Loading Yak (truck rack) Idea

So the AI has two downsides (IMHO) cost and its big/heavy (maybe I am just weak).

The racks on my truck are pretty darn high (7ft). I need a solution to loading that bad boy solo. I foresee yak and or car damage if I don't find a solution soon. I ran across this. Seems like a simple and cheap solution using some 12ft 2x4's. I'd just do it manually and 86 the winch (I am not that weak). I would also raise the bottom of the ramps (rest it on a milk crate or step ladder) to further reduce the angle.

Let me know if I am missing an obvious issue...

seems like that would take forever.

hully rollers and cradles an option?

Get a trailer Loved the Benny Hill music on the vid....

it takes him forever cuz he is using a winch....to use rollers the issue is the angle and balancing the yak at the start you'd almost have to have the yak vertical. The trailer is the plan B....I just don't really have a place to store it when not in use.

but are you going to carry those 2 x 4s with you everywhere you go?  just strap em to the roof too?  i dont really have that problem because my subie is low and my yakima extender works fine..

I put a hullavator on my Ford Excursion. Almost as expensive as a trailer, but I don't have the storage problem.

Thule Glide and Set works both my yaks. Lay the AI bow sideways about 1 foot beyond your rear tire.   I place a kitchen rug to protect my SUV.  Lift the bow and let it sit on the back door. I have an old yoga matt on the ground where the stern sits to protect the rudder.  Gently holding the AI walk to the stern.  Push the stern up,   I use small step stool when I about 2 to 3 feet from my SUV to help get in place.  Learned it from GB2.

but are you going to carry those 2 x 4s with you everywhere you go?  just strap em to the roof too?  i dont really have that problem because my subie is low and my yakima extender works fine..

If I know I will be solo i would rack space isnt a concern so will use them maybe 25% of the time. Yeah the hullavator is cool but expensive option.

Mel I am working on that mental picture. Does the bow sit on the top of the door frame?

Go to the 8 min mark.  He had the bow on the side by the rear tire before placing it to the rack.

Thule Glide and Set works both my yaks. Lay the AI bow sideways about 1 foot beyond your rear tire.  Lift the bow and let it sit on the back door.  I have an old yoga matt on the ground where the stern sits.  Push the stern up, I use small step stool when I about 2 to 3 feet from my SUV to help get in place.  Learned it from GB2.

I only have a T13 and it doesn't have a rudder, but my rack is a high one. I carry my yak top dowm on the rack with the stern forward. I lay my yak hull up with the stern about even with my rear tire and put a rubber mat under the bow end.  I lift the stern end up and set it on the rack, go around and lift the bow up and slide it into place.  The rubber mat protects the yak and keeps that end from getting away from you. I have a friend who does something similar except he adds a line from the bumper to the far end of the yak as extra insurance that it doesn't slide away.  The yak does want to slide sideways off the rack at first but some keepers up there keep it from getting away.  I did some stuff with 2x4s too but found them to be a PITA. Of course the lifting up of the first end and laying it on the rack is a bit tricky and with all this said I'm still looking for an improvement in the way I do it now

hahha I actually was just thinking a bean bag when you sent first reply! I think that may solve the problem

priced right!

http://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Research-Beanbag-Black-Vinyl/dp/B0014XHDNO/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349208031&sr=1-2&keywords=bean+bag+chair

hahha I actually was just thinking a bean bag when you sent first reply! I think that may solve the problem

I found an old yoga mat in the closet that works fine. 

hahha I actually was just thinking a bean bag when you sent first reply! I think that may solve the problem

I found an old yoga mat in the closet that works fine.

the issue I have is I have to almost stand the boat straight up which puts it on the rudder AND makes it hard to balance. The bag may solve both issues.

  

 I wasn't able to make out where that guy had the winch installed.  Was it on the front bar of his rack? on the front of the truck it's self?
  While up in Oregon, I saw a video on NWKA, it showed an older guy loading a kayak onto his Toyota pickup with a cab height campershell.  He had a small winch mounted to the top of the campershell, and with straps, he hauled the kayak right up the side and over the top onto his foam cushions.  He may have had some kind of protection for the side of his truck, I can't recall. 
   I've considered this approach myself.  Harbor freight has a small varity of small 12VDC winches that would fill the bill (Both wired and wireless remote winches)  My truck already has a nice power connection at the bed (From my air compressor)
Just not 100%sure about bolting the winch onto my campershell at the moment.    Getting the hull up and over my Yakima rack poles (The long ones) would take some work also.    I've thought about using PVC pipes over the ends of the rack poles to help keep the hull off the side of the truck and to help it get up onto the poles. 
     As I age though, lifting that OB up over my head, balancing it then pointing the bow up and over the front pole has been getting a little more difficult each time   If for some reason I don't or can't toss the thing in the bed, up it goes.
  Last time I loaded it up onto the racks I lifted the front of the hull up onto the back of the shell, (Back end on a towel to protect it) then lifted and pushed the hull up onto the racks. once up I had to then flip the hull over to strap it down.  That worked for me however I had no protection on the campershell, (No rollers )
  The winch option is still open........

yeah the winch was either on the front bar or in the bed with a pulley on the front bar. I am gonna try the beanbag. Best case it works and I have a kick ass camp seat. Wost case it doesn't work and I have to fight the kids for a kick ass camp seat (or buy two more)!