Overhead Rack...how to carry canoe????

NDJollyMon · 08-09-2005, 06:06 PM

OK...I'm finding my factory TITAN rack to be useless if it can't carry my 15' Old Town Canoe! (you'd think I would have already known this but....no)

Has anyone figured out a reasonable mod to the factory rack that will allow the canoe to NOT REST ON THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK??? A riser? A Yakima something to make it work....anything!

It looks as if the canoe needs another 4-6" of clearance! YIKES! (front only)

I've seen the PVC/homemade racks....don't want 'em.
I just want to know how to mod the fac/rack to tote the boat!

HELLLLLLLLP!

Thanx!

37L1 · 08-09-2005, 06:40 PM

Armada Roof Rack installed!!!

He has added an Armada roof rack to his Titan, should help you carry the canoe on your overhead racks and the roof without causing any harm.

NDJollyMon · 08-11-2005, 12:40 PM

Don't really want to mod with another rack. Just want to survey to see if anyone has already come up with a fix/riser or something to mod the existing rack.

Any other ideas???

markinho · 08-11-2005, 01:42 PM

I love my new Titan but also need something to occasionally carry long stock (lumber, baseboard, crown molding, etc.) yet that still accomodates the Utilitrack system.

The best thing out there is TracRac , which is said to work with the Utilitrack system. It's pricey, but it has some advantages over other rack systems. First of all, it's easily removed from your truck when you don't need it. My last truck had a heavy Kargomaster rack on it--which worked very well--but caused a lot of wind drag and was not removable without tools and someone to help you lift it off the truck. TracRac also has an optional cantilever extender that goes over the cab for long stock. This thing also can carry more weight than the Nissan rack and it looks like you can keep your Utilitrack free for other stuff.

Since Yakima and Thule don't seem to make racks that fit over the Titan's cab (not yet, anyway), this really seems to be one of the few racks systems that actually does what a rack system should: turn the surface length of a vehicle into an effective carrying area.

I am looking at the feasibility of getting a Tracrac and a Retrax bed cover on my Titan. These mods aren't cheap but I thing that they are the best ones out there for people who want maximal functionality from their trucks.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you find out!

Mark

NDJollyMon · 08-12-2005, 08:43 AM

Wish I could find a temp fix.

I went to YAK dealer to see if they could help. I'm thinking a set of horizontal Mighty Mounts on front rack, attach some sort of wooden riser to them using a steel upright fastener (0f some sort). That would give me some clearance in the front. Canoe would then clear the cab.

Anyone else try something like this? It would be cheap, and let me use the Nissan Overhead Racks.

Any thoughts?

markinho · 08-12-2005, 09:07 AM

If you're commited to keeping those Nissan racks, then fabricating something to work using an existing roof rack system looks like your only bet.

I'm surprised Nissan hasn't made something that goes over the Titan's cab that will work in tandem with their existing rack system.

By the way, here's a thread from some time ago on an creative way of retrofitting a rack system for the bed:

Thule Rack Retrofit

This will not help you with your roof rack situation, but it goes to show that these things can be modified. The Armada rack idea is a pretty good one, too.

Good luck,

Mark

NDJollyMon · 08-15-2005, 09:52 PM

That's pretty cool.

I may be able to put something together using Mighty Mounts. Have to pick some up and try.

Thanks

NDJollyMon · 09-06-2005, 10:16 PM

I figured out a way to use the overhead racks to carry a canoe.

It ain't too pretty, but it's cheap, and functional.
You will need some wood, bolts, nuts, washers, and a set (4) of Yakima Horizonal MightyMounts. (for the TITAN Overhead Rack)

baseballfanz · 09-07-2005, 06:23 PM

As long as it work whio cares what it look like

Maybe you can paint the wood if look is important.

NDJollyMon · 09-08-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baseballfanz

Maybe you can paint the wood if look is important.

As a matter of fact...I used black spray paint to mask the 'treated lumber' look.

I put some carpet pieces up there as well.

It holds the canoe steady...and gets me to the river.

lenj33 · 09-21-2005, 07:26 PM

and used canoe 'blocks' in the front... maybe it's just that my canoe has a transom and the curve of the boat isn't as dramatic?

I have about 2 inches of clearance over the glass of the moonroof so I have to be careful sliding it up there. especially in the middle of the night

Works pretty well.

NDJollyMon · 09-22-2005, 09:16 PM

Yea...my OLD TOWN (red Guide 147) is curved on both ends.

Those horizontal Mighty Mounts really work good for holding it from sliding on the Overhead Rack crossbars! (cheap too)

Now...If I can get to the river before it freezes over!

lenj33 · 09-23-2005, 05:28 AM

I've got one or maybe two more trips left before hunting season kicks in...

Those pics in the dark yeilded me this bronzeback... my biggest this year.

What river do you fish? One of our best rivers, the Shenendoah, became the dead seas this year so I've started hitting other rivers in Virginia.

NDJollyMon · 09-26-2005, 10:15 PM

Red River of the North yields some huge cats! I don't fish as much as I once did...but I like to paddle around.

Crazycat · 03-10-2007, 12:14 PM

I took NDJollyMon's idea and modified it a bit. Bought three 1x3x4 red oak boards. Glued them togeather with the center board about 1/4 inch high, planed the two outside boards at an angle to match the roundness of the rack tube. then sawed the top flush, sanded and a couple coats of spar varnish. Drilled three holes, center and each end to put Stainless screw type hose clamps through. Use those to attach to Nissan front rack, looks pretty good, easy to install & remove and works like a champ. Thanks NDJollyMon for the idea!