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PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 4:43 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:47 am
Posts: 12
I have been struggling to carry my AI's while towing the fifthwheel. After spending lots of money on Yakima product that never really worked I finally broke down and spent $2000 on a custom rack. Here are some photos of the solution. I can tell you that it is the most stable hauling that I have ever had. I also had the fabricator come up with 2 sliding bars that fit inside the cross bars. These slide out on either side of the truck so that I can load each yak from the side then shimmy them into position. I am currently using foam blocks on the crossbars but I am researching other options. The sails sit beside each yak and the amas go in the trailer or in the back of the truck when the trailer is disconnected. This lets me get the yaks and my trailer next to many of the great lakes for week long stays of fishing, peddling and sailing. All in all a great investment.

The biggest problem I had was positioning the yaks far enough forward to clear the front of the fifthwheel in turns. With the overhanging rack that has given me the perfect mounting points on the gunwhales to really secure the yaks without worrying about deforming the plastic in the hot Nevada sun. The yaks only extend 9" into the bed leaving plenty of clearance and only 2' in front of the truck.
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The next image shows the crosstubes and the hole near the end is used to pin the sliding extension into place. It is now easy to load 1 man by lifting the front of the yak onto the extended bar then lift the back of the yak and slide the back bar out to rest it on.
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The last image shows the rack detail and truck mounting. They guys that fabricated it build lots of desert racing rigs and modified trucks for the Baja and other off-road races, so they know how to mount stuff on roofs. They used stainless steel mounts located under the headliner of the truck so that their perfectly sculpted mounting legs are securely bolted on. The bolts come out when I want to take the rack off and the only thing left on the truck are the tops of the closed end, flush mounted stainless steel tubes. The whole rack weighs about 120 pounds and I not had it off since they installed it. I may never take it off as it fits in my garage and looks clean enough going down the road.
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:01 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:21 pm
Posts: 2498
Location: Central Florida
Nice Rack! A great if not pricey fix to your problem.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006


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PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:06 pm 
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Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:46 pm
Posts: 3017
Location: Escondido
A handsome looking rack and a great set-up! 8)


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:06 am 
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Joined: Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:43 am
Posts: 483
Location: Long Island NY
Is it alright for one guy to say to another ...

... Man, you've got a nice looking Rack !! :wink:

The way you have it loaded, it looks like the center of mass is slightly foward of the last mounting point on the truck - I'd try and keep it slightly behind if room for the 5th wheel permits

PS - where do you source your foam blocks from ?

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Alan W.

Papaya AI2 to replace my well worn V1
TheTwins - His/Hers 2007 Papaya Hobie Adventure Island's (v1.00.01)
.. and a Hobie Outback SUV


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:31 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:47 am
Posts: 12
Thanks for the reply,

The weight is forward a little but the yaks are pretty well balanced on the rack. Since I am only putting the hulls and sails up there, we are only talking about 150/160 pounds and there is no roof deflection at the mounting points. The bottom of the rack also has some cross braces that would accept some foam/supports to hold the amas if I raise the yak crossbars up about 4 inches. That would put all of the bulky bits on the roof.

The foam blocks are avaialble from most kayak stores they are replacement blocks for the roof rail transport kits that are normally sold with 4 blocks. The replacement blocks are ~$6 each. I was also noticing that hobie has a bar sleeve that it sells as an accessory. That might work, I am going to get one to try out. The nice thing about carrying the hull inverted is that you don't need a fancy saddle, just a nice flat place for the gunwhale to rest on.


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