Kayak or Canoe on a Pop-up trailer?

[mherte]

Has anyone tried mounting a kayak or canoe atop a pop up - specifically a hard side A-frame type - tent trailer? Would it make more sense to try a rack on the tow vehicle (an F150)?

Thanks.

[KMP44]

Haven't had any experience with an A-frame, but our popup could carry kayaks or bikes on the roof. There were a couple of rack systems available, including one from Coleman - who made the trailer. The owners manual should give you some guidance on how much weight you can carry on the roof.

With the new trailer, I built a rack for the truck that will hold 4 kayaks from a plan I found online. Works well, but given the amount of work I would probably buy one next time. In my case I have a stepside that Ford did not make many of and nobody offered a rack that would fit. Otherwise there are some very nice rack systems out there. I like the system that works with a tonneau cover.

So either way should work - as long as the A frame is OK to support the weight on the roof. A rack on the trailer is easier to load. Its a two person operation to get them onto a truck rack and can be a little akward. The advantage of the truck rack is if you want to take the kayaks someplace when you aren't camping.

[thehamguy1]

A year ago I was crawling around on the roof of my folded down A128, waxing it. I caused no damage to it, and I didn't see or feel any flexing. Considering that a rack system on the A-frame would spread the weight around at four or more points, and those would be near the edges where I assume the roof is even better supported, I'd think a roof mount would be ok for these units. I weighed about 155 pounds when I was doing the waxing, close to what a couple of canoes would weigh.

[Arefbee]

I think Thule and SportRack have models available.

Ed. Should have read the whole post - the rack on the TV makes better sense from the perspective of how to get the boat to and from the launch point once the trailer is set up at the campground.

[Fire Instructor]

Originally Posted by KMP44

The advantage of the truck rack is if you want to take the kayaks someplace when you aren't camping.

Or, like us, when we use our TT as a base-camp, then often drive to multiple (different) kayaking locations.

[Pooneil]

Thule makes 60 inch rails for fiberglass tops. That is what I have on top of my truck bed cover and it holds my kayaks in place firmly without the need to tie down the front of the boat. It is also marketed for campers but is too long for the A-frame top without modification. Putting kayaks on top of the camper is great when you need to carry a lot of boats. I've hauled five total with my truck and old tent trailer. We were camping close to the water so we wheeled the heavier boats over on my dolly while carrying the lighter ones. Pick up can safely carry a number of boats at once within a park with only modest amounts of care to secure them.

The Thule USA web site is short on information about the products for RV's. One problem in setting up an A-frame is clearing the bubble windows with the racks and boats. Thule though has great load assist products.

[handbuilder]

Forum member, Cattledog, made kayak carrier for his A Frame. Check past posts in here for the topic (use search) or visit his album for photos. Hopefully he'll pop in and give his .02 worth on the topic. I like what he did.

[Pooneil]

That is a nice setup.

Forest River Forums - Cattledog's Album: Kayak rack

I'd be tempted to add a third load bar just to protect the windows.

[handbuilder]

Thanks, Tom, for posting the link! Cattledog's kayak set up is inspiring to see that it can be done!

[Cattledog]

Coincidently Cattledog has just returned from a ten day trip with the kayak on top of the Aframe. The rollers make it easy enough to load and unload by myself. This is the second season with the Aframe and the rack setup so far so good. The dealer I purchased the Aframe from installed the Sports Rack without hesitation as he had installed them on tent trailers. The Hully Rollers were installed by us but had to fabricate different clamps as the ones included did not fit the Sports Rack. Overall I’m happy with the setup.

[Pooneil]

I use a set of Hully Rollers on my truck too, they are nice. Thule makes some easy slide pads now that are supposed make solo loading easy as well.

[Cyndilee]

I just have a one-person, 40 lb., 10.5 ft. kayak, but I put it on top of my a-frame with a simple cartop kit from Fleet Farm (maybe $19.95). I used the foam blocks that came with the kit and added some of those long foam swim noodles for protection on the camper. The noodles also work great for getting the kayak on and off the top of the camper by myself without damaging anything. Strapped it down with the ropes provided by the kit - front & back, and added a ratcheting tie-down across the middle, side-to-side over the top of the yak and under the camper.

[Wingman1500]

Did adding a kayak rack void the Flagstaff warranty?

[MarcusN]

On our previous pop up we just set the canoe on foam blocks on top of the trailer and used 4 straps on front and back to tie to corners of frame and it wouldn't move at all.

[Cattledog]

Originally Posted by Wingman1500

Did adding a kayak rack void the Flagstaff warranty?

Nope, it was dealer installed.