Buying truck racks

Has anyone tried one of these?

http://www.racknroad.com/detail.aspx?ID=1118

My Nissan has a shorter bed - 5 1\2 feet I think, but I've seen designs like this advertised to hold 350 lbs., so I'm thinking that won't be a problem. Another nice thing is that this design seems to drop the boat out of the wind, and would allow a shell to be mounted. Thoughts?

Has anyone tried one of these?

http://www.racknroad.com/detail.aspx?ID=1118

My Nissan has a shorter bed - 5 1\2 feet I think, but I've seen designs like this advertised to hold 350 lbs., so I'm thinking that won't be a problem. Another nice thing is that this design seems to drop the boat out of the wind, and would allow a shell to be mounted. Thoughts?

Well, you could ask Tote for details on how he made his...

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=7488.0

I thought about this type of setup, but opted for a roof-top rack because it allows me to fill the shell with camping gear and still toss the yak on top.  Also, I can lock the back of the shell, securing all my gear while I go eat lunch after a hard day of fishing.    But if you don't camp, or if you go right from the fishing grounds to home, then this hitch setup would work nicely.

Has anyone tried one of these?

http://www.racknroad.com/detail.aspx?ID=1118

My Nissan has a shorter bed - 5 1\2 feet I think, but I've seen designs like this advertised to hold 350 lbs., so I'm thinking that won't be a problem. Another nice thing is that this design seems to drop the boat out of the wind, and would allow a shell to be mounted. Thoughts?

I have one on order, should arrive this week. Bought mine from LL Bean for $99.95, no tax. I also have Nissan and would like to load onto the truck bed.
I saw Totes extender and realized that's what I need. Nice thing about this one is you can also use it to load on top of the truck. A camper shell is in my not-so-near future, so this will do until then.

Also, According to the Rack n Road website, they have a price match policy. Take your best internet price in with you and save a buck or two.

I have looked at the bed extender for my truck, but with the frontier bed so short already it would be hard to load a 15ft kayak in to the bed area, it would stick out 10ft?

How far back does Tote's extend?

Harbor freight sells one for cheap and one could be welded to a custom height also.

-Brian G

( I hate global warming )

I thought about this type of setup, but opted for a roof-top rack because it allows me to fill the shell with camping gear and still toss the yak on top. 

This is my thought exactly.  After loading the kayaks in the bed and all the other equipment in the back seat of the tundra there just isn't much room for anything else, including my son.  I think the best thing to do is to get the rack so you can use the bed of the truck for all of the other stuff.

I don't know how I missed Tote's rig...
Sure as hell ain't making one...if I had any time, I'd be fishing...but this design looks like just the thing for my needs. Thanks!

all the options suggested so far are nice, but no one has mentioned my favorite method, the perminate Yakima rails!!!

I have done this to both of my current vehicles and the previous truck I owned (camper shell mod).  It takes some balls, but the method is simple, order rails from Yakima, drop the headliner, drill about 12 holes in the roof of truck, instrall racks and "landing pads", and your done!

this way racks can be removed in about 30 seconds or locked down to the roof with SKS lock cores.  total cost is about $300.  You can see the install I did on my Mazda 6 station wagon at
http://forum.mazda6club.com/index.php?showtopic=28087&hl=glgst

I LOVE this rack system, I took my 16' canoe down to death valley 2 years ago when it was flooded and did the I-15 from glendale to Barstow in a little over an hour with no problems from the rack or boat.  currently this system is also on my dodge dakota quad cab 4x4 and works great because it keeps the boats just close enough for the wife and I to easily load them...I'll post that pic when I get back to our Fresno house later this week...

If you like this system and have any questions, let me know...
JRM

I thought about this type of setup, but opted for a roof-top rack because it allows me to fill the shell with camping gear and still toss
the yak on top.  Also, I can lock the back of the shell, securing all my gear while I go eat lunch after a hard day of fishing.    But if you don't camp, or if you go right from the fishing grounds to home, then this hitch setup would work nicely.

If you have a shell on your truck, how do you secure your kayak on top of it? How would you attach the rack?

It takes some balls, but the method is simple, order rails from Yakima, drop the headliner, drill about 12 holes in the roof of truck, instrall racks and "landing pads", and your done!

I agree, this system is nice and clean and versatile. I almost had RackNRoad put Thule rails on my CRV so I could widen the space between the saddles to better secure the length of my 18.5' closed deck kayak. The first problem: "It takes some balls," which I found out I don't have (that's probably a good thing!). Also Thule's website says not to install this rail system on vehicles with a moon/sun roof, and I didn't want to take the chance. 

Other than that, if you have the requisite space between load bars on your roof, this system is the ticket!

Janice aka "Big J"

If you have a shell on your truck, how do you secure your kayak on top of it? How would you attach the rack?

I went with a Yakima setup...The front set is Q Towers mounted on the cab, and since there are no rain gutters on the shell I went with Raingutter Towers attached to artificial raingutter mounts for the rear set.  All crossbar mounts are locked to the truck.  I wanted to go with Tracks & Landing Pads on the shell, but the added cost deterred me since I had just spent close to 2K for the kayak and related necessities. 

I secure the yak with the usual tie-down straps, and for security I run a Master Python cable lock thru the opening for my Mirage drive and around the crossbars.  (I have a Hobie, but others on this list use the same lock by running it thru the scupper holes)  The excess cable from the Python lock tucks nicely in the gap between the cab and the shell.

 

I agree, this system is nice and clean and versatile. I almost had RackNRoad put Thule rails on my CRV ...

Big J, what system did you end up going with?  We have a 2006 CRV with factory crossbars (and the sunroof), and I'm planning to put a rack system on that vehicle also for our family camping trips.  (My Toyota pickup only seats two comfortably, and my wife won't let me strap the boys to the roof next to the yak)    I've been looking at options online but it would be good to hear from someone with first-hand experience. 

Pete (Usagi)

HA, Big J thats too funny...as far as the statement goes, I know lots of women who could be said to have cojones...(my wife included, little firecracker!)  but, I installed the yak rails on our Mazda 6 with the sunroof with no problems (it was brand new and only 3 weeks old when I did it too    ), I think the warning is because some people may drill without looking deeper than the roof skin...

that system does rock...we get by with only one set of cross bars for 2 cars and it works perfectly every time, which is nice since I haul ### everywhere I go in the Mazda and take the truck up gnarly 4x4 roads...

Next weekend I am putting a set of yak rails on an '06 Tacoma double cab, we can take pics and do an install report if there's interest...

JRM

Next weekend I am putting a set of yak rails on an '06 Tacoma double cab, we can take pics and do an install report if there's interest...

JRM

I would be interested in that, since I'm planning to buy a '07 Tacoma double cab.

I think the plan it so put them on next weekend, I'll post a new thread when they are done.

Big J, what system did you end up going with?

I'm the one who started with the traditional Thule roof rack, thought about the rails to increase spacing between them for my long boat, purchased the Hullavator (the 1st version that was designed by the devil) instead, gave Thule an earful and went back to the traditional roof rack, and just recently bought a SportsRig trailer that is SWEET.

My Toyota pickup only seats two comfortably, and my wife won't let me strap the boys to the roof next to the yak

If they are good paddlers, I would treat them well! Or have you considered a roof storage box?* 

Janice aka "Big J"

*Disclaimer: Honestly, I LOVE kids!