Tips for kayak mounting with roof top tents?

[AZRanger]

This is my current solution.

It works and doesn’t move around. However, it makes a lot of howling noise above 40mph. I can also only fit one up there. Anybody got some better ideas? My bed is only 5ft, and the kayak won’t fit between the tailgate and rack.

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[Msfitoy]

Looks cool...

 

[Dereku]

This is my current solution.

It works and doesn’t move around. However, it makes a lot of howling noise above 40mph. I can also only fit one up there. Anybody got some better ideas? My bed is only 5ft, and the kayak won’t fit between the tailgate and rack.

Little trailer from harbor freight?

 

[lazynorse]

Seems like it works.. my only critique is what prevents it from launching like a missile during a hard brake or collision? Just those straps across the smooth kayak bottom aren't enough to prevent that.

Not applicable to your situation, but I mount mine on J cradles, the tie downs snug around the fore and aft raised lip of the cockpit. This effectively stops forward and backward movement if friction alone isn't enough.

Since your boat is smooth side up, there's no raised anything for the straps to catch to prevent missile launching. That's the reason for bow and stern tie downs, which I do on long trips but not the quick drive to my local launches.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

A friend of mine has one of those hard rtt's that has crossbars... They mount their ocean kayaks o up there...

I ground camp, so I'll have a bed rack of some sort that is >roof height to transport our 3 boats on....

Most likely though, it'll be 2 up high and the kids either in the bed or on the bed cover....

 

[AZRanger]

Seems like it works.. my only critique is what prevents it from launching like a missile during a hard brake or collision? Just those straps across the smooth kayak bottom aren't enough to prevent that.

Not applicable to your situation, but I mount mine on J cradles, the tie downs snug around the fore and aft raised lip of the cockpit. This effectively stops forward and backward movement if friction alone isn't enough.

Since your boat is smooth side up, there's no raised anything for the straps to catch to prevent missile launching. That's the reason for bow and stern tie downs, which I do on long trips but not the quick drive to my local launches.

Thank you for the input. I thought of this too after I took the picture. Was thinking paracord or bungees coming from the bow and stern to the rack.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

YAKIMA, Bow/Stern Ratcheting Tiedowns for Securing Boats, Kayaks and Canoes https://a.co/d/cq5PYVP

I use a version of these for now and stern lines. The only reason I link to it is for the little ratchet dodad. It works better than a taut line hitch and has never failed me...

The bow line goes to a generic hood thingie... Stand by for a link....


I use the generic version of these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073SCJZX...uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

 

[khyros]

I have a few thoughts, but I'm not sure how well they'd actually work or not, and would probably take some custom mounting solutions.

First idea
Your standard J cradle is designed to mount on the flat part of it to a cross bar. You could rig something up to have a J cradle like design mounted to the vertical part, and mount it to the side of your rack. As such, your kayaks would be outboard and flank your tent.

Potential issues:
1) With large kayaks, you'd have an issue accessing the rear doors.
2) I'm not entirely sure the legality of it. I know some states don't allow crossbars to extend on the driver side beyond the mirror (passenger side can extend to a full width of 96'') - I'm not sure if that is specific to crossbars, or all attached equipment.
3) Mirrors might be blocked.
4) They might be too high for you to fold your RTT out with it in the cradle.

Second idea
Get a cab rack and move your RTT over there, freeing up your bed rack for your kayaks.

Potential issues:
1) Roof leaks from installing the roof rack, though plenty of people (or outfitters) have installed one without issues.
2) Your kayaks still seem like they want to extend over your cab, so you'd have to mount them rear biased, which isn't ideal.

Third idea
Get a cab rack and put your kayaks up there.

Potential issues:
1) Roof leaks from installing the roof rack, though plenty of people (or outfitters) have installed one without issues.
2) Your kayaks will have to overlap on your RTT, so you can't deploy it with them in their cradles. This could potentially be solved by getting a Thule hullavator, and dropping it down into the load/unload position, blocking the doors instead of the RTT.

Fourth idea
Get a different bed rack. You're looking for a taller rack, and one that doesn't angle in much. Then use a bed height bed rack, and mount the kayaks on that, loading them from the rear. This is honestly the best idea I can come up with.

Potential issues:
1) You'd have to rear bias the kayaks, which isn't ideal. And would also limit it to no longer than ~10ft kayaks. Note, you can actually fix this concern by getting a hitch mounted extender.
2) You'd have to make sure your two kayaks can fit side by side inside of your rack.
3) You'd have to make sure your two kayaks can fit under your rack.



So that's what I got. I think the 4th idea would be the best, while the 1st would look totally baller if you could pull it off. Also, let me know if you pull any of them off .

 

[Jhbryaniv]

What about a taller rack, and hang the kayak from under the rack? Would be a pain in the butt to get in place, but would eliminate having it be in the way of anything...

Its fun to sit around and come up with crazy ideas, I'll never have to use. Lol

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