Transporting 12' Kayak

[mathnerdm]

So I'm about to buy my first kayak and finally be able to get on the water and off the bank! The yak I'm looking at is 12' and a sit on. I was wondering if I would have any problems throwing it in the 8' bed of my truck tailgate down and with a bed extender for the extra few feet. 75% or so of my driving with it will be at a local creek 2 miles away. If tied down properly, is this a secure way to transport it? I really don't want to invest in a roof top rig as that will end up costing almost as much as the boat and will be more difficult to move alone. Also, what knots would yall recommend to tie it down in the bed? All tips would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!

[stk]

I think the bed extender will work.  I have seen many people transport their kayak this way.  I would try to make something that would fit the form of your kayak's hull to sit properly on the bed extender.  I use cam buckle straps to tie down the kayak,  you could use ratchet straps but you risk deforming the kayak if it is too tight. 

[J Francho]

You don't need an extender for a 12' kayak. I once drove 8 hours to NYC for a seminar with two 14' kayaks in the bed isof my pickup. It was quite the sight heading for Upper Manhattan on Broadway, lol.

I have a 12' boat right now, and I pop it on the bed diagonally. I secure one side to the back of the boat. It's not going anywhere.

[mathnerdm]

I think the bed extender will work. I have seen many people transport their kayak this way. I would try to make something that would fit the form of your kayak's hull to sit properly on the bed extender. I use cam buckle straps to tie down the kayak, you could use ratchet straps but you risk deforming the kayak if it is too tight.

My plan is to put something like pool noodles around it so give it a soft "seat" on the bed extender... With cam buckle straps, they just have hooks on both ends correct? So does that eliminates all knots? And for the part in the bed, could I just run it through the carry handle and hook it to both the mounts in the back of the bed?

[Darren.]

I transport my 12' in my truck with the bed

being 8' with tailgate down.

 

No problems ever. I use two straps and even

have my motor mounted on the end. Just have

a bright orange piece of strap tied on for 

visibility.

[mathnerdm]

I transport my 12' in my truck with the bed

being 8' with tailgate down.

No problems ever. I use two straps and even

have my motor mounted on the end. Just have

a bright orange piece of strap tied on for

visibility.

How exactly do you tie it down? Where do you run the straps through the yak and where do they mount in the bed? Thanks

[rippin-lips]

Don't waste your money on a bed extender. It's not needed. Your 8ft bed becomes 9ft + with the tailgate down. We hauled 3 yaks on Sunday in the truck. A 10' 11.5' and a 13'. One strap through the handles on the front and the other overtop in the back. You have nothing to worry about.

[Darren.]

How exactly do you tie it down? Where do you run the straps through the yak and where do they mount in the bed? Thanks

 

I push it as far to front of bed as I can,

tie it down with straps either on the rear

thwart, or the rear handle (not best).

 

With a hybrid yak (Native Ultimate 12) I

have canoe-like thwarts.

 

For other kayaks, I will use tie-downs or

roll the cover over them and tie off via 

the end handle.

[J Francho]

Straps go through the scupper holes or the handle. My bed has 4 tie off loops built in.

[mathnerdm]

I push it as far to front of bed as I can,

tie it down with straps either on the rear

thwart, or the rear handle (not best).

With a hybrid yak (Native Ultimate 12) I

have canoe-like thwarts.

For other kayaks, I will use tie-downs or

roll the cover over them and tie off via

the end handle.

Thanks for the replies. The boat I'm looking at is a perception pescador which I think only has the handles to use to tie it down. Sorry but I'm a COMPLETE noob at this. Would I just run one cam buckle tie down strap through the handle and through both of the 2 tie off loops in the back of the bed and just tighten it in the middle with the cam buckle? I'm sorry if this is way to basic of a question I just want to make sure I do things right.

[Darren.]

Thanks for the replies. The boat I'm looking at is a perception pescador which I think only has the handles to use to tie it down. Sorry but I'm a COMPLETE noob at this. Would I just run one cam buckle tie down strap through the handle and through both the of the 2 tie off loops in the back of the bed and just tighten it in the middle with the cam buckle? I'm sorry if this is way to basic of a question I just want to make sure I do things right.

 

 

You can use those handles (based on images I

looked at via Google) to hook your straps to, 

then tie them to anchor points - like the metal

points where your tailgate comes down.

 

But be careful not to pull too tight as you do not

want to damage the handle straps - or pull them

out of the yak.

 

Make sense?

[mathnerdm]

Straps go through the scupper holes or the handle. My bed has 4 tie off loops built in.

Do you just use one strap through one handle of the boat that secures to both loops in the bed? I'm sorry if I don't know how well to phrase my questions

[mathnerdm]

You can use those handles (based on images I

looked at via Google) to hook your straps to, 

then tie them to anchor points - like the metal

points where your tailgate comes down.

 

But be careful not to pull too tight as you do not

want to damage the handle straps - or pull them

out of the yak.

 

Make sense?

Makes sense. If I use the 2 loops across from one another in the back of the bed, and am using cam buckle tie downs, I'm never actually even tying a knot, am I? Would I just run the tie down through both loops and handle of the kayak, then secure it in the middle with the buckle?

[J Francho]

I'll take a picture when I can. One strap through port side of the boat, through the tie down on the driver side. The bow pusshed into the front corner of the passenger side of the bed.

[mathnerdm]

I'll take a picture when I can. One strap through port side of the boat, through the tie down on the driver side. The bow pusshed into the front corner of the passenger side of the bed.

Ohhh, I think I get what you're saying. A close up pic of the tie downs when you can would still be awesome

[pcakes55]

I throw my 12' in my Tacoma short bed, I use a bed extender from Harbor Freight ($50) because I don't like the indent I get in the hull from hanging over the tailgate. 

[Darren.]

Makes sense. If I use the 2 loops across from one another in the back of the bed, and am using cam buckle tie downs, I'm never actually even tying a knot, am I? Would I just run the tie down through both loops and handle of the kayak, then secure it in the middle with the buckle?

 

See if these pix help a little. The blue straps 

(vertical) are from my hanging system, so just

look at the horizontal straps.

 

[mathnerdm]

See if these pix help a little. The blue straps 

(vertical) are from my hanging system, so just

look at the horizontal straps.

 

Awesome! I appreciate you taking the time to take those! And did you say you do the same thing but with the rear handle and the other bed loops?

[J Francho]

I hate those cam lock straps. I much prefer the simpler slip lock design, though they do wear out.

[Darren.]

Awesome! I appreciate you taking the time to take those! And did you say you do the same thing but with the rear handle and the other bed loops?

 

Actually that bottom one shows the strap

hook attached to the back handle.

 

I do the same thing - in the same handle 

for the other side - actually, mostly I'll 

only hook the one to the handle, then place

the other hook in the circle below the first 

strap hook.

 

You can attach to whichever bed loops are 

closest, I'd think.

[Darren.]

I hate those cam lock straps. I much prefer the simpler slip lock design, though they do wear out.

 

Totally agree with you, they loosen up 

too many times.

 

I just haven't picked up any of the slip-lock

straps yet. Keep meaning to....

[Darren.]

I hate those cam lock straps. I much prefer the simpler slip lock design, though they do wear out.

 

 

Totally agree with you, they loosen up 

too many times.

 

I just haven't picked up any of the slip-lock

straps yet. Keep meaning to....

 

Was thinking of trying these...

 

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nite-Ize-CamJam-Rope-Tightener-with-Rope-2-Pack-NCJ2-03-01/203303875

[mathnerdm]

You can attach to whichever bed loops are 

closest, I'd think.

So I was under the impression that I would be using all 4 loops in the truck bed. I don't get why I'm not understanding this lol. Maybe when I buy it and throw it in there it'll make more sense.

[Darren.]

So I was under the impression that I would be using all 4 loops in the truck bed. I don't get why I'm not understanding this lol. Maybe when I buy it and throw it in there it'll make more sense.

 

No, think of it like a triangle. Your kayak handle

is the apex with both strap hooks there, then

each extends to a bed loop, one on the right, 

one on the left.

[mathnerdm]

No, think of it like a triangle. Your kayak handle

is the apex with both strap hooks there, then

each extends to a bed loop, one on the right, 

one on the left.

Okay that makes complete sense, guess I just had to visualize the triangle thing better! And what keeps the front of the boat secure in the bed from twisting back and fourth during turns and whatnot?