pickup boat rack??

[Clif]

I been thinkin, it hurts

Would like to do a rack to be temporary in the back of my pickup. It would need a diagonal brace, I'm sure, ..... don't know how to post a drawing.... which would be view from the back of truck


Kinda like a canoe trailer in structure.
bottom would sit on bed of truck. Middle would be for kayaks, about as high as sidewalls. Top would be over cab for the longboats, canoes. So I would need 2 pieces like above and probably connected together.

Any ideas on fabricating such a rig? I would only know how to do it with wood. Would metal be feasible? Figure this would let me put gear in the bed, or more kayaks, or both. I do this smaller scale on my trailer, but with the truck could leave the trailer out of the picture.. much easier. Or would a standard boat rack be way cheaper?

[Jim Krueger]

Clif,

I would realy suggest metal for it's rigid strength and long life. Probably 1" or 1 1/4" square tubing with a wall thickness of at least 1/8". There have got to be several welders in your area who could easily build something for you based on your plans. Based on my years in the welding supply industry, I met many fine and talented local welders. You would just need to visit with a couple of them and try and get a gut feeling about their work and willingness to assist you. Aside from the local welders in your area, I know there are several in the club, like Dan-O who would have some great ideas and opinions.

One further note, while many of our truck racks are based on standard ladder racks mounted to the top sides of the bed. I would think a rack like you describe sitting fully down in the bed needs four strong cleats to secure to, you may already have thes in the corners of your bed, secondly would be four heavy-duty turnbuckles to attach the rack to and firmly hold it in place. Good Luck!

Best Regards
Jim Moose

[Heath]

what kind of truck? metal or aluminum would be the way to go. if you want to take it on and of. a system like this would not be hard to do.

later Heath

[Jim E]

I welded up one that slips into the stake holes in the bed rail sides. I only carry kayaks so there was no need raise it above the cab. It's great to have the entire bed for other stuff especially when camping for a river trip. I also welded a bike mount for it. I often ride my bike as a shuttle to save from our group having to take two vehicles.

Metal would be alot better and less bulky. I made mine with 1 1/2 square sides and 1 1/4 cross bars then covered them with heater hose to cushion boats a bit. Don't believe I have a pic but will try to take one the next time I load up if you like.

[Clif]

what kind of truck? 2500 xcab w/8 ft bed. BIG truck. At least once a year I end up loading up a bunch of kids and at least 2 canoes, 2 kayaks and the raft and being buffy bound. Just thinking of a way to support that.

[Crane]

Clif, I have a nice little raft-hauling trailer that would ease part of your problem. I bought it from Mike Stanley, who put a carpeted flat bed on it... just right for a smaller raft to lay on and be hauled already inflated. If you're interested, let me know.

[Jim E]

I have a Tundra.

For the canoes you are still going need a headache rack. Unless they are short solo boats. 2 tandem canoes would fill up a headache rack so the kayaks you could still put on a rack that is just on top of the bed sides( like what I did). This would leave the bed for other assundry items.

[Shark Attack]

Clif, with an 8' bed I've installed the Yakima fake rain gutters (wide something) inside the bedrails just high enough to clear the fenders & then attached the rain gutter mount Yak racks to them, these haul the kayaks. Put a normal Q-type mount towers on the roof of the truck (these haul canoes) & with the bed included I've got 3 levels of capacity. It kinda works like Coogan's setup but larger.



Wes