The goal is to haul as many kayaks as I can

[maverickboater]

If you ever want to do some whitewater paddling in the southeast, I'm just 15 minutes from the Nantahala River and centrally located to several other whitewater rivers of different difficulties.

I have done some classes at NOC and a couple of southeastern whitewater trips where we stayed in Bryson City. It's a great area with so many options: stay at the Nanty, go north to the Noli, south to the Chattooga, or west to the Ocoee!

Have you been to the whitewater course in Wausau?

Yep, I make it to Wausau at least once every summer, hopefully a few times!

Sponsored

 

[iWayner]

I have done some classes at NOC and a couple of southeastern whitewater trips where we stayed in Bryson City. It's a great area with so many options: stay at the Nanty, go north to the Noli, south to the Chattooga, or west to the Ocoee!

Awesome! I taught at NOC for years and was the director of the paddling school in the 2000's. Lots of good memories. We might need a Mavericks SE whitewater group trip sometime. We can do all the rivers!

I used to travel to Wausau fairly often for slalom races. Great people there and fun course. They always had the best "host homes" there. It was where I did my first National Championships back in '81 (yes, I'm that old, and it kicked my butt ). I got the hang of it later on though.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

And finally, Yakima "Overhaul" bed rack.

That's five ww kayaks comfortably (there's a white one behind the blue one).

For the canoe, I'm using a "soft rack" that straps through the doors, like this product: https://www.rutabagashop.com/collections/crossbars/products/sea-to-summit-traveller-soft-racks

We have yet to figure out a good bow line (a line at the front end of a long boat to keep it centered), but will have to figure that out before hauling a canoe longer distances.

The rack is very quiet on its own, but I heard some wind whistling with the canoe up top.

Stay tuned for further fine-tuning of the system.

So glad you're enjoying your Maverick! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Timothyd]

And finally, Yakima "Overhaul" bed rack.

That's five ww kayaks comfortably (there's a white one behind the blue one).

For the canoe, I'm using a "soft rack" that straps through the doors, like this product: https://www.rutabagashop.com/collections/crossbars/products/sea-to-summit-traveller-soft-racks

We have yet to figure out a good bow line (a line at the front end of a long boat to keep it centered), but will have to figure that out before hauling a canoe longer distances.

The rack is very quiet on its own, but I heard some wind whistling with the canoe up top.

Stay tuned for further fine-tuning of the system.

I have those straps that attach inside of the engine compartment and poke out (when you want them) of the gap between the hood and fender. Tunk them in when you want and when they're out very convenient to tie the canoe. Got them at Canoecopia in Madison. Rutabaga has them too.

 

[maverickboater]

I have those straps that attach inside of the engine compartment and poke out (when you want them) of the gap between the hood and fender. Tunk them in when you want and when they're out very convenient to tie the canoe. Got them at Canoecopia in Madison. Rutabaga has them too.

So I have had those hood loops (from Rutabag) on three of my prior cars. They do abrade the paint; I had visible marks on the paint of my previous car. I think it is probably still the best option for a bow line, but still exploring the choices at the moment... thinking about making them from tubular webbing (the rock climbing sort) which might be less abrasive.

 

[gear1975]

Token kayak contribution photo, just because...

 

[LSchicago]

Your truck is going to look like:

 

[icegradner]

So I have had those hood loops (from Rutabag) on three of my prior cars. They do abrade the paint; I had visible marks on the paint of my previous car. I think it is probably still the best option for a bow line, but still exploring the choices at the moment... thinking about making them from tubular webbing (the rock climbing sort) which might be less abrasive.

Yeah had those hood loops with my temporary mount solution (foam pads on the roof with straps) before I got the elevate rack. I just tie the bow and stern lines back to the cross bars, is that a bad idea? Picture is not how I actually did it for traveling, just was poor test fit.

 

[The Weatherman]

And finally, Yakima "Overhaul" bed rack.

That's five ww kayaks comfortably (there's a white one behind the blue one).

For the canoe, I'm using a "soft rack" that straps through the doors, like this product: https://www.rutabagashop.com/collections/crossbars/products/sea-to-summit-traveller-soft-racks

We have yet to figure out a good bow line (a line at the front end of a long boat to keep it centered), but will have to figure that out before hauling a canoe longer distances.

The rack is very quiet on its own, but I heard some wind whistling with the canoe up top.

Stay tuned for further fine-tuning of the system.

Try a set of Malone Uprights and you can carry as many as four large boats on the racks. Ton each side. They fold down when not in use and are easily removed

Here we had two 10’ crossover kayaks and a 14’ WW Canoe.

I have carried four 12’ and 14’ touring boats as well.

 

[Delbert]

I'm in the running. My truck has a bed rack and two cross bars on the cab. I also have j bars and and a cradle. It gives all kinds of options for hauling boats and I do shuttle a lot of boats. Five people and their boats is comfortable in the Mav. I'll take photos next time, but for now I'll share some insights.

My wife wants to haul her boat to the lake but finds it difficult to lift it on the rack. Her 10 foot boat is secure with the bow tied to the D ring in the bed and a single strap across the tailgate in the half up position.

Here is my 16 foot boat. All you have to do is get the bow onto the rack and then go around to the stern and slide it up. The little uprights above the crossbar help to keep the bow from sliding off the crossbar when you are loading.

 

[maverickboater]

Yeah had those hood loops with my temporary mount solution (foam pads on the roof with straps) before I got the elevate rack. I just tie the bow and stern lines back to the cross bars, is that a bad idea? Picture is not how I actually did it for traveling, just was poor test fit.

When I have the canoe on top, as I understand it, the function of the bow line is A) to keep the boat from sliding back (to a minor degree), B) to keep the front end of the canoe from pushing to the right or the left (its main job), as well as C) resist the upward drag that is pretty significant with a canoe shape. If the straps over the boat work themselves looser and bow of the canoe can lift off the front bar (or my foam pad), it can pull hard to the right or left as it is pushed by the relative wind while driving.

In your case, the J-hooks that you have will help resist right or left deflection of the bow of your kayaks, and their shape won't generate the kind of upward pull that an upside-down canoe does... I think your bow and stern lines should prevent sliding backward and forward. I would try pushing your boats around in all different directions and also checking what happens if any one strap works its way a bit loose.

 

[icegradner]

When I have the canoe on top, as I understand it, the function of the bow line is A) to keep the boat from sliding back (to a minor degree), B) to keep the front end of the canoe from pushing to the right or the left (its main job), as well as C) resist the upward drag that is pretty significant with a canoe shape. If the straps over the boat work themselves looser and bow of the canoe can lift off the front bar (or my foam pad), it can pull hard to the right or left as it is pushed by the relative wind while driving.

In your case, the J-hooks that you have will help resist right or left deflection of the bow of your kayaks, and their shape won't generate the kind of upward pull that an upside-down canoe does... I think your bow and stern lines should prevent sliding backward and forward. I would try pushing your boats around in all different directions and also checking what happens if any one strap works its way a bit loose.

My better setup, forgot to take a picture, did fine at 70MPH for several hours without issues, but I should do more testing to see what happens if they back off, as you recommended before my next outing. It did great, even with gusty wind and heavy rainfall. One things for sure, between the kayak and the mountains I went through the MPG took a big hit.

I suppose as a backup I can run a rope through the handles and into the cleats at the back of the bed. The bow, with the bed rack would be difficult to tie down any other way I think.

 

[Stealth Raccoon]

Great haul! Fun to see the evolution of your toolset - I followed a similar path.
I have the Thule mid sport rack and two sets of V-hooks but I have two singles at 10’ each and my tandem at 13’ - if I switched to J-hooks I think I could cram all three up top, but I’ve got a utility trailer for that kind of craziness
Best of luck getting out in nature.

 

[ADKjake]

But have you hauled a 13' sailboat...

 

[maverickboater]

Some inflatables got in on the fun last weekend. Wet gear was easily stuffed into the front corners of the bed too.

Sponsored