Canoe

[RobertN]

Anyone have a good trick for carrying a canoe? I have a canoe, but it is way way too long to fit in the 8' bed on my truck.

I have transported it using my utility trailer; I can arrange it so it hangs off on both ends, but more so over the trailer tongue. Would like to be able to haul it without having to use the trailer.

I do not have lumber rack or anything like that, although it is set up to tow our 5th wheel. Just a basically stock '01 Ram2500 4x4.

 

[DT86]

We have an Old Town Tripper, I think its right at 17'. So long in fact that we added a 3rd seat in the middle.

We haul ours by placing some type of padding on the top rear of the cab like two stadium cushions or a folded blanket. Then with the tail gate open load the canoe upside down over the cab with the back hanging over the tail gate. Like always you need to tie it in good or it becomes a massive sail. We have traveled many miles with this set up.

 

[djw250]

I made a rack out of 2x4's that fit in the stake pockets of my bed, like a ladder or pipe rack, and tied the canoe down with small ratchet straps. Worked pretty good for occasional carry.

 

[bdeboer]

I use a pipe type lumber rack, but our camper is a bumper pull. I have seen racks that place the canoe over the cab for fifth wheels.

This is one type:

Truck Racks, Ladder Racks, Canoe Racks & More | Buy Direct & Save | US Rack

 

[Bird]

I bought a 17' ouachita canoe in 1969 and a friend welded up a real nice ladder rack for my Chevy pickup. I don't know whether they still make them or not, but there used to be some pads that you put on the sides of the canoe then turn it upside down on top of your car and tie both ends.

 

[GGB]

I've got an old Sunfish sailboat that we've had in our family for nearly 40 years. The boat had the usual leaks for something that old, and someone stole the mast and sail, so it's probably beyond spending any money to fix. But the trailer is still sound, and I'm planning to convert it to haul one or both of our canoes. It should be a fairly simple conversion. I'm thinking of setting it up to either haul the canoe right side up or upside down for storage to keep water out of it.

I've seen old Sunfish sailboats with trailers go pretty cheap at times. These trailers are not really designed to haul a heavy load, so you might look around to see if you can find one.

GGB

 

[sixdogs]

To transport a canoe in the back of a truck you need either a couple of old tires for up to 14'-16' or one of those hitch extenders that add a couple feet.For my 14' aluminum in the back of my 6 1/2 ft Tundra I open the tail gate and slide the canoe in upside down. I put the two tires under the canoe on top of the tailgate and tie it down. Zero problems and have done this for 40 years with all types of canoe materials. With an 8' bed you can do a 16' canoe the same way.

If you want a canoe trailer, forget about it unless you come up with a way to carry the canoe upside down. That is the only way most of them have strength and they will eventually crack or break if you transport right side up. The keel and rib is not capable of providing support. Grumman--Marathon Group--mentions this as a warranty violation. Canoes only tranport well if they are upside down.

Another good one-person way, if you don'tlike the pickup method is to have a camper top on the truck and attach something like the Yakiima roof racks that are wide and strong. Slide one end of the canoe up on the back of the truck roof rack and slide the canoe forward. A couple of ratchet straps side to side and you're good for 80 mph. Have done it many times and with two people it's a piece of cake.

 

[nybirdman]

Check Yakima or Thule.Both have any system will need.A little pricey but worth it.I have carried canoes and kayaks for many years with a Yakima system,used on multiple vehicles.Way better than a trailer.

 

[bcp]

For the rear, I've seen something like this assembled with the short side of the "L" in the receiver and the long one vertical. The front can rest on the cab on a conventional roof rack crossbar.

From:
Truck Bed Extender - Save on this Pickup Truck Bed Extender

Or this method:

Econo Truck Rack | Kargo Master | Heavy-Duty Pro II Steel Truck Racks | Cargo Racks | Kargo Master

Thule Pro DeWalt Pick Up Rack System Compact - DCATR375 - Thule

Bruce

 

[bdeboer]

I don't know whether they still make them or not, but there used to be some pads that you put on the sides of the canoe then turn it upside down on top of your car and tie both ends.

I use the pads on my lumber rack, got them at Dunhams Sports or some place like that.

 

[RobertN]

I tried once with the tailgate up, and then end of the canoe resting inside the bed against the tailgate. Bad idea; too much of a sail.

This method sounds better, especially since the lowered tailgate makes a long bed almost 10' long...

We have an Old Town Tripper, I think its right at 17'. So long in fact that we added a 3rd seat in the middle.

We haul ours by placing some type of padding on the top rear of the cab like two stadium cushions or a folded blanket. Then with the tail gate open load the canoe upside down over the cab with the back hanging over the tail gate. Like always you need to tie it in good or it becomes a massive sail. We have traveled many miles with this set up.

 

[aczlan]

I would get a noodle at Walmart (a larger one with a hole in the center), slice from the outside to the center and cut to length as needed. A piece of noodle goes on the gunnels where they sit over your cab, then an upside down U made of 2x4s that goes into your rear stake pockets to lift the back enough that you feel comfortable with the front angle and all you need are some tiedown straps.

Aaron Z

 

[Ken45101]

I would probably go with the wooden rack in the stake pockets.

In my case, however, I need something that will work with the 5th wheel camper. This is the first time I've heard of that U.S. Rack for over the cab use I'm going to have to look into that!

Ken

 

[pat32rf]

When I had a 17' Gruman I made a bracket that would slide into the front 2" receiver of our CJ. The rear rode on a roof rack.( Didn't want to use a matching bracket for the rear as it would block the tailgate)...

 

[Toyboy]

I use a truck bed extender also. Quick & easy and works great.

 

[handirifle]

I had a canoe before and from my experience, do yourself a favor, and get a ladder rack that's easily removable from the truck. I have used the rooftop "pads" and after having the canoe slip side to side, at freeway speeds, I would never use them again, or recommend them. The tall rear receiver "T" posts will also allow the the rear of the canoe to sway at freeway speeds.

You might get away with a single rear ladder rack, and rest the front over the cab, connected to a luggage type roof rack, but either way you go, make sure it is solid. You could get a headache rack for the truck, and a removable rear rear "T" rack also.

 

[IndyIan]

I had a canoe before and from my experience, do yourself a favor, and get a ladder rack that's easily removable from the truck. I have used the rooftop "pads" and after having the canoe slip side to side, at freeway speeds, I would never use them again, or recommend them. The tall rear receiver "T" posts will also allow the the rear of the canoe to sway at freeway speeds.

You might get away with a single rear ladder rack, and rest the front over the cab, connected to a luggage type roof rack, but either way you go, make sure it is solid. You could get a headache rack for the truck, and a removable rear rear "T" rack also.

For our car and SUV we use motorcycle tie down straps forming a triangle at each end, along with the foam gunnel pads. At 60mph a passing truck will make it wiggle a bit but its not going to ever come off, we aren't concerned about fine scratches in our paint either but they do happen.

 

[aczlan]

I had a canoe before and from my experience, do yourself a favor, and get a ladder rack that's easily removable from the truck. I have used the rooftop "pads" and after having the canoe slip side to side, at freeway speeds, I would never use them again, or recommend them.

A canoe going from side to side is a function of how well you have it tied down. IMO, it should take at least 4 ropes or (preferably) ratchet straps to tie a canoe down on the roof.
You need: Bow to left and right sides of the bumper, then (depending on your setup) I would put one from each side of the first thwart behind the cab down to the bed corners and then (just to make sure) I would probably put one or two from the stern to each side of the bed.

Would it be easier with a rack? Yes. Safer? Not if the canoe is properly fastened.

Aaron Z

 

[Groo]

overhead is one option, but they catch a whole lots of wind. We did it all the time when I was a kid. we used to haul 2 canoes up there. Now, I'd drop the tailgate, tie it in and stick a red flag on the end.

boat trailers are pretty cheap and long. that would be another option.

 

[Ken45101]

Just be aware that if you tie the front and rear down too tight, you can damage the canoe (bend it in the middle), especially today's plastic boats. You cannot really adequately secure a canoe from the ends.

Yes, front and rear should definitely be used to assist in control but the main tie downs should be in the middle. Do not rely on the ends!

And another suggestion: always tie it down well enough that at least one tie down can fail without causing a disaster. I know one guy who had a tie down come loose as he was getting on the expressway. The canoe went straight up and airborne. Something like that could cause an accident and kill someone.

FWIW, I've been hauling canoes and kayaks for 35 years including some long trips.

Ken