Dingit
Super Active Member
- Mar 8, 2017
- 2,062
I'm thinking of mounting my canoe on my popup but I can't decide if I want it hanging off the front or back...I do have roof rails but I don't know how well they're attached.
Carrying a kayak
- Thread starter TheBlurb
- Start date
heathdavis
Active Member
- May 15, 2011
- 569
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I put crossbars on top of my camper 11 years ago. These were the ones: https://www.etrailer.com/Roof-Rack/SportRack/SR1020.html
Yeah you have to drill into the top of the camper to affix them and that's kind of traumatic but I've had no problems.
Once you have the crossbars installed you can attach bike racks, kayak racks, anything you like. We haul 3 bikes on top of a tiny camper and it's fine. Of course if you have an AC or something sticking out of the roof you won't be able to do this.
Edit-- apparently they have now modified that particular model of roof rack so you *don't* have to drill into the roof!
I put crossbars on top of my camper 11 years ago. These were the ones: https://www.etrailer.com/Roof-Rack/SportRack/SR1020.html
Yeah you have to drill into the top of the camper to affix them and that's kind of traumatic but I've had no problems.
Once you have the crossbars installed you can attach bike racks, kayak racks, anything you like. We haul 3 bikes on top of a tiny camper and it's fine. Of course if you have an AC or something sticking out of the roof you won't be able to do this.
Edit-- apparently they have now modified that particular model of roof rack so you *don't* have to drill into the roof!
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davido
Super Active Member
- Jul 17, 2014
- 1,367
I carry it either on the tow vehicle, facing down, strapped securely to the roof rack, or on the popup camper, facing down, strapped securely to the trailer's roof rack.
BEWARE: I've had several J-hook racks, and they are NOT strong enough to keep my Malibu Two kayak from shifting on the roof. It literally causes the J-hooks to slide on the rack. I've tried cheap Amazon ones, and expensive name brand ones. That kayak has too much windage for J-hooks. You're probably fine with a small kayak, but not a big two/three seater.
Here are the options that do work for me:
1: Face down on the tow vehicle roof rack. I prefer this because the kayak is not in the way if I need to put up the roof on the popup.
2: Face down on the popup's roof rack. It fits there fine, and this is how I transported the kayak on my most recent trip.
If you don't have a roof rack on your popup, consider getting one. They're very useful.
BEWARE: I've had several J-hook racks, and they are NOT strong enough to keep my Malibu Two kayak from shifting on the roof. It literally causes the J-hooks to slide on the rack. I've tried cheap Amazon ones, and expensive name brand ones. That kayak has too much windage for J-hooks. You're probably fine with a small kayak, but not a big two/three seater.
Here are the options that do work for me:
1: Face down on the tow vehicle roof rack. I prefer this because the kayak is not in the way if I need to put up the roof on the popup.
2: Face down on the popup's roof rack. It fits there fine, and this is how I transported the kayak on my most recent trip.
If you don't have a roof rack on your popup, consider getting one. They're very useful.
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We have two 16' sea kayaks. TV for sure. Say you get to a camp spot and set up and want to drive to different lakes for the day and paddle. Well, if your rack system is on the camper you're hosed. We opted for the saddle mount system. We couldn't quite afford the Hullavator system and there are two of us to lift the kayaks up. J-bar system is quite wind restraint.
heathdavis
Active Member
- May 15, 2011
- 569
No, my popup is so old (1984) it wasn't even listed ten years ago. The nice thing about those particular crossbars is that they can adjust for a wide range of popup sizes (width).
TheBlurb
Active Member
- Mar 28, 2019
- 250
Cool pic - nice looking setup!
Cape Cod Mountain Man
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams
- Apr 23, 2010
- 15
On the roof you can keep an eye on it and good tie-downs can be attached all around. On the TV, it will be out of the way when time to set up camp and ready for transport to the water. I have done both ways but usually put it on the camper roof. Roof racks can be really expensive. Never had damage and it was easier to man-handle. That said, my kayak was 90 lbs. A 40 lb. kayak could go in your back seat. : )
JLE
Member
Yes, they are pricy racks but again, it's added a decade to our ability to carry boats and kayak. This camp spot is one of our favourite sites just 10 mins north of St. George Utah - Red Cliffs Recreation Area. The campground has gone on a reservation system last year so it's pretty hard to get a spot now, sadly. We love Utah!
CoolCanuck
Active Member
This is how we carry our 20ft Pygmy triple...
Will be putting a piggy-back bike rack on the back truck hitch for a e-bike rack. Not comfy with putting up all that weight on the infamous Coleman ABS roof, never mind what their sales brochure showed.
Two sets of Yakima Hand rollers - ex Hully Rollers - in the back so that it's easy to get on the roof, then a pair of Deck Hands up front. Just using the cross straps as seen, no front/rear lines required, due to the length between the bars. The rear rollers are just for mounting / taking the kayak off, so that we don't bugger up the finish.
Will be putting a piggy-back bike rack on the back truck hitch for a e-bike rack. Not comfy with putting up all that weight on the infamous Coleman ABS roof, never mind what their sales brochure showed.
Two sets of Yakima Hand rollers - ex Hully Rollers - in the back so that it's easy to get on the roof, then a pair of Deck Hands up front. Just using the cross straps as seen, no front/rear lines required, due to the length between the bars. The rear rollers are just for mounting / taking the kayak off, so that we don't bugger up the finish.
Attachments
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TheBlurb
Active Member
- Mar 28, 2019
- 250
Following up as the OP...
I opted for a hybrid solution that worked well on a 3.5 week trip of at least 2,500 km. I strapped the kayak to the pup roof on the road, while J-hooks on the TV carried the boat to the beach for sites that weren’t close to the water.
I opted for a hybrid solution that worked well on a 3.5 week trip of at least 2,500 km. I strapped the kayak to the pup roof on the road, while J-hooks on the TV carried the boat to the beach for sites that weren’t close to the water.
djmello99
Member
I have the crossbars on the roof but I’ve never used them. I have an inflatable tandem kayak that goes in the TV.
TheBlurb
Active Member
- Mar 28, 2019
- 250
We carry our tandem kayak on the TV roof rack. Don't want to put anything on our camper.
Before I got a rack for the truck, I used these inflatable racks (called HandiRack) for putting the kayak on the camper.
Haven't used them since 2016, so if anyone is interested, $30
Haven't used them since 2016, so if anyone is interested, $30
bjrichus
New Member
We use the $56 thing from Amazon on the roof of the PUP:
The large foam filled blocks go on top of the PUP and the straps go round and under the body of the PUP - as others have shown. You can secure this several ways to the PUP and they include the straps and clips for the rain gutter (or roof lip) as shown in the photo, and we also use ropes and bungee cords through the Kayak handles to the frame of the PUP to make everything ultra secure.
Several trips and nothing lost yet!
For sure its not a $1000 roof rack for your SUV, where the kayak gets lifted up and down for you but we have a truck and the bed is already full by the time its ready to go. Plenty less cash too.
Hope this helps.
"Alfa Gear Universal 34" Long Folding Lightweight Anti-Vibration Kayak Soft Roof Rack pad for Kayak/Canoe/Surfboard/Paddle Board/SUP/and Water Sports with Hood Loop and Trunk Straps"
The large foam filled blocks go on top of the PUP and the straps go round and under the body of the PUP - as others have shown. You can secure this several ways to the PUP and they include the straps and clips for the rain gutter (or roof lip) as shown in the photo, and we also use ropes and bungee cords through the Kayak handles to the frame of the PUP to make everything ultra secure.
Several trips and nothing lost yet!
For sure its not a $1000 roof rack for your SUV, where the kayak gets lifted up and down for you but we have a truck and the bed is already full by the time its ready to go. Plenty less cash too.
Hope this helps.
Pedro Galvan
Member
I prefer to carry the kayak on the T.V. I have Malone center posts and wide foam blocks on the crossbars, plus bow and stern lines. Alas, the crossbars do not extend outside the roof, so a Hullavator is not an option. You can see Houndini is supervising our camp setup.
We have four kayaks and this is what we did. We could fit all four on the popup, but decided to split them up.
