cholbach

I have an 86 Runner that I run with a bikini top in the summer. Looking for ideas on how to carry my kayak. I was going to get some gutter-mount cross bars, but they will be too close together on the front. Any thoughts on fabing something for the roll bar? I have seen one pic of a ladder rack that was made to fit around the shell, but looking for something a little simpler to make myself. Any ideas will be appreciated.

Kind of new and also posted this in the fab section. Do not know if that was wrong.

cholbach

Ok. 77 views and no input? I know there are a lot of idea's out there! My thought was a ladder rack system that fit around the shell so I could use it with and without the top. Then I was thinking I could make something to use the shell holes towards the back. Anyone in the tidewater VA area with fabing skills???

Ezrider_92356

only time iv ever carryed a kayak was with a pickup with a topper and we just set it on the roof and ran a couple straps down to the frame. probably not getting much response cause most people have never hauled a kayak before.

they are pretty light i don't see why any kind of roof rack would not work.

bruzer1123

I am sure you could fab something up like some Wrangler's have. Basically it is a rack/basket that is useable with the top off. Something like this perhaps...
http://www.quadratec.com/products/12138_001_07.htm

nv4runner

I've got a few foam blocks and some ratcheting tie downs that worked well for a canoe on top of a subaru station wagon. Haven't tried it on my 4runner yet, but don't see why it wouldn't work with a kayak. Just strap it down and go for it!

Wrenchinjoe

You could use a gutter mount tower and crossbar for the front of the truck. I am a big fan of Yakima rack systems, great stuff.

For the roll bar you could simply strap the kayak down to the bar itself, although that would have the boat riding high in the front and that would be more of a wind drag. Or, you could fab a piece to accept the same gutter tower/crossbar setup you have on the front.

If you used a piece of 2 x 6 and some U bolts, you could attach that to the top of the roll bar. Yakima makes brackets that could then be bolted through the 2 x 6 that would then let you mount the towers and crossbar. If you do it cleanly, it would not look ghetto, and could be removed by simply unbolting the U bolts at the end of the paddling season.

Check out Yakima's website, you may find they make a mount specifically for a rollbar which would be easy... pricey but very nice.

spokane.yota.man

I've seen racks used by people with pickups where you use the towing receiver. If you have one. A square tube slides into the receiver and then it goes up to a t. Would be easy to make. Also gives you more distance between the tie down points which secures it better. Top on or off wouldn't matter either and it would be easy to remove. Look at receiver mounted bike racks for a general idea on how it mounts, then just make one taller with a t on top for support. Just another idea...

angrybob

I plan on doing this one day when I can find a setup at the right (used) price. I, too, have the softopper and this seems to be a perfect fit - both the basket and mounts are by Thule.

Not my rig pictured:

Junkers88

Not to hijack the thread but who's rig is that? I like the intake mod on the cowl.

Magnusian

I don't remember exactly how we used to carry my dad's canoe on his pickup but I do remember that it involved a piece of plywood on the roof of the cab (no rack) with two 2x4s set in it to snug up against the sides of the canoe and that we'd use just that and some straps, leaving the back half of the canoe more or less free-floating (though tied down) over the bed. Worked well enough with a 14' kevlar canoe.

angrybob

"GranVille-4crawler" is the owner. I asked him a few questions about the softtopper before I bought mine. See post #30 for the snorkel writeup

Nervo19

I'm facing the same problem. I did a search for "hitch rack" on eBay and found:




85.95 with free shipping.