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07-30-2009, 03:07 PM
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#1
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Wheels Itch)(Must Travel
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
- east coastal area -
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 683
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Canoe rack with Reese Hitch
Hi friends,
i would like to be able to take a canoe (about 75 lbs) along with me. i have an f-150 supercrew and a 22' AS international.
is there a way to add a thule or yakima carrier to the hitch/receiver? the front of the canoe would rest on foam blocks on the top of the truck cab. the rear would be on a horizontal carrier bar, supported by a vertical post.
normally the vertical post would go into the receiver, but, of course, that where the traile hitch goes.
any ideas?
thanks, in advance,
az-streamer
__________________
az-streamer
Jon & Deb
Phoebe & Ellis - The Airstreaming Mini-Schauzers
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07-30-2009, 03:55 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1999 23' Safari
Perrysburg
, Ann Arbor
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 916
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It shouldn't take much to weld up a bracket that'd fit over the square shaft of your hitch and support the rear of the canoe ... If you don't weld, etc., I'd go to a local welding shop with your hitch drawbar installed and see what they can fabricate. Beware any rear overhang or canoe movement fore/aft - whacking that canoe with the front of your Airstream would be real hard on the canoe!
p.s. - I've been thinking about this myself ... one of the big drawbacks is that you can't open your tailgate, etc. with this rig in place ...
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07-30-2009, 04:12 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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I would go with a bracket that rests on the cover for your truck bed. Going all the way back to the hitch will mean you have too much overhand on the canoe. The problem would be you can not raise your cover when you have the canoe aboard. For the items you use regularly you could put them toward the back and put the tailgate down to get at them. I have a cap on my truck and have installed a Yakama rack for my canoe.
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07-30-2009, 04:40 PM
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#4
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Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
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LIke This...
I installed a Yakima tower rack on the roof of my SCrew last year, then fabricated a tail stand so I can carry awning tubes, ladders, and such.
If you install one one the truck bed cover it will be easier to load/un-load, but in my case it would hinder bed access.
Regards,
Kevin
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
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07-30-2009, 04:53 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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Kevin's idea is cool and quickly removable. But here are 2 other ideas.
1. Get a good camper shell and mount your racks on the roof.
2. Get a cargo rack and you can use it for lots of other stuff. I got a lightly used Cargo Master for about half retail from Craigslist. I use it for my sailboat.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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07-30-2009, 04:54 PM
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#6
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Wheels Itch)(Must Travel
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
- east coastal area -
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 683
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kevin,
yes, i sort of want to do what you did but i also want to haul my AS at the same time [i know i'm being greedy but what's the fun in camping if you can't bring your canoe along].
have you tried carrying a boat/canoe on just the cab rack? i'd be worried that the canoe would rock back and forth at any real speed.
thanks to all of you on your quick input
az-streamer
__________________
az-streamer
Jon & Deb
Phoebe & Ellis - The Airstreaming Mini-Schauzers
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07-30-2009, 05:27 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Elkhart
, Indiana
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 633
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Add a front reciver to the truck! Then use the canoe rack there.
__________________
Mike
Have a great day!
TAC # IN 1 Air#27922
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07-30-2009, 05:38 PM
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#8
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Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
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Oh yeah...See what kind of problems AS ownership brings. There's never enough room for toys.
I originally thought about having the tail stand slip over the draw bar on the receiver, but in my case there isn't much clearance, and the tail stand needs to be tightly secured to minimize wobble. I use an anti-rattle hitch pin in the tail stand (otherwise it wiggles a good inch or two).
There is also a hole in the bumper for a bumper mounted tow ball that I could screw the tail stand into, but it leaves very little room between the tail stand and the tailgate.
Given the need to tow and haul I would go with something like a cargo rack like Lumatic suggests, or just use a Yakima, or Thule tower system on your SCrew's roof.
Mine locks in place and is easily installed, or removed in less than 5 minutes, and it's rated for 165 lbs.
Let us know which way you go.
Regards,
Kevin
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
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07-30-2009, 06:12 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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I may be missing something, but how are you going to tow the trailer if you have a rack in the hitch reciever? I have carried a canoe on a yakima roof rack mounted on my quad cab Dodge Ram, It works fine as long as you use bow and stern tie downs..
Here is a picture with a tandem kayak in place of canoe, but I ahve done both.
Please excuse the SOB's in the picture. One trailer, one me.
Regards,
Ken[IMG]file://susandell/DATA250%20(D)/OLD%20Digital%20Camera%20Download/Summer07/IMG_1600%20(Large).JPG[/IMG]
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07-30-2009, 06:15 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Oops
Let me figure out how to get the picture to work and I will try again.
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07-30-2009, 06:21 PM
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#11
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Wheels Itch)(Must Travel
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
- east coastal area -
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 683
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kevin,
i see you have a ford [good man] and it looks like you have a roof rack that works w/o needing rain gutters.
is this true? what kind is it?
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w7ts,
that's EXACTLY the problem - i want to do both
i guess i should look at the yakima roof rack.
it seems that there will not be a problem with the cab roof being sturdy enough.
noww i know why i joined this forum - all the good ideas.
thanks all,
az-streamer
__________________
az-streamer
Jon & Deb
Phoebe & Ellis - The Airstreaming Mini-Schauzers
* * * * * * *
[CENTER][I]
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07-30-2009, 06:22 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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I may be missing something, but how are you going to tow the trailer if you have a rack in the hitch receiver? I have carried a canoe on a Yakima roof rack mounted on my quad cab Dodge Ram, It works fine as long as you use bow and stern tie downs..
Here is a picture with a tandem kayak in place of canoe, but I have done both.
Please excuse the SOBs in the picture. One trailer, one me.
Regards,
Ken
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07-30-2009, 07:01 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2006 19' Safari SE
Tucson
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,627
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Hey az-streamer...just wanted to say "welcome" to the Forums from another Arizonan! congrats on your new AS! You'll figure out the canoe stuff...this crowd's pretty resourceful!
__________________
TB & Greg and Abbey Schnauzer
AirForums #21900
PastPrez, 4CU/WBCCI
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07-30-2009, 07:47 PM
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#14
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Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
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, ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
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Quote:
Originally Posted by az-streamer
kevin,
i see you have a ford [good man] and it looks like you have a roof rack that works w/o needing rain gutters.
is this true? what kind is it?
--
w7ts,
that's EXACTLY the problem - i want to do both
i guess i should look at the yakima roof rack.
it seems that there will not be a problem with the cab roof being sturdy enough.
noww i know why i joined this forum - all the good ideas.
thanks all,
az-streamer
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Mine is a Yakima. Thule did'nt offer a roof system for the SCrew when I was looking, but they may now. My 03 Ford SCrew is a gutter less setup, and the Yakima fits very well. Yakima provided very good installation instructions, and the initial install took less then an hour.
I rarely take it off, but when I do it is very quick. Turn the 4 lock cylinders 90 degrees and pull the latch, stow em, and drive off. Putting them back on is just as easy. The trick for me was to use a Sharpie marker to put some reference marks on the cab roof after the first install. Now the install takes no more time than the removal.
Yakima has a very good website, and "Fit My Car" tab makes spec-ing a system very easy. I bought mine part of mine through REI, with the extra bits (lock set) off of ebay.
www.yakima.com
I've been very pleased with the Yak. I've hauled kayaks, 40' extension ladders, and the 21' awning off of our 76 Sovereign. Yak stands behind their products, and their customer service group was very helpful when I had a question.
I've hauled over 100 lbs on the rack with no problems. The only thing to watch for is load slippage. The round crossbars are covered in black pvc. Things will slide from side to side if not properly secured. I just slip a piece of split seam pipe insulation over the bars if needed, or you can buy the blue foam bar pads from REI, Half Moon, or other outfitters.
Oh and by the way...If you buy a Yakima go ahead and purchase the fairing. The round bars vibrate at speed...very annoying.
Regards,
Kevin
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
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07-30-2009, 08:01 PM
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#15
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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They make a rack that is the same basic idea as Kevin's, but it doesn't go into the receiver; it mounts vertically to a standard "step and tow" bumper, through the hole that was put there for a trailer ball. must be a big bolt that goes straight down through that hole, secured with a nut on the bottom. I think it may also employ straps that go from the "goalpost" down to the outer corners of the bumper, for lateral stability.
This was brought up here, and pictures posted, in an old thread. Try using the search feature to find it. I think one of the major outdoor/sporting goods outfits carried them in their online catalog, too. maybe Cabella's?
__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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07-30-2009, 09:03 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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I agree with Kevin, I have had great luck with Yakima. As you can see in the picture, I also have two bars on the tonneau. We have since the picture traded the tandem kayak for two singles. When we are at home they ride on the tonneau rack (where the bikes are in the picture) side by side and right side up. They hang over the back some, but are very secure. When we are going some where with the trailer, the kayaks go on the cab on their sides using two vertical posts that mount on the bars. That's also a Yakima thing. The Bikes then ride on the back. All of this is starting to remind me how many bucks worth of Yakima stuff I have. Maybe I should ask them for a stock option or something.
Ken
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08-01-2009, 05:11 PM
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#17
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Wheels Itch)(Must Travel
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
- east coastal area -
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 683
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a big thanks to all the happy campers for their suggestions.
right now i think i'll stay low tech and just use four split foam blocks and some sturdy tie-downs.
i did look at some racks but i don't really want to attach anything semi-permanent to the truck cab.
also - i promise to post something in the newbies section asap.
i jumped right into the "help me" forum" - my bad.
-
az-streamer
__________________
az-streamer
Jon & Deb
Phoebe & Ellis - The Airstreaming Mini-Schauzers
* * * * * * *
[CENTER][I]
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08-01-2009, 05:58 PM
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#18
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Patriotic
1973 23' Safari
North of Boston
, Massachusetts
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,546
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__________________
Air:291
Wbcci: 3752
'73 Safari 23'
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QC
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