Maverick Kayak Racks - Share your thoughts

[Derek's Maverick]

Hello,

Those with Mavericks, what kind of racks have you used for recreational use for things like kayaks, pedal boats, etc? I have seen the Yakima rack but feel I could get a rack of similar reliability for half the price.

Also, do you have your rack setup from the bed that goes up and over the cab or from the bed that extends backwards? I'm just wondering if having kayaks go up and over the cab causes any issues while driving with wind and lower mpg.

Oct. 2021 order. Keeping the hope alive!

Thanks.

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[SkeeterB]

Funny you should bring this up now. I have just made (am making) a major change to my kayak rack system. I started with a vertical hitch extender and a wood rack at the front of the bed. Since, I have added Thule roof racks and use the rear one and the extender for the boat. I don't know if I am the only one, but the clamps for the Thule are deforming the top of the doorframe just a little. Also I clamped one down slightly skewed and dented the frame. A paintless dent repair has it looking better. I opened a discussion with Thule on what I may have done wrong, but please be careful with tightening the rack clamp. My initial thought was not to tighten to spec, but don't want to kill someone following when all goes south. I ordered the Elevate TS rack system which is supposed to work with my Undercover Flex tonneau. I will be abandoning the vertical hitch extender and the Thule racks is the new system works. One good thing is the extender is HEAVY for this old man. I will post here the Thule response.

 

[Timothyd]

Funny you should bring this up now. I have just made (am making) a major change to my kayak rack system. I started with a vertical hitch extender and a wood rack at the front of the bed. Since, I have added Thule roof racks and use the rear one and the extender for the boat. I don't know if I am the only one, but the clamps for the Thule are deforming the top of the doorframe just a little. Also I clamped one down slightly skewed and dented the frame. A paintless dent repair has it looking better. I opened a discussion with Thule on what I may have done wrong, but please be careful with tightening the rack clamp. My initial thought was not to tighten to spec, but don't want to kill someone following when all goes south. I ordered the Elevate TS rack system which is supposed to work with my Undercover Flex tonneau. I will be abandoning the vertical hitch extender and the Thule racks is the new system works. One good thing is the extender is HEAVY for this old man. I will post here the Thule response.

Does the hitch extender come out far enough so you can lower the tailgate? I have some 2" square tubing in preparation for making something like this. Also for a "T" bar make the bed more useful and able to carry long stuff.

 

[NoMoneyNoTime]

Funny you should bring this up now. I have just made (am making) a major change to my kayak rack system. I started with a vertical hitch extender and a wood rack at the front of the bed. Since, I have added Thule roof racks and use the rear one and the extender for the boat. I don't know if I am the only one, but the clamps for the Thule are deforming the top of the doorframe just a little. Also I clamped one down slightly skewed and dented the frame. A paintless dent repair has it looking better. I opened a discussion with Thule on what I may have done wrong, but please be careful with tightening the rack clamp. My initial thought was not to tighten to spec, but don't want to kill someone following when all goes south. I ordered the Elevate TS rack system which is supposed to work with my Undercover Flex tonneau. I will be abandoning the vertical hitch extender and the Thule racks is the new system works. One good thing is the extender is HEAVY for this old man. I will post here the Thule response.

I've been watching the progression of your rig on here, trying to figure out what to do about my own setup. Your experiences have been very instructive. Thank you for sharing them. Your original approach with the wood rack and the vertical hitch extender was simple and cost-effective, although I certainly understand why you might not want to take it into a headwind at highway speeds. I was wondering a couple of things.

If you had the option of a steel-framed headache rack that was permanently installed and where the top rail was load-bearing then do you think that you would have gone with that and stuck it out with the vertical hitch extender? The weight of the Harbor Freight extender being a problem, what if you had lighter-weight versions of the same thing like the ones made by Thule and Yakima?

Do you feel that the Harbor Freight hitch extender is beefy enough to support modification and additional weight? I was thinking about bolting/clamping a bike rack directly onto to the hitch extender to preserve the truck bed for camping gear, a cooler, firewood, etc. Does that seem to you like it'd be at all unreasonable?

 

[SkeeterB]

Harbor freight extender is heavy duty. I think fastening a bike rack would not be a problem.

 

[PeteMaverick]

Man, I'm getting too old to climb up and get kayaks on a roof rack. I bought this T-Bone extender from https://www.boonedoxusa.com/product-page/classic-t-bone. I have a 14' and 12' and they fit fine. I just throw them in, strap them down and off I go..

 

[hellokitty1984]

Man, I'm getting too old to climb up and get kayaks on a roof rack. I bought this T-Bone extender from https://www.boonedoxusa.com/product-page/classic-t-bone. I have a 14' and 12' and they fit fine. I just throw them in, strap them down and off I go..

This is something I’m looking for! Thanks for the post. I’ll earmark this for reference later.

 

[SkeeterB]

Got the Elevate racks now. Anyone want the Thule roof racks that dent the door frame when tightened down to spec?

 

[Derek's Maverick]

Got the Elevate racks now. Anyone want the Thule roof racks that dent the door frame when tightened down to spec?

Do they really? I was looking at Thule too. Love that set up you have. Thanks for sharing.

 

[The Weatherman]

https://www.tonneaufactoryoutlet.co...uxedo-pro-x15-angry-elephant-rack-system.html

 

[ATCVector]

Got the Elevate racks now. Anyone want the Thule roof racks that dent the door frame when tightened down to spec?

I’d be interested in your Thule racks if you still have them.

 

[SkeeterB]

Still have them. Send me contact info.

 

[ATCVector]

704-682-3081. Thanks

 

[Peps]

Man, I'm getting too old to climb up and get kayaks on a roof rack. I bought this T-Bone extender from https://www.boonedoxusa.com/product-page/classic-t-bone. I have a 14' and 12' and they fit fine. I just throw them in, strap them down and off I go..

Is this your 12’ ? the overhang is substantial. It depends on the state the max allowed.
thanks.

 

[My Maverick and Me]

https://www.tonneaufactoryoutlet.co...uxedo-pro-x15-angry-elephant-rack-system.html

What is the length of your Kayak? I have a 17ft kayak and was wondering if this setup would work for mine.

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