very well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

If you put them upside down, all you basically need is basic roof rack with two crossbars. Cover them with foam or carpet, put the kayak on top and strap it there.

However, it might not work with fifth wheel. When you make a turn, the corner of the trailer goes awful close to the cab, so your kayaks may end up with a square stern.

See how close it is to the cab and it only gets closer during a sharp turn:

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Might want to consider a standard trailer instead of a 5th wheel, it would give you a lot more flexibility to carry the kayaks.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

If it clears the 5th wheel then you can put them upside down on a standard rack as mentioned above. For loading I have seen a bar extension that fits on the front bar and hangs out the side of the vehicle. You put the bow of the kayak on the bar extension and then lift up the back end and put it on the rack. The advantage is you are only lifting one end of the kayak at a time. Use a step stool if it is too high.

If the kayaks hit the trailer then you could put a front trailer hitch receiver on the truck and mount a T shaped bar to the receiver hitch. That will put one of the cross bars for the rack on the front bumper and shift everything forward.

Good luck

If you are set on a 5th wheel you will probably need to put a receiver on the front of your truck and use a "goalpost" type rack in conjunction with a thule or yakima bar on the roof of your truck . The revo is 13'5" long and I don't believe you will have enough space behind the cab to extend it much in that direction . It can be done . As for loading I would load before hooking up and just put the kayak in the bed and then get up in the bed and lift it on to the roof bar and slide it out to the goalpost rack .
I have a travel trailer and use a truck ladder rack to haul my Oasis . I was worried about getting it up that high but , found I can do it single handed if I do it the way I just described .

The lifting aid is called a Rack & Roll
http://yakass.net/videos/83-how-to/67-r ... opping-aid
I think you will probably need something like this and carry the yaks as far forward as possible, using a front bumper bar support as previously mentioned.

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Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008

if you have a flat bed, that's 8ft, right, close the door, tie the yaks diagonally, on the back of your roof, there you have it. secure them and let the other 2ft, high up your roof. you're in the outdoors, no clearance there i think. and you still have space for your other stuff.

well, that's just me, you know?

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Magic Of Making Up Review
2nd Chance Review

Photoquests had a similar problem. Here's a link to his solution -- unfortunately the pics are missing. Maybe you can PM him for some new ones. He did a beautiful job solving both the space problem and loading the boats from the side.
viewtopic.php?f=73&t=27966&hilit=kayak

Thanks for all the replies. I just wish I had the 5th wheel to determine the exact clearence needed to decide which way to go. Having a crew cab and a 8ft bed will help. Either way, a roof rack will probably be needed even if I had to add a front hitch and goal post.

Even with a 8 feet, when you back up in a sharp turn, the trailer will come close only a few inches from the cab. Might gain a little bit more with a sidewinder.

The goalpost will probably be a must.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

You might consider nesting the Revo on top of the Outback, using pads to separate them and Schedule 40 PVC (1") to keep them located (through the drain holes). The gray plastic conduit has a flared end that will not drop through the drain holes....just cut off what you need to reach down through the two boats; drill holes in the ends of the pipe to accept bungie cord hooks to keep them from popping out.

If you can strap them together before lifting, you could use a Harbor Freight gantry winch mounted in the front corner of the truck bed. You'd need to lengthen the post, but it would easily lift the two and swing them onto your rack (mount it so it can be dropped into the bed while towing, for neat appearance). The balance lift point (fore-aft) is the location of the carry handle/notch area. This would be much safer than lifting overhead, especially in bad weather.

With the boats stacked on centerline, you'll have more turning clearance for the trailer.

Thanks for all the help. I have decided to get a Thule Xsporter for now and deal with the issue of carrying the kayaks when I get the 5th wheel. I might be better off on carrying them on the roof on the back end of the 5th wheel. But for now, the Xsporter will do the job and I don't have to guess wheather it will work or not.

Thanks again