Transporting canoes

[220yotekiller]

My wife and I just bought two 14' canoes, first time ever owning something that goes over the top of the water lol.
I have just a standard truck bed, if we were to transport 1 of them would it be best to build a rack that would let it ride evenly or can you have it tipped at an angle? Or does that damage them?

 

[INMT]

My wife and I just bought two 14' canoes, first time ever owning something that goes over the top of the water lol.
I have just a standard truck bed, if we were to transport 1 of them would it be best to build a rack that would let it ride evenly or can you have it tipped at an angle? Or does that damage them?

Transporting at an angle will not damage them. If you want to spend a little bit of money on some 2x4’s to keep your bed fully open, not a bad idea either. But if just short transport angle transport is common. Enjoy the new vessels!

 

[Gellar]

My wife and I just bought two 14' canoes, first time ever owning something that goes over the top of the water lol.
I have just a standard truck bed, if we were to transport 1 of them would it be best to build a rack that would let it ride evenly or can you have it tipped at an angle? Or does that damage them?

What’s it made out of? I usually transport my aluminum canoe balanced on the cab roof to the tailgate at an angle. I use pads under the canoe on the roof and a ratchet across the canoe. If it sticks over the front of the vehicle run a strap from the tip of the canoe to the tow hooks.

i usually use my 4wheeler to drop at tge downstream takeout and shuttle muself up, so a rack doesnt really work.

 

[gwhunter]

Not to hijack, but the wife and I are also considering 14 foot tandem kayaks to take the kids out on the local lakes. I've got a new 2500 with a cap, so was trying to figure out a way to transport them without a trailer similarto your predicament. Was considering something like this: Link to

Anyone used one of those trailer hitch extensions with success? Might work with your canoe too?

 

[220yotekiller]

What’s it made out of? I usually transport my aluminum canoe balanced on the cab roof to the tailgate at an angle. I use pads under the canoe on the roof and a ratchet across the canoe. If it sticks over the front of the vehicle run a strap from the tip of the canoe to the tow hooks.

i usually use my 4wheeler to drop at tge downstream takeout and shuttle muself up, so a rack doesnt really work.

They are the Cabela's brand, made out of plastic with aluminum edges.

 

[David58]

Be careful - tilted is a great wind grabber. If you are not on the highway, that is probably an ok method for transport. Otherwise, I'd suggest a rack so the boat is level. Strap it fore and aft, a few feet in each direction from the center. Anchor the front, but don't ratchet it down super tight, you can break a boat that way.

Canoe manufacturers, like Winonah, have instructional videos on how to transport.

David
ID

 

[Gellar]

Not to hijack, but the wife and I are also considering 14 foot tandem kayaks to take the kids out on the local lakes. I've got a new 2500 with a cap, so was trying to figure out a way to transport them without a trailer similarto your predicament. Was considering something like this: Link to

Anyone used one of those trailer hitch extensions with success? Might work with your canoe too?

I have 14’6” current design tandem kayaks I use at work. They are heavy. I wouldn’t want to put them on top of a ladder rack. I think that hitch rack would be good.

 

[gwhunter]

I have 14’6” current design tandem kayaks I use at work

Im just starting to explore the specs on kayaks and learn about them after a couple times renting them from the place on the river near me. Those Current Design boats look a little nicer and are a couple pinches more expensive than the kayaks leaning up against the cabelas building! Worth it?

 

[Schaaf]

I paid a buddy $75 to weld some 2” steel tubing together for me that goes into my receiver hitch and then it sits level on that and the roof of the cab.

Thought I had a picture of it but I can’t find it.

 

[gwhunter]

Be careful - tilted is a great wind grabber.

17 year old me convinced a buddy to tilt an aluminum one up over the cab of his brand new Dodge Dakota. Front tied to the tow hooks on the bumper and back ratchet strapped into the bed. Apparently it was this buddies first time using ratchet straps and after getting up to 60mph the rear cut loose and the wind picked it up out of the bed. While still tied to the front, we went about 1/4 mile down the road with the boat banging off the driver's side doors. Truck was about totaled. Buddy drove it like that for the next two years. Every time I saw him it reminded me to never let someone else confirm my tiedowns on anything, ever.

 

[glass eye]

Bed extension from Walmart online for $75

 

[Steiny77]

Get a ladder rack to fit in stake pockets of your pickup.

 

[hank4elk]

Thule rack on the shell. Before that the lumber rack or just foam pipe insulation on the rails and strapped down. Insulation helps the rails grab.
Grummon , Coleman plastic and a Winona.
Ditch the plastic,weighs a ton.

 

[SaskHunter]

I built a wooden stand out of 2x6s for the truck bed that aligns with the cab, that way I can still use the bed for stuff.

 

[WildWill]

Bed extension from Walmart online for $75

View attachment 377117

This is what I have and use for my kayaks and canoe. I will say with the short bed on the new tacoma and my old 17ft aluminum canoe it looks a bit ridiculous. But I've driven 9 hours going 75mph down the interstate and all good.

 

[EastTNHunter]

A little bit off topic, but this thread reminded me of car topping my canoe and taking my kids to the creek to fish and find critters in the spring

 

[Gut Shot]

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70229-Pick-Up-Extender-350-Capacity/dp/B07MMT533K/ref=asc_df_B07MMT533K?mcid=72869552a60e3b8f859d1aa66c30750a&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693338559271&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12643551483446314059&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018579&hvtargid=pla-812255691528&hvocijid=12643551483446314059-B07MMT533K-&hvexpln=0&th=1

Cheap and easy hitch-bed extension.