2881S or 528RKS...Kayak Roof Rack...?

[JohnnyPop]

Hi All, new to the forum. Currently have an ORV 23RKS with many custom features, including something I can’t give up in a new camper...a kayak rack on the roof! My ORV is a sturdy, heavy and well made unit...in which the roof design allowed me to lag bolt some racks up there to carry and store 2 kayaks. I’m looking to move to a fifth wheel and the 2881s floor plan is on my list! Research shows that Rockwood/FS does their roofs a little different...and I’m thinking it may not be suitable to mount a kayak rack up there. Can anyone comment on this? I also have a bike rack on my back bumper, so a kayak rack at the rear isn’t an option for me. I like to have everything on board and stored so it’s road ready all the time!

[HeadingWest]

You might want to look at Yakup rv racks. They make one that carries both kayaks and bikes on the back of 5th wheels. Only issue might be having to relocate the spare tire.
https://www.rvkayakracks.com/

[itat]

JohnnyPop, welcome from just east of Toronto.

When you said ORV do you mean Outdoors RV? While Rockwood makes a good trailer, based on videos on YouTube it looks like Outdoors RV is a bit better in their construction than Rockwood, especially the roof. However, they don’t make a 5th wheel floorplan that my DW and I really like. Those quarter round showers are too snug for me!

Rockwood’s roof construction can handle the weight no problem but it doesn’t lend itself very well for mounting a kayak rack that might have a fair bit of lift. The wood is relatively thin. I’d suggest you email or call the factory to ask whether a rack system like HeadingWest suggested will be OK on the factory-installed receiver.

[JohnnyPop]

Correct - Outdoors RV, made in LaGrande Oregon. A cousin-coach to the Northwood Arctic Fox. It’s been a great unit with really the best part being the frame and 5200lb axles. I’ve been down some very rough roads and never experienced any trouble. And my tongue weight is at 1500lbs, yikes. While it is well built - it’s still an rv and uses the same hardware and appliances as the rest...which of course I’ve had a couple minor issues.

I’m strongly considering the Rockwood but really struggling with the fact of going from a west coast unit to a Midwest built unit. Can I trust that Lippert 5th wheel frame? A 32ft fifth wheel with 4400lb axles - is that enough? Are cabinets going to shake loose? It’s a lot of money to spend for a Rockwood but hella expensive for a new ORV/NW unit! When the build and appliances are quite similar.

For the Kayak rack, I did reach out to Rockwood. He said nothing is impossible but it would void the warranty, which I know. But I did a good install on my current trailer to make sure it is secure and sealed. Kayaks are just 10ft’ers, flipped upside down, and it’s low to the roof but nothing ever touches. Updraft hasn’t been an issue yet and I’ve travelled though near hurricane winds. For the Rockwood I’d need to be sure and hit the aluminum truss...and maybe use some kind of expanding fastener to lock it down. No rear kayak racks allowed - I have a bike rack on that receiver. I like to have my unit ready to go with gear stored - just hook up and go!

[itat]

Rockwoods are definitely above average build quality for RVs built in Indiana. I especially like the Dexter Torflex axles. (I'm on my 3rd Rockwood unit.) ORV does have better base construction IMO but yes they use the same RV appliances as the Indiana RV manufacturers. Rockwood fifth wheels are not designed to bang down rough BLM and NFS dirt roads. ORV units probably are. Maybe investigate how Rockwood anchors their cabinets to the wall.

Outdoors RV units have something like 3/8" plywood surface on their roofs? Rockwood uses foam sandwiched between sheets of luan but they do use aluminum rafters in their roof so maybe that will suffice as an anchor?

Do you have an option to put the kayaks either inside the 5er or on a roof rack on the truck?

[JohnnyPop]

After studying the Rockwood factory videos it appears they don’t have roof trusses every 16”...only at vents a/c or roof crown transition. They sure are relying a lot on that foam core for support! I’ve heard they are noisy during rain?? To mount a rack/bars up there I’d probably just go right the wall edge to hit the framing, use an expanding fastener or something. I’d rather have kayaks on the rv roof vs anywhere else...then when they’re up there you never have to worry or deal with them.

[JohnnyPop]

That’s a great point on the cabinets though, was thinking that today. My ORV is screwed to the roof and wall. Worst roads I drove down are broken asphalt or graded gravel, but I go slow so nothing gets chipped. Hopefully the torflex is robust and smooth riding. 2881s has rear fridge...which I currently have. You have to pack it carefully...to survive any rear whipping