The wifey and I have been tossing around the idea of picking up a pair of plastic kayaks to use in lakes, rivers, bays, and mild ocean excursions. There will be times that we won't be taking the aluminum boat, or the cargo trailer, and still want the ability to get on top of the water.
The question is does anyone have pictures of their kayaks mounted on the roof of their camper? We have an air conditioner that stands about a 1 foot high, and I think there is room on either side of it for a kayak. I'd have to actually put one or two up there to know for sure. Then it's on to "how to strap them down?"
My wife and I went with the Advanced Elements AdvancedFrame2 Convertible, inflatable. This is not just a tube, as are many inflatables. We bought ours at the end of the season last year, and have not had the time to use it yet.
We tried out Reno Al's, wife's Advanced Frame, before we bought ours. It was great. Loonybin has one just like the one we bought, and he and his wife think it is great.
We too spent some time trying to figure out how to carry a kayak on the camper roof. After reading many positive posts here we purchased an Advanced Elements Advanced Frame Convertible kayak. Last week we took it up to Buttle Lake, our favourite local campground, & had a blast paddling all over for a couple of hours each day of the 5 we were there. We'd highly recommend this "boat-in-a-bag" to anyone who wants a stable craft that's easy to carry, inflate & deflate. The whole thing weighs less than 60 lbs. & fits easily in the club cab of the truck.
Carole & Mike
2000 Ford F350 SC PSD "Newman"
1994 Snowbird 8'10" "Rosietoo"
Shannie & Bobbi the kitties who stay home to guard the house
We have Yakima tracks on the roof from the factory so we will probably look at at a kayak hauling solution from them. Which kayaks are you looking at? Are you looking to do some fishing??
We have factory installed Maggie racks on our camper, with Thule crossfeet and extra long bars. We have 3 cross bars, and have a rocket box on one side and can fit 2 kayaks (one flat and one leaning against the first) on the other side using cam strap tiedowns. Total height from the ground is either 12' 10" or 13' 2" depending on which model kayak we carry.
Northeast PA
Ford F350 (2008 XLT CC LWB 6.4L Diesel 4x4 ESOF 3.73 DRW 17"A/S)
Host Yukon, Single Slideout, Tent Option, Solar, 2-way Fridge, AGM.
Although I have not used this system personally, I always thought this system would work well for loading kayaks onto a high camper roof:
www.loadmyboat.com
Cheers
Mark
2003 Ford F350, XLT, Sport,4x4, Crew Cab, 7.3l Diesel,Auto
1995 6'10" Northern Lite camper with custom built 9" basement
I was kinda liking the Peekaboo from from Ocean Kayak. This way our two kids can ride along with us. The Peekaboo has a polycarbonate window in the floor so you can see what under the water. Also has a pretty high weight capacity.
Might do some single person fishing from it, but more for just toodling around bays, estuary's, lakes, and calm rivers. Not looking to do any camping from, or long distant travels in, or high speed paddling.
INSAYN wrote: I was kinda liking the Peekaboo from from Ocean Kayak. This way our two kids can ride along with us. The Peekaboo has a polycarbonate window in the floor so you can see what under the water. Also has a pretty high weight capacity.
Might do some single person fishing from it, but more for just toodling around bays, estuary's, lakes, and calm rivers. Not looking to do any camping from, or long distant travels in, or high speed paddling.
My wife would like to go fishing too but I'm not sure yet how often she would actually go. From what I understand the tandems are a bit difficult to paddle alone...I like the Ocean Kayaks and the Hobies too.
Insayn, I'm assuming from your signature that's the rig you'll be using to haul kayaks? Someone may know of something but I personally do not know of a sensible, safe way to carry a kayak, let alone two. And I wouldn't even think of strapping them somehow on the side. I can just visualize some semi whacking them off as they zoom past. Other posters have offered what might be the "sane" suggestion--the portable units. I carry two 'yaks on the top of my 4x4 truck and it's awful hard handling them. I shudder at something as high as your unit. Good luck.
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