pickup truck yak hauler

I’ve been looking for a way to transport 2-3 kayaks safely in my pickup.  I first thought of a lumber rack but decided against it because there was no way for me to get my heavy Outback that far up especially when alone.  I then considered using a Harbor Freight bed extender as suggested by Ohhhgeee but that would only be another version of what I already have.  I currently transport my Outback and my friend Fish Junky’s PA-12 in the bed of my truck; my Outback on its side. .  I don’t care to haul these boats around like this so this brings me to my project.  I wanted to be able to haul these boats without damaging them and maybe a 3rd with some room for all the other crap we take when yakking.  I surfed the web and followed many treads but nothing I found was to my liking.  I wanted it to be sturdy but not heavy and of course I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money being the cheap bastard that I am.  I decided to use wood as it is relatively inexpensive, easy to work with and reasonably strong when engineered properly.  I worked on it for 2 days changing some ideas as I went.  The following photos show the progress I have made.  I mounted both of my yaks on it and lashed them down to make sure the whole thing actually worked. The big ole PA-12 will slide onto the truck bed on carpeted 2x4's.  I intend to disassemble it tomorrow and paint it to match the truck then add carpet to the tops of the 2x4’s to avoid scratching the boats.  The whole thing mounts to my truck with 4 bolts but breaks down into 5 separate pieces that don't require a lot of room to store!






 

looks good, just be sure to make sure it is VERY firmly secured in the bed.  I once lost a yak AND rack like that out of my truck on the highway

Cool!  Putting them directly in the bed hoses you for loading up camping/kayaking gear.  Your rack solves that problem.  Nicely and cheaply done!

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Looks sweet !

Looking great!  How did you fasten the wooden rack to your truck?

Looks good but I'd be a little worried about a sudden stop or an accident. 

Inertia can be a mutha

Nice.  I'm going to do something like this soon.  I'm sick of lifting my ladder over my head.

Looks good but I'd be a little worried about a sudden stop or an accident. 

Inertia can be a mutha

+1

especially if you come to a quicker stop than the guy behind you.

Nice.  I'm going to do something like this soon.  I'm sick of lifting my ladder over my head.

Geeze, I've been at work too damn much lately.  I mean Kayak, not ladder. 

Excellent. Thanks for posting a very good idea. Revives the nostalgia for my old pickup that I sometimes experience.