Rails to mount kayak carriers

[griffsmom]

As I posted in this thread:
 

Coleman, nee Fleetwood, offered Yakima cross bars as an accessory for their PUs. We had our dealer install ours on our PU roof, and then we use Mako saddles to carry our two Pro Scupper kayaks (each about 60 lbs.) By having the dealer install the cross bars, you don't void the warranty on the roof. You may still be able to get them through a dealer.
 
Here's a few pictures of our roof rack from different angles (sorry I don't have any pics with the kayaks on them though)::
 
http://community.webshots.com/photo/72197140/1072197789040023405kozifr
 
http://community.webshots.com/photo/73764576/1073767289046392905JJgzuJ
 
http://community.webshots.com/photo/73764576/1073767390046392905plCPLg

[PITPOP27]

I am going to pick up my new kayak in the morning (it's only 12'9" long). I'm going to bring it home on top of my wife's Toyota Camry (I don't want to scratch up my car :p) . For now, I'm going to try to get away with packing blankets on the roof of the car. I have plenty of them so that i can adjust the spacing.

When I carry it on top of the PU, I may well consider the foam pads. I was thinking of building a rack out of PVC and mounting it on the rear bumper and trailer tongue, to keep the weight off of the PU top. However, after much reflection, I think that the foam pads may be the best way to go. The kayak only weighs 57 lbs. That's about 30 lbs or so on each end. I don't think that will be a problem.

Wayne which Kayak did you go with?  Husband has taken his fun noodle/PVC invention over to the pup to see how it works with the kayaks.  Will post pictures if all turns out well.

[bbklavan]

We have 2 kayaks that we'd like to occasionally take on camping trips with us.  I'd like to take them on top of the camper.  We do have the cartop kayak carriers that mount to the luggage rack of the vehicle.  I suppose we could continue to roof mount on the TV, but I'm looking to reduce our overall height profile.  My thought is to use our current rooftop carriers mounted to rails on the camper.  We've got a 10' camper and 13' and 14' boats.  Total weight of the boats is about 70 pounds.  It should work.

At any rate, does anyone here have any suggestions for rails that would be reasonable priced?  Yakima just seems to be quite expensive for what you get.

Hey dthurk - check out our semi-homeade bike/kayak carrier.  I used two bike carriers (purchased at overstock.com) and mounted them onto a homeade wooden kayak carrier and it is all placed on top of the pop up.  Here is our webshot page...

http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=550355220&security=ffGYFZ

[PITPOP27]

Like your wood carrier, husband says wouldn't work for us since we carry three and the weight of the wood would be adding....he tried what he did,. worked out fine but he didn't like the way it looked.  He felt over time it may really damage the pup if we should drop one while loading, so now he knows and is looking at the TV again.  He has 3 days until we need to camp again  :eyecrazy: He always waits until last minute drives me nutty :yikes:

[dthurk]

Hey dthurk - check out our semi-homeade bike/kayak carrier. I used two bike carriers (purchased at overstock.com) and mounted them onto a homeade wooden kayak carrier and it is all placed on top of the pop up. Here is our webshot page...
 
http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=550355220&security=ffGYFZ

It looks really neat.  How much does it weigh?  I can't tell from the photos how it attaches to the roof.  Did you dig a channel out for the roof seam or does it just rest on it?

[bbklavan]

It looks really neat.  How much does it weigh?  I can't tell from the photos how it attaches to the roof.  Did you dig a channel out for the roof seam or does it just rest on it?

Thanks.

At most it weighs 50 lbs without the bikes, etc.  I attach it with ratchet straps which were not on at time of photos.

No didn't dig out a channel for roof seam.  There are no boards going long ways.  I will take another pic when there are no bikes and kayaks on it on and off the pop up, so you can see it at different angles, etc.