Community Forums

christoph · 02-24-2010, 07:00 AM

My Wife and I purchased 2 new kayaks this past fall. We would like to
find a rack, carrier system to put them on our RV and not on a
trailer, anyone have any clues where to look??

MuckSavage · 02-24-2010, 07:08 AM

Wow! My only thought would be to use a Yakima or Thule kit, but you'd have to affix the brackets to the roof (utilizing the joists) then sealing the screw holes. I remember seeing a kayak carrier that goes into the trailer hitch & holds the boats upright, but it was only suitable for 9' 'yaks.
How are you gonna get the boats up to the roof? My 'big' kayak is a 12' Heritage Featherlight. At 50+ pounds, I'm not sure I could safely lift the boat to the roof without it bouncing off the side of our coach. I carry our kayaks on the roof of our toad.

christoph · 02-24-2010, 09:32 AM

Ours weigh abot 40-45 Lbs. Hoping the wife can get the yaks tip up to the roof edge
and with the handle pull them up and into some unknown rack system. If not
i'm gonna have to use a trailer.

GaryKD · 02-24-2010, 11:09 AM

Hi christoph,
If you GOOGLE "Necky Kayak rack" you'll get choices. Is there a reason you do not put them on the roof of your toad car? I know they are a bit big, but with a factory installed roof rack to bolt the kayak rack to it may work.

christoph · 02-25-2010, 08:11 AM

I don't have a TOAD vehicle at this time.

Chuck 1935 · 02-25-2010, 10:04 AM

I made a platform that plugs into the trailer hitch and has a vertical support that holds the 2 kayacks up against (but not touching) the back of the Motorhome. I use a ratcheting hold down strap to secure them in the rack.

D in Davie · 02-25-2010, 06:40 PM

Hi Chuck 1935:
That 35 coupe shins bright. Your idea about a kayak rack is a good one. Have you thought about patenting the device. If it is easy to use you could be on to something. There is nothing on the web like it. I checked before I bought my inflatable kayak. If your not interested, post some pictures so some of us can copy the design and make our own..

Chuck 1935 · 02-25-2010, 10:26 PM

D in Davie, I am not good at posting pictures but will give it a try. No I'm not going to patent it so weld away !! The thing is very simple. It is just a oversize deck that is about 5ft wide abd 4ft deep that in addition to the kayaks carries firewood, bikes etc. It carries the two kayaks at an angle from the bottom left to the top right. On the part closest to the Motorhome I have 1" square tubing that goes up to the height of the Coach on both sides of the deck to hold the top end of the kayaks. I'll try and post a picture tomorrow.

MuckSavage · 02-26-2010, 06:19 AM

Chuck,
How long are your kayaks? The rack seems it would have to be pretty long to keep a 13' boat from reaching too far into the sky.

I found this;
RV Kayak Rack

The price is pretty steep, and it'll only hold a 11' boat.

Chuck 1935 · 02-26-2010, 10:30 AM

MuckSavage, That looks something like the one I built. It's the same idea but because my kayaks are 13ft I angled them from the bottom left to the top right therefore keeping them the height of the roof air conditioners. The other difference is that the base of mine is a platform so that I can haul other stuff. Mine also gives you the option of of putting the kayaks from right to left to keep them out of the trees on the side of the road if that were an issue. I'm a hell of a fabricater and welder but I am severly challanged when it comes to getting the pictures of the darned thing on here !

christoph · 02-26-2010, 03:17 PM

I would really like to see a pic or 2 of that also. Got any kids, grandkids around
the house they can probably bail us out and get them posted on here.

Chuck 1935 · 02-26-2010, 04:11 PM

Chuck 1935 · 02-26-2010, 04:17 PM

There it is damit, my nerves are frayed, I'm uptight, and cranky. I'ts a whole lot easier to build this stuff than to figure out this confound machine.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dsbike · 02-26-2010, 04:22 PM

I had a trailer custom built by GGT trailers in Concord NC. I have pulled it from NC to South FL and never new it was there. I can also carry my bikes & other gear in the trailer. When loaded with 2 bikes, 2 kayaks it weighs in at aout 5oolbs.