Any Kayakers out there? My DIY Kayak roller

[jpeaslee]

So my 4runner is pretty new to me and I haven't mounted my Ocean Kayak Trident 13 on it's roof until yesterday. It was a little easier to get on my honda element, but with the Yota, it's a bit taller and I tweaked my shoulder putting it up there. Right now I just have the factory bars, but as soon as my Q clips come in, I'll have it on Yakima Q Towers/bars, which will get it a bit more centered on the truck. Anyways, I got a little bored (mostly procrastinating yard work) this afternoon and saw this suction cup mount and non marring wheels at Harbor Freight and started fiddling. There are a few things I would tweak if I was starting from scratch again, but after reinforcing it a bit, it works well. What are you guys using?



Here's one from the front so you can see how far above the roof line the wheels come.

 

[absalom]

That's pretty darn cool looking!

 

[PoshSnoop]

60 lbs... Hmm. Once upon a time, I had a Hurricane Tracer 165 and Yakima Hully Rollers on the back bar. The boat was around 45 lbs, but I would stash all the paddling gear in the cockpit and holds before racking it, so it was heavier. I would pick up the front end and set it on the back edge of the fiberglass topper, then go pick up the back end. The boat would rotate onto the rollers, and I could just walk it forward and drop it into the mako saddles.

I actually like your solution. You're dealing with the scraper edge on the rear air blade / wing thingy. The posh snoop (T4R's name) has the same deal, and my wife and I have been talking boats again. mmm, boats... uh oh.

 

[PoshSnoop]

another thought... that aft cross-bar looks far enough back that the height of Yakima add-ons like maybe the Sweetroll could possibly get you up and over the wing thing.

YMMV.

 

[jpeaslee]

Yeah, I know 67lbs isn't that heavy, but trying to get it up, balance it, and not bash the car up makes it a bit tricky. I really don't like how far back the kayak sits on the factory bars, which is why I'm adding some q towers to put it further forward. I think even with as far back as the rear crossbar is, the hullyrollers (which I don't think fit the factory bars) or sweetroll might be too low/forward to clear the rear deflector. I tested it out with the factory bars and it worked fine. Should be even easier once I get my yakima bars and mako pads up there.

 

[PoshSnoop]

oh, I definitely get you. bulky slippery boat, windage, fancy car all somehow start multiplying that weight when it's above your head. add an audience and the weight keeps climbing...

 

[jpeaslee]

oh, I definitely get you. bulky slippery boat, windage, fancy car all somehow start multiplying that weight when it's above your head. add an audience and the weight keeps climbing...

That's the most truthful thing I've ever heard.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Interesting solution. I say just Man Up and lift it overhead! jk

Any concerns with the rear window supporting the weight and forces like that? It seems that the window would be likely to break?

When I load kayaks on my 4Runner, I have to lift them overhead. Then climb a step ladder (because my truck is so tall) while holding them overhead, and finally set them into place on the kayak racks. Its a lot of fun.

 

[jpeaslee]

Interesting solution. I say just Man Up and lift it overhead! jk

Any concerns with the rear window supporting the weight and forces like that? It seems that the window would be likely to break?

When I load kayaks on my 4Runner, I have to lift them overhead. Then climb a step ladder (because my truck is so tall) while holding them overhead, and finally set them into place on the kayak racks. Its a lot of fun.

Yeah, it's not that its uncomfortable. I can physically do it, it's just sometimes trying to balance that thing while lifting that much weight overhead at an odd angle can cause weird things to happen in my shoulders. I wouldn't use it for lobbing some shortys up there, but these damn SOT 13+footers are damn cumbersome.