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What is the easiest way to take kayaks camping?
I am a single parent with 3 kids. Time and security are critical. Had a pop-up, but it takes so much time to set up and take down, lost the love of the trip. Thought about toy haulers, but they're more for motor bikes than kayaks. I can't lift a kayak on my truck roof. Thought about RVs puling my kayak trailer, but they're so expensive. These are the only vacations my family can afford. But I don't want it to be so much work for me. Help with ideas please. I have a 1/2 ton truck.
I have 2-12' Kayaks (approx 50 lbs each) and a 9' kayak (approx 40 lbs). I also have a cap on the truck, it's a shortbed.
3 Answers
- c_kayak_funLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
How about a lighter kayak? I know I wouldn't paddle as often if I had to load a 50 to 60 pound boat all the time. A skin on frame, fixed or folding, would run 30 to 40 pounds which is a HUGE difference in loading and handling. A Feathercraft or Folbot folding boat would save you even the roof racking hassle. Yes, folders are costly -- a couple $1000 even used BUT still less than buying an RV. If you are fairly handy, you could build your own for a few $100:
As for sleeping accommodations, how about a cap for the truck to sleep two and a compact "pod" trailer, like a lot of Canadians use, to sleep two more? A friend of mine has one of the trailers --very cozy inside and with a kitchen area under the tailgate. The roof is only about 6 feet off the ground so it would be easy to load a boat on the trailer as well. Get an easy-up screened dining canopy for lounging in camp and you're all set.
Personally, I prefer sturdy older Volvo wagons (like a 1992 740 or a 1995 850) for travel and hauling kayaks. The lower roof makes for easy racking (I am only 5' 5") and the back of the vehicle with the seats flat is plenty big for two people to sleep. Better gas mileage than a truck (23 to 26 highway) and safer and more comfortable for passengers than most trucks. Got almost 200,000 miles on my last one with almost no repairs and the latest one I picked up a year ago for under $4,000 shows signs of working just as well. I can load 3 boats on the Thule rack in less than 20 minutes.
Source(s): lots of road trips and car camping. - Anonymous1 decade ago
Melissa, what size kayak do you have? While I can get my 10 ft onto the top of my Rav 4 fairly easily, I have quite a few friends who put them in their pick-up beds - one fits well diagonally, just strap it down; you should still have enough room for gear. You can also get racks for the truck, some, like Thule, attach to a receiver hitch, and you can get some with a side bar that slides out to make it quite easy for one-person loading. Hope this helps a little. Camping and yaking is a great vacation - I do it a couple times a month, and having a system that is easy makes a world of difference.
Source(s): http://www.castlecraft.com/truck_racks.htm; http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-canoe-kayak-ra... - fuzzyLv 71 decade ago
Take a look at the Duckchaser folding kayaks, about 20 pounds each & folded 4 fit easily on a roof rack. Not good for white water or long trips but great for smaller lakes & just messing around. Of course you need to be a bit handy to make them but it's designed to be a good parent/kid joint project. cost about $200 each
