AM I NUTTS?

I know this is too late to help wetwhopper, but for anyone with problems of getting too long a kayak in  too short of a pick up bed, I have a 12’ Hobie that I carry in my Explorer PU bed, which is 6’ with the tail gate down.  I bought the Hitch Hand Truck bed extender from Lund Industries through Real Truck at http://www.realtruck.com/productline/843/1/1/lund_hitch_hand_truck_bed_extender.html .



This is it in action.  I have rigged it with magnetic tail lights so I can drive at night, or rather, morning to the NCKA New Melones Trout Derby the 8th.  The hitch bar is curved upwards so you don’t bottom out getting out of the driveway.  The side wings extend out to four feet, so you could probably get two kayaks on it.   

Probably the best thing is that I am not trying to heft 60 lbs up over my head onto a roof rack.  Just roll it up to the extender, put the front on the cross bar, pick up the back end and push.  Two straps tie it down. 

Very nice Grizz!  A tad pricey but the convenience factor helps to make up for the price tag.  Makes me wish I had my truck back and not the Explorer.  Loading my Adventure on the top of the ole Ford is NOT a piece of cake.

Michael

I love my truck bed extender!  I saw the one Tote made and knew I had to have one too.
It's a lot easier for me to load into the bed than on top of the truck.
I bought mine from LL Bean for $99 and added the lights. The upward angle on yours is nice = less curb drag.

alfredo,

How has the pool noodle held up?  I like that idea.  Is it zip tied to the cross bar?  I wrapped my cross bar with carpet but there is a gap in the middle where the vertical bar comes up.  Are your tail lights permanent or removable?

I’ve had car top racks and a kayak trailer and this is by far my favorite, the quickest and easiest way to go.  I found with the trailer, particularly at some of the remote lakes, there wasn’t room to park a truck and trailer so I either had to park a long way away from the launch site down a dirt road or disconnect the trailer, drag it into the forest and chain it to a tree. A real pain.  I sold the trailer because I don’t have a place to park it now.  The extender all dismantles so I can store it in the corner of the garage or in the back of the PU when kayaking.  I Love kayak toys!   

How has the pool noodle held up?

Well, actually...it didn't hold up. The ties didn't hold it, so the noodles started to roll off.
I've removed the noodle and just use the nude bar. The lights are held on with a couple U-bolts.
I now have a shell with racks on the truck. I also have a trailer...but I like the extender best.

Al

I haul my X-Factor in the back of my 1/2 ton Chevy.  It's 8' with the tailgate down - I strap the boat through the scuppers to the tie-downs near the tailgate and keep a red flag tied to my bow.  Easy-peasy...   

May be too late, wetwhopper, but I recommend KEEPING the X-Factor and buying whatever other boat you need.  It's worth it.  I started with 9' Costco boats and still use them alot along with my cheapo tandem, and I can loan my Scrambler XT as a 2nd proven fishing machine.  Everyone needs a fleet.   

And Hawk and Sean are right - you can do just about whatever you want to on a shorter boat. 

I either had to park a long way away from the launch site down a dirt road or disconnect the trailer, drag it into the forest and chain it to a tree.

Who but Grizz would drag their trailer into the forest!   :    (I want to try that, Dude!   )

Everyone needs a fleet.   

When I sold my cabin in the mts., I sold off five kayaks but kept my Hobie for fishing.  Mz. Grizz misses cruising in her yak so we will probably get her another yak in the spring.