5th wheel - how canoe mount?

[badbrad]

I have an 18' canoe to carry with a 5th wheel. It's too long to carry on top of the truck sticking forward. Do any of you carry a canoe on top of a 5th wheel? How do you secure or mount it? Know of any mounts made for this? Thanks!

[badbrad]

I have an 18' canoe to carry with a 5th wheel. It's too long to carry on top of the truck sticking forward. Do any of you carry a canoe on top of a 5th wheel? How do you secure or mount it? Know of any mounts made for this? Thanks!

[Roy W.]

Most of the 5th wheels I meet that are carrying canoes have a custom made rack that attaches to the bed rails just behind the cab, and then another on the front bumper. The canoe (or boat) then sits on the rack the full length of the cab, and overhangs the rack on the bumper by a few feet.

[Stylin']

I don't recall ever seeing a canoe on top of a 5th wheel. I wouldn't do it simply because the trailers are already high enough, and who would help you get it up and down? A ladder type rack as suggested would seem like your only option.

[Orygun Jim]

I carry a 13'3" canoe on a yakama rack on top of the a Ford 150 supercrew with a 5'6" bed. The canoe is roof mounted and slid back to within 6" of the fifth wheel at the rear, and over the truck hood as far as it needs to be. To load and unload after unhooking the trailer I slide it back over the bed onto a rail I have across the open space I have because I have removed the tailgate. Works well.

[Joe Weber]

I've been trying to find a better way to carry a kayak. I have an 11.5' kayak that I maneuver inside the 5th wheel. I rest it on its side on the floor between the slides. I'd like to get a 14'-15' kayak but I don't know that I can manage it by myself. I don't know if that will work for your canoe. I'm with Stylin', I wouldn't want it on top because of the height.

I may try Jim's idea and use my Yakima racks. I just assumed there wouldn't be enough room and never tried it. Jim do you put your kayak in the middle of your rack or off to one side? I use craddles on my rack.

[Orygun Jim]

I center the canoe(not a kayak)on the rack. It is a full width canoe (39") I use to row and fish out of. It can be very close to the 5er because when you make a turn it only gets further away from the centerline of the canoe. I strap it down on the racks and when I want to launch it after setting up the trailer I drive to the boat ramp and slide it off over the bed of the truck.

[Grandpaw]

I have an Old Town Pack model canoe, 12" and only 33 lbs. I carry it inside the trailer, works great except for blocking the bathroom door !!!

[George Miklas]

I think I understand your problem. You need to mount the canoe to the truck, but if you center it on the cab, one end will be too far forward of the rack.

Thule has this rack called The Goalpost While this was designed for a rear hitch, I would see no reason that it couldn't be used in a front reciever hitch. Then you need a single rack on the cab and you are set!

If you're a handy kind of guy, you can probably make one of these with ease.

GM