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PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:11 pm 
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Posts: 23
I am considering buying an outback and have a large Toyota pickup truck. What options would I have for transporting it in my bed?

I have seen a hitch that has a t bar but don't know who sells them. Also curious to see photos or get info on other options.

Thanks!


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 8:41 am 
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Bonginator wrote:
I am considering buying an outback and have a large Toyota pickup truck. What options would I have for transporting it in my bed?

I have seen a hitch that has a t bar but don't know who sells them. Also curious to see photos or get info on other options.

Thanks!


Harbor Freight sells a very affordable hitch extender - but you will also find similar products from Thule as well

Here's a link for the Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed- ... 45830.html
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:06 am 
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Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 6:46 pm
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Jbernier wrote:
Bonginator wrote:
I am considering buying an outback and have a large Toyota pickup truck. What options would I have for transporting it in my bed?

I have seen a hitch that has a t bar but don't know who sells them. Also curious to see photos or get info on other options.

Thanks!


Harbor Freight sells a very affordable hitch extender - but you will also find similar products from Thule as well

Here's a link for the Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/truck-bed- ... 45830.html
[img]http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78e
ab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_7149.jpg[/img]


Perfect. This is what I was looking for!


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:18 am 
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Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 4:01 pm
Posts: 465
Edge by Expedite Truck Bed Retainer Review on you tube.

I have used one of these for about 3 years. Easy to use and store. I snug the bow of any yak to the front of the pickup bed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcniRHEH_Uc

Purchasing link/info:

http://dravesarchery.com/edge-by-expedi ... ainer.html

Bonginator wrote:
I am considering buying an outback and have a large Toyota pickup truck. What options would I have for transporting it in my bed?

I have seen a hitch that has a t bar but don't know who sells them. Also curious to see photos or get info on other options.

Thanks!

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PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:43 am 
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Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 5:43 am
Posts: 29
Location: Southern California
I recently got a new pair of Revolution 13's and am new to kayaking. One of the things I first looked at tackling was transport. I think I went down the exact path you’re asking about and was heading toward the exact solutions some other enthusiasts suggested.

They’re fine solutions and where I was heading. But, I’d suggest you might “go simple.” My top criterion was to be able to get home work, jump in the truck and head to the water with the least effort.

We've settle on simply laying 'em in bed with a red flag. In/out is easy. We've added pool noodles at the bow, middle and stern to spread the bounce. Also, we started hull down, but I noticed a slight deformation of the hull and we're now sliding 'em in on their hulls and flipping 'em over.

We cover 'em at night after warnings of dew discoloring boats. And , sun.

PROCESS

I had thought, "Gotta get a system or rack" but for the moment have settled on lugging the two boats in my truck bed using a little scrap cardboard so they slide in easier. So far, it's been fine, even without a bed extender. I’ve added a few pool noodles lengthwise that may or may not help.

The Outback is a foot shorter than the Revo 13’ and may balance OK in a Toyota bed. My boats lay flat in the F 250 with the tailgate down.

A cam lock strap through the boats’ bow grabs keeps 'em from tipping "up" and they're snugged to the bed front, another strap across the boats’ middle at the bed's end kills any bounce, and a longer strap looping through the rear scupper holes and back through the bed tie downs holds the boats snug.

I just add red flags to the boat tails.

I'd considered overhead racks but my wife wasn't confident of getting the 60 lb. boat up into one. Since we wanted to use 'em a couple times a week, loose-in-the-bed seemed convenient – easy-in, easy-out.

Offloading: A short few-inch slide back gets the scupper holes clear of the tailgate and she pulls the strap out. Then, she puts in the wheels and slides the boat out to sit on the wheels with the bow laying on the tailgate. Then, it's an easy grab-the-bow-grab and walk-and-roll to launch.

I thought a lousy downside is you "lose bed storage" with the boats sitting there. But, it isn’t proving too much an issue.

To deal with the above I’d looked the possibility of mounting a Thule, Yakima or Surco Safari cargo basket on a couple rails over the kayaks at bed rail level. It seemed a slick way not be putting wet Mirage drives, seats and such in my back seat and yet not pile 'em on the boats.

Racks and mounting looked to run 400-800 bucks . . . It was “cool” and a little unusual . . . If we were doing lots of long trips with lots of extra gear, coolers and stuff and had people in the back seat, it would be the way to go.

But, like just using the bed . . . I've opted to simply buy a pair of Vaughn 7800 ice hockey goalie bags.
http://goalie.totalhockey.com/product/7 ... 5&mtx_id=0

They're heavy duty, 3-wheel bags of heavy nylon and the Hobie wheels, seat and drive fit easily with lots of room for other stuff. Putting them in the front of the bed opens the back seat. The goalie bags are cheaper than price marked up scuba and specialty bags.

I might buy a tail light harness to hang across the boat sterns if I travel at night more and if we head out to the stix. I’ve not had local urban cops have any issue with my red flags. They fine. But, on a longer trip with night travel and county Mounties, the lights may keep us from a little hassle (and would be safer).

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