khyros
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
I just wanted to share with you all a few pictures from my weekend adventure. Didn't get too far from home, but I've been working on this setup for awhile now, and it's the first time that it was (almost) fully loaded.
Components:
Ford OEM / Retrax Tonneau cover
Yakima Overhaul w/ T slot adapters
60'' HD Crossbars*
Malone Kayak Stacker
Thule 6 pair Ski Rack (with custom hardware to mount into a T Slot with a spacer)
Yakima Topgrip paddle holders
Yakima Eyelet
And missing from the picture, a RockyMounts Swingaway Hitch Bike Rack
*If I was to do it again, I would get the 65'' bars. Originally I had the rack about 2-3 inches higher, which gave enough room to put the paddles on the bottom side of the top crossbar, but on the outside of the trapezoid, but I had a whistle with the empty rack starting at ~45mph. Note I didn't have a whistle last year without the ski rack on it. When I lowered it to address the whistle, I lost that space and had to move them to the top, which isn't as convenient, as they get in the way of loading the kayaks for the moment. Also, as I move to the kayak saddles, I will likely have to move the paddle holders again due to lack of real estate on the 60'' crossbar... Or maybe just buy the next size.
In regards to the kayaks: It wasn't that bad placing the kayaks up on top with 2 people at home, even if the second person was my 5' 2'' wife. We carried them to the truck, but instead of putting them parallel to it as we used to with our Escape, we put it perpendicular at the tailgate. She then jumped on onto the tailgate, and I lifted the one end up to her, then I picked up the other side and walked it to the front, placing it on top of the bars, and then stepping into the rear door to lift up into position. She holds it up as I move over to the tire and strap them down. It was a bit different of a story though once we were at the water. Having to lift perpendicular meant that I had to lift it up and over the cars next to us to get it onto the rack, which was much harder. We've pretty much decided from this that we need to buy rear loading saddle design kayak rack to ease the use... Though we'll keep the stacker on hand for if we ever go with friends and have 4 at a time. I tried tying the excess straps off to the built in HD strap bit, but that didn't really work as the knots didn't stay. I guess it's back to folding it up on itself and tying it off. Having the eyelets in the rear to tie the bow lines too was great - it kept them out of the way of the bed and tailgate (and presumably the bike rack when we take that as well). For the stern lines though, I messed around with it for a bit after these pictures, and decided that I will tie them off to the front Overhaul's inside tiedown point. It keeps them off of the truck completely (clearing the back corner of the cab by about an inch), and doesn't interfere with the paddles.
In regards to the paddles: There's really not much to be said about the paddles. I didn't bother buying locks for them, as we don't have super expensive paddles anyways, and the locks would basically be the same price as the paddles. And that's probably a good thing. They seem to be designed to be side mounted, and not top mounted. As such, in their current position, the locks would be on the top of the truck, making it a complete blind operation to insert the key. Otherwise - does anyone know if I should be putting the paddles vertical or horizontal for wind purposes? PS. They make for a very natural hand hold when they're up there. Don't use them as a hand hold.
In regards to the ski rack: I'm actually using it as a kiteboard rack. It really only fits my light wind board, but the board itself it really obnoxious to put anywhere else. It takes up the full length of the bed, which means that it has to go under the tonneau canister. And it's like a foot wide, and I really don't want to put anything heavy on top of it. So by mounting this on the underside of the rack, it frees up a ton of space in the bed. The other board shouldn't have a problem fitting its way wherever due to its smaller size (which isn't enough to span the Overhaul anyways, so I couldn't mount it there.
I hope this helps give people thoughts/ideas/etc on how to do their system.
Components:
Ford OEM / Retrax Tonneau cover
Yakima Overhaul w/ T slot adapters
60'' HD Crossbars*
Malone Kayak Stacker
Thule 6 pair Ski Rack (with custom hardware to mount into a T Slot with a spacer)
Yakima Topgrip paddle holders
Yakima Eyelet
And missing from the picture, a RockyMounts Swingaway Hitch Bike Rack
*If I was to do it again, I would get the 65'' bars. Originally I had the rack about 2-3 inches higher, which gave enough room to put the paddles on the bottom side of the top crossbar, but on the outside of the trapezoid, but I had a whistle with the empty rack starting at ~45mph. Note I didn't have a whistle last year without the ski rack on it. When I lowered it to address the whistle, I lost that space and had to move them to the top, which isn't as convenient, as they get in the way of loading the kayaks for the moment. Also, as I move to the kayak saddles, I will likely have to move the paddle holders again due to lack of real estate on the 60'' crossbar... Or maybe just buy the next size.
In regards to the kayaks: It wasn't that bad placing the kayaks up on top with 2 people at home, even if the second person was my 5' 2'' wife. We carried them to the truck, but instead of putting them parallel to it as we used to with our Escape, we put it perpendicular at the tailgate. She then jumped on onto the tailgate, and I lifted the one end up to her, then I picked up the other side and walked it to the front, placing it on top of the bars, and then stepping into the rear door to lift up into position. She holds it up as I move over to the tire and strap them down. It was a bit different of a story though once we were at the water. Having to lift perpendicular meant that I had to lift it up and over the cars next to us to get it onto the rack, which was much harder. We've pretty much decided from this that we need to buy rear loading saddle design kayak rack to ease the use... Though we'll keep the stacker on hand for if we ever go with friends and have 4 at a time. I tried tying the excess straps off to the built in HD strap bit, but that didn't really work as the knots didn't stay. I guess it's back to folding it up on itself and tying it off. Having the eyelets in the rear to tie the bow lines too was great - it kept them out of the way of the bed and tailgate (and presumably the bike rack when we take that as well). For the stern lines though, I messed around with it for a bit after these pictures, and decided that I will tie them off to the front Overhaul's inside tiedown point. It keeps them off of the truck completely (clearing the back corner of the cab by about an inch), and doesn't interfere with the paddles.
In regards to the paddles: There's really not much to be said about the paddles. I didn't bother buying locks for them, as we don't have super expensive paddles anyways, and the locks would basically be the same price as the paddles. And that's probably a good thing. They seem to be designed to be side mounted, and not top mounted. As such, in their current position, the locks would be on the top of the truck, making it a complete blind operation to insert the key. Otherwise - does anyone know if I should be putting the paddles vertical or horizontal for wind purposes? PS. They make for a very natural hand hold when they're up there. Don't use them as a hand hold.
In regards to the ski rack: I'm actually using it as a kiteboard rack. It really only fits my light wind board, but the board itself it really obnoxious to put anywhere else. It takes up the full length of the bed, which means that it has to go under the tonneau canister. And it's like a foot wide, and I really don't want to put anything heavy on top of it. So by mounting this on the underside of the rack, it frees up a ton of space in the bed. The other board shouldn't have a problem fitting its way wherever due to its smaller size (which isn't enough to span the Overhaul anyways, so I couldn't mount it there.
I hope this helps give people thoughts/ideas/etc on how to do their system.
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