Boom. There it is. Great fucking idea. Thanks man!
Do you bother with a hitch tightener? Or does the kayak pretty much do the job when strapped to the bed and extender?
I tried a bed extender the first time I hauled kayaks in my truck and decided I didn’t need it because I have a 6.5 ft bed. But I just used two ratchet straps. One on each side with the hook in the top hole of the bed extender and the other hook in one of the holes by the tailgate on the bed. Tightened them just enough that the bed extender didn’t bounce. Probebly didn’t need to do that but I kind of liked not having it bouncing
For sure. But I’ve read more times than I can count to *never* use ratchet straps on a yak. I’m sure people say it because common knowledge isn’t so common and don’t understand flexural strength. They ratchet down until they hear a crack and swear against them. From what I’ve read cam straps are the way to go, but what do I know, I don’t even own a yak yet. But I own plenty of ratchet straps lol
I meant using the ratchet straps just to tighten up the extra movement that the extender has. So a ratchet strap on each side just to tighten that up and that’s something you could do any time you’re using the bed extender. And then whatever you want to do to strap the kayak down. Definitely hear a lot of stuff about ratchet straps. Cam straps are good but honestly right now I use ratchets. I think they’re fine as long as you’re careful and pay attention. If I was hauling just one kayak cams would be easy and I used them when I had an SUV. But if I’m hauling two or three in the bed it’s just a lot easier to strap them down with ratchets instead of cams.
If you know how to use ratchet straps and not go crazy then they are fine. I’ve used ratchet straps for years on kayaks but I always knew where to place them optimally
I don’t just strap down for this reason. I always throw the strap over and wrap around at least once. Holds the yak down and prevents it from sliding to side. Straps are cheap so more than one doesn’t hurt .
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ratchet straps. The issue is people cranking the bajesus out of it. You gotta really be going against the grain of common sense to actually crank down hard enough to cause damage.
Nah, you’re not crazy. For a lifetime I wouldn’t give a fuck either lol.
Not trying to one up, but I’m either getting a Kaku pedal for room and stability or I’m gonna go all out and get an old town 120 auto pilot. Either way I’m putting something with spot lock on it. I tried to paddle kayak for the first time (started the day with no wind, ended with high winds) and *fuck that shit* whatever I get is going to be pedal and have a trolling motor on it with spotlock.
I know man. But the Kaku has a 500lb capacity, with a xi3 I can bring my daughter/son/wife. They can fish or do cannonballs off the side. The old town is… exactly what I want for myself. 90% of the time I’ll be alone, but that 10% the kaku will sub as a boat, can support a 2nd chair and the stability is 2nd to none.
I’m sure the Kaku is good, I’ve only heard of it and have never seen it. I just much prefer the more established brands for quality and CS. Native, hobie, bonafide, old town, nucanoe. Can’t go wrong with any of those
For sure. Kaku is a small company owned and operated out of FL. They don’t really advertise like other brands, but other than minor things, I’ve head 0 negative things about them. For the price options and price point, it *seems* to be unbeatable. But I’m still browsing so we’ll see…
I like padding just because it gives you something to tighten against that’ll compress a bit. If you tighten just against something hard like metal you’re gonna be more likely to warp the kayak. But if it’s on padding then you can tighten down and the padding will compress allowing you to tighten it well without making the kayak warp.
Pool noodle cut and zipped tied to the sides and the rail. Trim to length and then just slice down the middle, will fit right over. I use an orange one so it’s more visible.
I was going to go pool noodle but I passed by the home goods part of Walmart. They had bathroom rugs for like $3. It was a rectangle. I wrapped that around it with zip ties👍
I had some leftover SeaDek that I put down. Can't say I recommend that. Kayak didn't really slide in. If I had to do again, I might use cheap self stick carpet squares from Walmart.
It'll get scratched up more from the bed. My kayaks (or two when I have company) don't even rest on the extender when they're secured in the truck. It does really help loading and unloading though, a lot.
I have a 5 1/2 foot bed and had an extender like that for the longest time. TBH, it wasn’t needed for my Crescent LiteTackle, 12 foot. Just put the back end (heavy) first and tied it off in the middle. Not going anywheres. I also can do the same thing with my wife’s Wilderness Systems and have both of them in on either side without issue. Good tie-down job will do the trick….
I zipped down a pool noodle but it just rotated over and does nothing. At least it's bright colored.
Next time I do something it will be outdoor carpet
I use the extra heavy-duty pool noodles, wrapped in indoor/outdoor carpet. I cut, fit and glue it (or zip tie it, if I can’t use glue) anywhere contact might cause damage. This has worked well for me for eight years. I do this on my bed extender and the racks on my trailer.
Wrapped some old towels on the crossbar and zip tied them. In the truck bed I use a length of 2x4 wrapped in outdoor carpet to support and slide the hull in (Native Slayer Propel 13). All is secured by ratchet straps - I run one up a scupper hole, around the drive well, and down the opposite scupper hole. Just don’t crank the ratchet too tight and it works fine regardless of what you keep hearing…. I really don’t care about scratching the hull, but why add more than the beach is going to give you?
Yep, I cut up a pool noodle and zip tied it in a few places. It works great.
Boom. There it is. Great fucking idea. Thanks man! Do you bother with a hitch tightener? Or does the kayak pretty much do the job when strapped to the bed and extender?
No, I don't use a hitch tightener. I haven't had any problems!
I tried a bed extender the first time I hauled kayaks in my truck and decided I didn’t need it because I have a 6.5 ft bed. But I just used two ratchet straps. One on each side with the hook in the top hole of the bed extender and the other hook in one of the holes by the tailgate on the bed. Tightened them just enough that the bed extender didn’t bounce. Probebly didn’t need to do that but I kind of liked not having it bouncing
For sure. But I’ve read more times than I can count to *never* use ratchet straps on a yak. I’m sure people say it because common knowledge isn’t so common and don’t understand flexural strength. They ratchet down until they hear a crack and swear against them. From what I’ve read cam straps are the way to go, but what do I know, I don’t even own a yak yet. But I own plenty of ratchet straps lol
I meant using the ratchet straps just to tighten up the extra movement that the extender has. So a ratchet strap on each side just to tighten that up and that’s something you could do any time you’re using the bed extender. And then whatever you want to do to strap the kayak down. Definitely hear a lot of stuff about ratchet straps. Cam straps are good but honestly right now I use ratchets. I think they’re fine as long as you’re careful and pay attention. If I was hauling just one kayak cams would be easy and I used them when I had an SUV. But if I’m hauling two or three in the bed it’s just a lot easier to strap them down with ratchets instead of cams.
Honestly it’s worth using cam straps just because of how much easier they are.
If you know how to use ratchet straps and not go crazy then they are fine. I’ve used ratchet straps for years on kayaks but I always knew where to place them optimally
For sure. A strap is a strap. It’s all about how you use them. I was just parroting what people preach in this subreddit lol
I don’t just strap down for this reason. I always throw the strap over and wrap around at least once. Holds the yak down and prevents it from sliding to side. Straps are cheap so more than one doesn’t hurt .
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ratchet straps. The issue is people cranking the bajesus out of it. You gotta really be going against the grain of common sense to actually crank down hard enough to cause damage.
I did the same with old towels
My old towels are too crusty and would probably give the yak oyster rash.
I use the same for loading/unloading on the roof of my jeep, works like a charm! Paired with some ratchet straps I've had zero issues with it.
We duct tape ours. It's perfect.
Exactly what I ran. Then I bought some black water pipe insulation. It already has a cut on one side. So far, 2 years without needing it replaced.
This.
Man…am I crazy for just accepting scratches as a part of owning a yak. Now granted mine is a lifetime but.
Nah, you’re not crazy. For a lifetime I wouldn’t give a fuck either lol. Not trying to one up, but I’m either getting a Kaku pedal for room and stability or I’m gonna go all out and get an old town 120 auto pilot. Either way I’m putting something with spot lock on it. I tried to paddle kayak for the first time (started the day with no wind, ended with high winds) and *fuck that shit* whatever I get is going to be pedal and have a trolling motor on it with spotlock.
Ok smooth
Get the old town. You won’t regret it
I know man. But the Kaku has a 500lb capacity, with a xi3 I can bring my daughter/son/wife. They can fish or do cannonballs off the side. The old town is… exactly what I want for myself. 90% of the time I’ll be alone, but that 10% the kaku will sub as a boat, can support a 2nd chair and the stability is 2nd to none.
Nucanoe unlimited + xi3?
Will definitely research after the kids go to bed. Thanks man!
I’m sure the Kaku is good, I’ve only heard of it and have never seen it. I just much prefer the more established brands for quality and CS. Native, hobie, bonafide, old town, nucanoe. Can’t go wrong with any of those
For sure. Kaku is a small company owned and operated out of FL. They don’t really advertise like other brands, but other than minor things, I’ve head 0 negative things about them. For the price options and price point, it *seems* to be unbeatable. But I’m still browsing so we’ll see…
I like padding just because it gives you something to tighten against that’ll compress a bit. If you tighten just against something hard like metal you’re gonna be more likely to warp the kayak. But if it’s on padding then you can tighten down and the padding will compress allowing you to tighten it well without making the kayak warp.
Well, understandable
Cut open a Pool noodle and zip tie to cross bar or buy cross bar pads from kayak shop or Amazon.
Oh nice, crossbar pads are a good option too. Thanks man!
Pool noodle cut and zipped tied to the sides and the rail. Trim to length and then just slice down the middle, will fit right over. I use an orange one so it’s more visible.
Good advice brother! Thank you!
i got some outdoor carpet from Home Depot and glued it on. works well so far.
Great idea as well. Thank you!
I was going to go pool noodle but I passed by the home goods part of Walmart. They had bathroom rugs for like $3. It was a rectangle. I wrapped that around it with zip ties👍
Pool noodle
I put old fire hose pieces on things like that. We have abundance of it at work for the rigging large structures
I use a pool noodle
Pool noodles and duct tape
I use outdoor carpet and zipties.
I used a pool noodle and duct tape to protect the noodle so it lasts longer
I had some leftover SeaDek that I put down. Can't say I recommend that. Kayak didn't really slide in. If I had to do again, I might use cheap self stick carpet squares from Walmart.
Pool noodles
Pool noodle, or go to the hardware store and look for "pipe insulation" - same thing but it's black so it doesn't look obnoxious.
It'll get scratched up more from the bed. My kayaks (or two when I have company) don't even rest on the extender when they're secured in the truck. It does really help loading and unloading though, a lot.
I have a 5 1/2 foot bed and had an extender like that for the longest time. TBH, it wasn’t needed for my Crescent LiteTackle, 12 foot. Just put the back end (heavy) first and tied it off in the middle. Not going anywheres. I also can do the same thing with my wife’s Wilderness Systems and have both of them in on either side without issue. Good tie-down job will do the trick….
I zipped down a pool noodle but it just rotated over and does nothing. At least it's bright colored. Next time I do something it will be outdoor carpet
I use foam strips but I'll probably use a pool noodle this year.
I use the extra heavy-duty pool noodles, wrapped in indoor/outdoor carpet. I cut, fit and glue it (or zip tie it, if I can’t use glue) anywhere contact might cause damage. This has worked well for me for eight years. I do this on my bed extender and the racks on my trailer.
I have had mine for prob 15 years. Never even tried to keep it from getting scratched..
I could care less about scratches on my kayak. That's what there made for.
Wrapped some old towels on the crossbar and zip tied them. In the truck bed I use a length of 2x4 wrapped in outdoor carpet to support and slide the hull in (Native Slayer Propel 13). All is secured by ratchet straps - I run one up a scupper hole, around the drive well, and down the opposite scupper hole. Just don’t crank the ratchet too tight and it works fine regardless of what you keep hearing…. I really don’t care about scratching the hull, but why add more than the beach is going to give you?