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PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:01 pm 
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Looking at some of the loading/carrying racks by Yakima and others, it seems to me that it wouldn't be too hard to make a roll-on rack... Does anyone have any experience with them? The biggest problem would seem to be reinforcing the load-bearing strength of the roller, if using PVC. I'm thinking of a simple square "U" shape, attaching to the side bars of a factory rack on an SUV, with a roller at the back which will allow the 'yak to be loaded/rolled up and onto roof-mounted supports. Thoughts? Comments?


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PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:31 pm 
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Location: Sarasota,Key West FL
Fish it :
I have a roll on kayak loader for loading my Tandem Island on top of our Yukon Denali. It works suprisingly well, and makes loading the boat and taking it off the car suprisingly simple. I always load and unload by myself, and I'm not a big guy.
The car comes from the factory with a car top rack that is made up of two long rails on each side, with two adjustable aluminum cross bars. What I did was buy one of those T bar hitch mounts to go into the trailer hitch.
I took a 4 ft piece of pvc pipe and pushed it into a pool noodle, I then took an old Hobie canvas sail bag (the blue ones that standard Hobie kayak sails come in), I sewed it up so it fits tightly over the pool noodle, and closed up the ends.
When ready to load the boat I place the noodle near the back of the car on the roof. I then lift the front of the kayak onto the top of the T bar (it's actually pretty easy to lift (about 50 lbs). I then lift the rear of the boat until the bow touches the noodle. I then walk the boat forward, the boat is rolling on the noodle on top of the roof. When the noodle runs into the front cross brace, the boat stops and is in the correct position. I then place the sail and AMA's on each side of the boat, then strap the whole works down with two 1 inch straps tied through the frame of the roof rack on each side of the car. When traveling longer distance (Like down to Key West from Sarasota) I put an additional strap over the top of the rear T bar hitch mount. The boat does not move or wiggle in any way, it is supported by the pool noodle, and the Tbar in the back. Sometimes if the boat is going to be on top of the car for a while, I will slide in a couple more noodles under the boat (lengthwise to the boat between the aluminum cross braces).

The Tbar cost around $70 dollars, and the pool noodles are about a buck each at Walmart.
It's the best setup I have had.
Hope this helps
Bob

Previously I had a pair of Malone ss combo rack systems on the roof (about $450 dollars)

I also tried the Malone Saddle up pro system ($159 each) it worked ok but it was really hard to slide the boat over, even harder than the SS combo Racks.
Also the Saddle up pro doesn't have the stinger to sit one end of the boat on to get started loading, like the SS combo system has. That's why I bought the Tbar hitch mount, because I scratched the back of the car trying to use the Saddle up pro. (Wife threatened to take my keys away if it ever happened again).
I have had several kayak rack systems and this setup I am using now is by far the most stable, and easiest to load the kayak onto.

This is our car all loaded up and good to go on our first trip out with the new boat last month
Image


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 3:03 am 
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A Commercial ladder roller might save a bit of fabrication?


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:52 am 
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Location: High Point, NC
I believe the Yakima "Show Boat" is almost exactly what you're talking about. It extends out beyond the rear of the vehicle, has a roller on the back, and once the boat is loaded you slide it back into itself. I have one and it works very well.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 9:57 am 
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Location: Ogden, Utah
To get my Prangler 14 atop my Durango, all I needed was a pair of Hully Rollers from Yakima. Place bow of yak between rollers, lift stern and push. Done. I do hang a mat over the rear lip of the roof to protect against scratches, but that's it.

Image

Image

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 12:23 pm 
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Location: Sarasota FL
The rollers are interesting.

So much depends the kind of car/suv you have, and the type of roof rack you have.

Key: I need to be able to load my Oasis Tandem (14') by myself.

I have a Jeep Liberty with side rails for a roof rack. I have two aluminum poles that I bungee across the side rails to make a back and front rail. The front and back poles are necessary to keep the yak off my sheet metal. Cost $20.

Because of the design of the Liberty and most SUVs, the back polerail is inset about 10 inches. This means If I try to lean the kayak on the BACK of the Liberty, it will be hitting sheet metal first, not the pole. And the back roofline of a Liberty, like many SUVs, is slightly curved, which means even if you DID perch your kayak there, it will try to slide off. Worse, the brake light assembly is right at the roofline and the kayak will smash it if I try to perch it up on the back.

THUS,
The best way for me is to load my kayak from the SIDE of the Jeep...and I think this is the best way for MOST SUVS. The side rail is level, and it is mounted closely to the edge of the roof so you don't have to lean your kayak on your sheetmetal, just the rack rail.

Approaching from the side, I lift one end of the kayak up onto the side rail, while the other end is on the ground. Then I walk to the grounded end, lift it up, and slide the kayak onto the roof across the side rail. Then it's a simple matter to 'walk' the kayak around so it points forward.

Couple of straps later and we're off.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 12:31 pm 
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Location: Ogden, Utah
Next time I load up, I'll shoot some step-by-step pix showing the carpet mat I use and the technique to load.

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 2:04 pm 
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Location: S.E. Florida
Yakima makes the Showboat. It works great to roller your kayak up onto your rack without running it up on the back of your vehicle.
http://yakima.com/shop/baserack-only/showboat

I have one and it worked great. I don't use it now and just use the Thule water slide.
http://www.rackattack.com/product-pages ... nQodPRkAbw

The water slide is simple fast and easy to use and nothing permanent need to be mounted on your vehicle.

Revo

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 6:44 pm 
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I got the idea from the 'showboat'; the water slide, at $35, is about as cheap as I could build something myself, I think. I just ordered one... so we'll see! Thanks for your ideas.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 6:56 pm 
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Location: Central Coast NSW Australia
Have you seen Nohuhu's clever home made loader for his SUV?
viewtopic.php?f=73&t=41502&p=170434


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 4:20 am 
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Location: S.E. Florida
The water slide is perfect for sliding your yak up onto the back of your vehicle.
Now if you have a foil that poses a dilema. How sturdy is your foil to support the kayak? Nohuhu's solutions are quite ingenious and would also be achieved by the showboat.

If you can load from the side of the vehicle the Ourigger II by Thule is your other option that makes loading a breeze for one person.

http://www.thule.com/en-US/US/Products/ ... trigger-II

Place the bow on the outrigger and lift the stern onto your saddle then scoot the bow onto the saddle and strap it down.

Revo

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A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:39 am 
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Several years ago I was loading my kayak on top of my big SUV. I discovered that my Wheeleez cart was the perfect answer to loading/rolling my kayak onto the top of my vehicle.

Bet if someone put their mind to it, you could figure out some type of system to use your current cart to accomplish the same effect :!: Take a look at this website and the video.

http://www.wheeleez.com/kayak-canoe-car ... oading.php

I can hear the wheels in your brain turning now :mrgreen:


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:40 am 
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Location: Amelia Island, FL
Several years ago I was loading my kayak on top of my big SUV. I discovered that my Wheeleez cart was the perfect answer to loading/rolling my kayak onto the top of my vehicle.

Bet if someone put their mind to it, you could figure out some type of system to use your current cart to accomplish the same effect :!: Take a look at this website and the video.

http://www.wheeleez.com/kayak-canoe-car ... oading.php

I can hear the wheels in your brain turning now :mrgreen:


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:25 am 
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Location: Sarasota FL
The various contraptions (homemade and paid for) are interesting.

A lot depends on your rack/rail style, roof curvature, and car/suv style.

The Thule slide-y mat might work, unless the kayak slid off to the side while you walked to pick up the back end, --and unless your brake light assembly was right on the edge of the roofline as it is in my Jeep. I wouldn't recommend bopping your kayak up against it, or running your kayak over it while loading.

My 2007 Jeep has the brake light at the top and a slightly curved roofline making it dangerous to perch the kayak from the back, especially if your vehicle isn't on level ground.

2007:
Image

I would also recommend adding some handles to the typical 2-handle, mid-mounted setup.

So now let's talk about the REAL ISSUE: A contraption for middle-aged men to get it up. :wink:
No matter how you unload or load, gravity is the enemy.
(I call dibs on the name "The Viagra-nator")


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:10 am 
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Location: Portland, OR
Here is something that might be helpful:

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/foru ... p?t=103508

John

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