Help! Suggestions for a Kayak Carrier

smctitan · 04-22-2008, 01:05 PM

Hi guys-

I'm hoping to get some help with this problem. Would it be better to get a roof rack system or a bed rack system to haul around a kayak? I am going to be getting a tonneau cover, so I'm thinking about going with a roof rack system. Any ideas on which one works best and how to install? Thanks.

**DeadRiver** · 04-22-2008, 02:43 PM

if you're getting a cover you'll definitely want a roof system.. the overhead racks from nissan won't work so well with a cover, it'd have to be custom. if you are getting a hard cover some company's manufacture ladder racks that will go on the outside of the cover and bolt to the bed... that is also an option. I guess it all depends on the look you wish to achieve.. I have the OEM overhead racks and my buddies call me 'carpenter' when they are on... whatever, Titan envy.

There is also a thread on here where some one used the armada roof rack on their titan, looked sharp!

ChargersFan · 04-22-2008, 04:18 PM

I have a 12ft. kayak that I just throw in the back and strap it down. My tonneau fits over it. It does stick out a bit though.

billwitte · 04-22-2008, 05:22 PM

Really depends on the length of the kayak. I happen to have a lot of kayaks, and some fit in the bed easily (08 LWB) and some stick way out (13'3" kayak). When I have one of my long boats in the truck, I keep the bed door up, so no one will run into the kayak. I would put a roof rack on, but I could not get into my garage at work if I do. If I were you, I would go with a rack (Yakima is my prefered), or a nice full on rack that goes the entire lenght of the bed, and over the cab.

smctitan · 04-22-2008, 05:42 PM

Thanks guys. The kayak I am getting is a 13ft fishing kayak, and i'm not sure how it will work hanging out the back of my truck(07 crew cab). I also have the problem with dealing with garages driving in and out of DC a few days a week. I guess I'll have to measure how long it would stick out and go from there. I don't want to put roof racks on then have no parking garages to get into.

wuhungsix · 04-22-2008, 06:08 PM

not sure how you are going to do it with a roof rack but I went with the Thule XSporter. I got rid of the Hula-port saddles (which you see in the pics) and switched to the Slide and Glide set. Sorry for the big pics. The kayak is 13ft. If you look in the signature you can see the rack as it sits completely down.

smctitan · 04-23-2008, 08:24 AM

Thats a great rack wuhung. I think that might work. Is it easy to take off and remove for work during the week? How easy was it to install and approx how much for the rack?

**DeadRiver** · 04-23-2008, 08:46 AM

not sure on the price of the rack but it's very user friendly. I checked one out before finding the OEM overhead racks. I believe you can lower the bars all the way down into themselves, then fold them down to lay flat on top of your bed. the set i looked at were on a Frontier so I'm not 100% certain they'd be the same for the Titan. Those don't appear to be the type that fold down, but do lower.

Juday · 04-23-2008, 09:38 AM

I carry two kayaks in my bed all the time (both 12 ft. long). I have the CC SB just like you and it works fine. Granted I don't drive very far, maybe 15 miles one way, but it works fine. If I go on the longer trips I'll just throw them on top of my OEM Utili-track Roof Rack.

I don't have a tonneau cover like yourself, so I couldn't help you out on any advise there.

Good luck to whatever you decide to do. Be sure to let us know.

07cajuntitan · 04-23-2008, 10:13 AM

I do not have a kayak, I have a pirogue, but it is basically the same thing. I use it when going hunting in the swamps, and the problem was that I had to be able to haul a 4-wheeler at the same time. You cannot drive up to the water with the truck, and I had to use the 4-wheeler to get the pirogue to the water.

What I did was buy a cheap, light, Chinese made trailer from Northern Tools and convert it to carry the pirogue. I carry the 4-wheeler in the bed of the truck and when I get to the parking area I unhook the trailer from the truck, unload the 4-wheeler, hook the trailer to it & go.

Here is the trailer I bought from Northern:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...6970_7769_7769

All I did was take off the factory main beam / tongue and replace it with a longer piece of 3" x 3" square tubing. I built a wooden sliding piece to support the nose of the pirogue, and away I went. You can see the cost of the trailer on the Northern website, and the piece of new square tubing from an iron supplier in town cost me about $90. I painted the whole thing camo. It works for me. I also use it to haul long pieces of lumber home from the lumber yard when I need some.

If you would like pics I can take some this evening when I get home.

07cajuntitan · 04-23-2008, 10:22 AM

I think the extend-a-truck will allow you to haul a kayak in the bed of the truck with the tailgate down and the toneau cover still on. Check out this link and look at the third picture down:

http://www.extendatruck.com/

billwitte · 04-23-2008, 12:00 PM

So for I like WUHUNG6's set up the best. Thule makes some good racks, you may want to check if Yakima makes one as well.

wuhungsix · 04-24-2008, 05:54 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Thule-422-Xspo...9084370&sr=8-1

this is were I bought it about a year ago but it was only around $390 free ship back then. It looks like the price has gone up about $100 since. Maybe its from all the crackheads and tweakers steeling and recycling everything they can get their hands on causing the price of aluminum to go up.

it only has two positions up and down. Bad thing about the down position is the bars are right in your rear view but I manage to get use to it as it doesn't blind you completely. Similar to having a crack in your windshield but you adjust.

This rack is a great alternative if your bed does not have utility-track system. Yakima has a rack but it is fixed position and cannot be lowered.

I chose to haul my yak on the rack because I tend to load up the bed with gear and mountain bikes when I go camping. The bikes will eventually have a spot on rack next to the yak as soon as I decide which mount to get.

smctitan · 05-05-2008, 01:23 PM

Thanks for all the input! I actually ended up getting a great deal on a 10 footer from ****s. I leave the tailgate up and just keep it secure with a couple of ratchet straps latched to the utili-track and its not going anywhere.

paulz · 05-19-2008, 08:48 AM

H? Do you have to remove the Utili tack system from the sides of the truck bed to install that XSporter system?