Racked and Ready! (for canoe transport)

I recently gave my 17' Grumman canoe to a friend to gift as a 13th birthday present to the son of really generous friends. (The boy AND his closest friends were thrilled!) I needed to down-size to a 12 footer that I can carry on a rack on our Maverick, even when it is being towed behind our little Gemini 23TE (Ford Transit 350HD AWD-based) motorhome. I selected an Elevate rack from Real Truck and ordered a Flint Hills Bed Extender from ETrailer.com. I did a little customizing too.

I videoed my set-up just so I could duplicate it next time. However, as I got it started I decided I should narrate it in case it might help anyone else doing something similar. Sorry, but it was NOT a rehearsed script by any means. OOPS! I see the video is too big to load here. I may YouTube it and link it here later if anyone cares to see it. For now, here are some photos of the set-up.

PS: The wheels sticking out back in the last photo will be removed when traveling. They're inserted to help me move the intact extended rack (including that beast of a receiver shaft) to a storage spot at home in between trips.

PS #2: Billbillw raised a question which caused me to realize that I had left out some important info explaining my need for this design. In my narrative with the video I tried to attach here, I did share it, but then forgot that info was excluded when the video file was too big to load... or whatever. So I've added those details in my reply to Billbillw. Sorry for my lack of clarity!

Whlsdn said:

I recently gave my 17' Grumman canoe to a friend to gift as a 13th birthday present to the son of really generous friends. (The boy AND his closest friends were thrilled!) I needed to down-size to a 12 footer that I can carry on a rack on our Maverick, even when it is being towed behind our little Gemini 23TE (Ford Transit 350HD AWD-based) motorhome. I selected an Elevate rack from Real Truck and ordered a Flint Hills Bed Extender from ETrailer.com. I did a little customizing too.

I videoed my set-up just so I could duplicate it next time. However, as I got it started I decided I should narrate it in case it might help anyone else doing something similar. Sorry, but it was NOT a rehearsed script by any means. OOPS! I see the video is too big to load here. I may YouTube it and link it here later if anyone cares to see it. For now, here are some photos of the set-up.

PS: The wheels sticking out back in the last photo will be removed when traveling. They're inserted to help me move the intact extended rack (including that beast of a receiver shaft) to a storage spot at home in between trips.

Click to expand...

Interesting. I built mine out of 2x4s to carry my 11.5' Dagger Kayak but I have it above the cab so a lot less rear overhang. Just be careful making a left if there is a bike on your right.

Would that much overhang be an issue, law wise? Some states, I think, have limitations on objects sticking out far from bumper.

I looked at the elevate bars. But they are just to far back plus to much $$$. I already had yakima roof bars and use the elevate rails but then made ONE upright. Now the boat doesn't stick way out the back. Easy to load from the rear.

This is my 17 foot kayak setup. It's balanced on the Thule Dockgrip that cradles the kayak which helps it from twisting left or right and I'm using the Elevate rack. It does stick out about 4' from the rear bumper so I attach a red flag at the end which is not shown here.

CajunMick said:

Would that much overhang be an issue, law wise? Some states, I think, have limitations on objects sticking out far from bumper.

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I'm not sure, but that's why the taillights are back there. With bed extenders, I've seen some really long loads on pick-ups, but most are more temporary in nature, I think... lumber, siding, etc.

Bear said:

This is my 17 foot kayak setup. It's balanced on the Thule Dockgrip that cradles the kayak which helps it from twisting left or right and I'm using the Elevate rack. It does stick out about 4' from the rear bumper so I attach a red flag at the end which is not shown here.

Click to expand...

That is one sleek looking kayak!

James K said:

Interesting. I built mine out of 2x4s to carry my 11.5' Dagger Kayak but I have it above the cab so a lot less rear overhang. Just be careful making a left if there is a bike on your right.

Click to expand...

You're definitely right about tail-swing. I don't anticipate any problem with driving the Mav, but while towing the Mav... that's another question. I still have to experiment with that.

If I find the length a bit too much, I can always raise the Elevate racks to the next setting up, and push the canoe up over the cab. If necessary, I can always shorten the extension on the receiver tube as well. Going higher increases my challenge for loading of course. At 80, one shoulder is shot and the back has been pretty lame despite surgery (Lumbar laminectomy is not a miracle solution.), so I look for every advantage I can find.

Whlsdn said:

I recently gave my 17' Grumman canoe to a friend to gift as a 13th birthday present to the son of really generous friends. (The boy AND his closest friends were thrilled!) I needed to down-size to a 12 footer that I can carry on a rack on our Maverick, even when it is being towed behind our little Gemini 23TE (Ford Transit 350HD AWD-based) motorhome. I selected an Elevate rack from Real Truck and ordered a Flint Hills Bed Extender from ETrailer.com. I did a little customizing too.

I videoed my set-up just so I could duplicate it next time. However, as I got it started I decided I should narrate it in case it might help anyone else doing something similar. Sorry, but it was NOT a rehearsed script by any means. OOPS! I see the video is too big to load here. I may YouTube it and link it here later if anyone cares to see it. For now, here are some photos of the set-up.

PS: The wheels sticking out back in the last photo will be removed when traveling. They're inserted to help me move the intact extended rack (including that beast of a receiver shaft) to a storage spot at home in between trips.

Click to expand...

Nice setup with the tonneau cover in place. I have to roll mine up to carry it over the roof line with my rack . But Is that wide orange flag required or could I just add a strip of my old hunter orange flannel underwear?

Whlsdn said:

I recently gave my 17' Grumman canoe to a friend to gift as a 13th birthday present to the son of really generous friends. (The boy AND his closest friends were thrilled!) I needed to down-size to a 12 footer that I can carry on a rack on our Maverick, even when it is being towed behind our little Gemini 23TE (Ford Transit 350HD AWD-based) motorhome. I selected an Elevate rack from Real Truck and ordered a Flint Hills Bed Extender from ETrailer.com. I did a little customizing too.

I videoed my set-up just so I could duplicate it next time. However, as I got it started I decided I should narrate it in case it might help anyone else doing something similar. Sorry, but it was NOT a rehearsed script by any means. OOPS! I see the video is too big to load here. I may YouTube it and link it here later if anyone cares to see it. For now, here are some photos of the set-up.

PS: The wheels sticking out back in the last photo will be removed when traveling. They're inserted to help me move the intact extended rack (including that beast of a receiver shaft) to a storage spot at home in between trips.

Click to expand...

Nice setup. Glad to see you mounted a cautionary flag on the back.

Bilbo_B said:

Nice setup with the tonneau cover in place. I have to roll mine up to carry it over the roof line with my rack . But Is that wide orange flag required or could I just add a strip of my old hunter orange flannel underwear?

Click to expand...

An orange or bright yellow, but unstained, jock strap will suffice in some counties, I've heard. With the extended taillights down below, I'm hopeful the flag isn't a necessity anyway, but I have bases covered.

Whlsdn said:

I recently gave my 17' Grumman canoe to a friend to gift as a 13th birthday present to the son of really generous friends. (The boy AND his closest friends were thrilled!) I needed to down-size to a 12 footer that I can carry on a rack on our Maverick, even when it is being towed behind our little Gemini 23TE (Ford Transit 350HD AWD-based) motorhome. I selected an Elevate rack from Real Truck and ordered a Flint Hills Bed Extender from ETrailer.com. I did a little customizing too.

I videoed my set-up just so I could duplicate it next time. However, as I got it started I decided I should narrate it in case it might help anyone else doing something similar. Sorry, but it was NOT a rehearsed script by any means. OOPS! I see the video is too big to load here. I may YouTube it and link it here later if anyone cares to see it. For now, here are some photos of the set-up.

PS: The wheels sticking out back in the last photo will be removed when traveling. They're inserted to help me move the intact extended rack (including that beast of a receiver shaft) to a storage spot at home in between trips.

Click to expand...

I was thinking the wheels on the rack were there incase you did a hard acceleration and they prevented you from doing a wheelie!!

Whlsdn said:

And orange or bright yellow, but unstained jock strap will suffice in some counties, I've heard. With the extended taillights down below, I'm hopeful the flag isn't a necessity anyway, but I have bases covered.

Click to expand...

Now you've got me interested in what brand of Prospector Canoe you've got there.
My 17' doesn't have to stick out so far. I like being able to see the bow above the hood so that I know it hasn't blown off.

Whlsdn said:

I recently gave my 17' Grumman canoe to a friend to gift as a 13th birthday present to the son of really generous friends. (The boy AND his closest friends were thrilled!) I needed to down-size to a 12 footer that I can carry on a rack on our Maverick, even when it is being towed behind our little Gemini 23TE (Ford Transit 350HD AWD-based) motorhome. I selected an Elevate rack from Real Truck and ordered a Flint Hills Bed Extender from ETrailer.com. I did a little customizing too.

I videoed my set-up just so I could duplicate it next time. However, as I got it started I decided I should narrate it in case it might help anyone else doing something similar. Sorry, but it was NOT a rehearsed script by any means. OOPS! I see the video is too big to load here. I may YouTube it and link it here later if anyone cares to see it. For now, here are some photos of the set-up.

PS: The wheels sticking out back in the last photo will be removed when traveling. They're inserted to help me move the intact extended rack (including that beast of a receiver shaft) to a storage spot at home in between trips.

Click to expand...

Is there a reason you didn't just center the 12' canoe on the Elevate racks? For a 12' length, it seems like the bed extender is totally unnecessary. I put a 12.5' kayak, a 12' SUP, and a 14' kayak all on top of my Elevate racks (centered). When I carry the SUP, I do have to remove the whip antenna to clear, but everything fits otherwise.