Transporting 12' Kayak 2024
mathnerdm reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 2:47 AM, stk said: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. reply :
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 reply :
How exactly do you tie it down? Where do you run the straps through the yak and where do they mount in the bed? ThanksOn 5/1/2015 at 2:54 AM, DarrenM said: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.
rippin-lips reply :
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. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 2:59 AM, mathnerdm said: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 reply :
Straps go through the scupper holes or the handle. My bed has 4 tie off loops built in.
mathnerdm reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:03 AM, DarrenM said: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. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:14 AM, mathnerdm said: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 reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:06 AM, J Francho said: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 reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:17 AM, DarrenM said: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 reply :
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 reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:24 AM, J Francho said: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 reply :
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. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:22 AM, mathnerdm said: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 reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:32 AM, DarrenM said: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 reply :
I hate those cam lock straps. I much prefer the simpler slip lock design, though they do wear out.
Darren. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:36 AM, mathnerdm said: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. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:37 AM, J Francho said: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. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:37 AM, J Francho said:I hate those cam lock straps. I much prefer the simpler slip lock design, though they do wear out.
On 5/1/2015 at 3:39 AM, DarrenM said: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 reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:38 AM, DarrenM said: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. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:45 AM, mathnerdm said: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 reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:47 AM, DarrenM said: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?
Darren. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:50 AM, mathnerdm said: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?
For the front, you can do as JFrancho suggested,
which I've done, too, and put the front into the right
or left corner of your truck bed.
So the yak would be at an angle.
I have a lip in my bedliner that keeps the nose of my
yak from popping up, or sliding around.
mathnerdm reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:52 AM, DarrenM said:For the front, you can do as JFrancho suggested,
which I've done, too, and put the front into the right
or left corner of your truck bed.
So the yak would be at an angle.
I have a lip in my bedliner that keeps the nose of my
yak from popping up, or sliding around.
Now I got it lol... If I do end up using the bed extender and want to keep it right in the middle of the bed, there's no reason I couldn't tie the front of the boat the same exact way I did the back like you showed, is there? That would end up using all 4 bed loops I know but I think that would keep it from sliding, right?
Darren. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:55 AM, mathnerdm said:Now I got it lol... If I do end up using the bed extender and want to keep it right in the middle of the bed, there's no reason I couldn't tie the front of the boat the same exact way I did the back like you showed, is there? That would end up using all 4 bed loops I know but I think that would keep it from sliding, right?
You could tie the front as well, but consider
what I suggested:
With the triangle - you are pulling the boat into the
truck bed, so by putting it at an angle, you pretty
much assure that you won't have any sliding. You
are putting pressure from the back to wherever
the nose of the yak is.
If in the middle, you pull it tight enough - but not
so much that you see tremendous strain on the
handle, you can see what it's like by driving around
the block. Do a couple swerves to see if there's
any sliding of the yak.
mathnerdm reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 3:59 AM, DarrenM said:You could tie the front as well, but consider
what I suggested:
With the triangle - you are pulling the boat into the
truck bed, so by putting it at an angle, you pretty
much assure that you won't have any sliding. You
are putting pressure from the back to wherever
the nose of the yak is.
If in the middle, you pull it tight enough - but not
so much that you see tremendous strain on the
handle, you can see what it's like by driving around
the block. Do a couple swerves to see if there's
any sliding of the yak.
Makes sense. And with a 12', having it at an angle like yall are mentioning wont cause the yak to stick out passed the side of the truck into another lane?
Darren. reply :
On 5/1/2015 at 4:05 AM, mathnerdm said:Makes sense. And with a 12', having it at an angle like yall are mentioning wont cause the yak to stick out passed the side of the truck into another lane?
Correct. You'll be fine.
rippin-lips reply :
Put the nose of the yak into the front corner of your bed. Run your strap through the hook in your bed and through the handle and tighten it down. The back of the yak should be in the opposite corner of your bed. Do the same thing with the 2nd strap. I personally use ratchet straps instead of the cam buckle straps. I just have a bunch in the garage so I didn't have to buy any. I also like that they have hooks on the end and you can use the hook to hook back on the bottom of the other hook and secure the strap to itself. Sometimes you don't have 2 different points to anchor the ends to. Sorry if it's confusing to read.
paleus reply :
I haul my Slayer 12 around in the 5' bed of my Tacoma with the tailgate down, no bed extender. It is just barely in past it's center of gravity. One ratchet strap through the handles, pulling it forward and down seems to work just fine. I haven't noticed any deformation in the hull where it meets the tailgate. I drive 30 minutes or more to get to the lakes I fish.
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