Best method to carry a canoe?

[greatwhite]

Has anyone carried a 15' or 16' canoe on the factory roof rack? The factory roof racks looks too short for the job. I do have a leer canopy that sits level with the top of my truck. I was thinking about adding some kind of roof rack support for the rear end. I don't really want to drill the canopy for this purpose though. I've seen pictures of some kind of hitch mount thingamabob that will support the tail end of the canoe. Anyone have a good idea on how to carry a canoe on top of a CC truck with factory rack?

[Jagger]

I have carried a 17foot alluminum canoe on my crewcab Nismo, I just had to move the one cross brace all the way to the front then secured the front of the canoe to the front bumper with 2 ratchet type straps and then do the same on the rear, then just use 2 more straps over the center of the canoe.


Not my truck or canoe but you get the idea.


Hope that helped

[smizwhiz]

Originally Posted by greatwhite

...hitch mount thingamabob...

I think this might qualify as your thingamabob...

Darby Extend-A-Truck Hitch Rack .. Canoe, Boat, Ladder, Lumber Carrier - BOAT YARD

Just google "hitch canoe carrier" and you'll have lots of choices if you feel like spending some money.

[NCFronty]

I don't have a pic of the canoe on there but I have a THULE setup on my OEM rack. I have a 16' canoe.

[Phil'sFrontier]

I would think you would want something on the back end to keep it from rubbing on the canopy. Also you can put these Rubber Rope Foam Canoe Block - Mountain Equipment Co-op on to protect your canoe from rubbing on your rack.

If you didn't want to drill into your canopy, you could try some wood, with foam glued to the outside. then strap that down to something like the wheel wells....I dunno just an idea. But I wouldn't be that afraid to drill into the canopy. As long as done right, it will end up looking good.

[05cc4x4]

I use the foam blocks on the factory rack. I position them over the crossbars and it makes it sit in there snugly with the straps going over the canoe and under the sidebars. I put a Old Town discovery 169 up there and it was solid. I tied the front rope to the front pull hook and the rear to the utilitrack cleats. I've done 75 with no problem. A little wiggle maybe in a strong crosswind but nothing that felt unsafe.

[ffips]

Originally Posted by greatwhite

....hitch mount thingamabob that will support the tail end....

As Whiz said, Darby is an option. I am not carrying a canoe, but chose to go with this option: B-Dawg Stinger.

That ran $79 + $10 shipping. So far so good, I like that it can extend the bed or the roof.

[greatwhite]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas.

[RedWolf]

I carry 12' windsurfers on the factory racks no problem. When I carry 2 up there they do tend to move up and down a little, but no big issues so far.



When you get it figured out send pics so we can see what you did

[Mountain Gold]

I built a wooden H-frame that mounts to the front of the bed ( slides into 2 2x4 pockets), and rest the canoe on it, and top of tailgate.
When not in use, the wooden H-frame slides up and out of the metal brackets.