Kayak Inside??

[MuttJockey]

Anyone with a 5th Gen carry kayaks inside by folding down the 2nd row seats and extending the cargo loading tray? The gate would have to rest on the kayak tops.

 

[KENGNJ]

What about out the rear window?

 

[MuttJockey]

Thought of that, but looking to see if they can be loaded straight in without lifting. (I want the 4Runner, but my wife wants to keep our Tundra because she can load them with the tailgate down).

 

[MisplacedTexan]

I've been looking to get back into a kayak....

Don't think the gate open idea would be the best bet with loading a kayak. And using the tray as an extension rolling down the road may be a bad idea, but I don't know too much about that cargo tray thing.

I'd be much more into one of the loading helpers that assist you in putting that kayak up onto the roof rack more than anything

A distant second would be the back window down and the kayak through the window.

 

[LOBO79]

I think the exhaust fumes would be terrible

 

[Yukon4Runner]

Driving down the road for any kind of distance with the kayak inside and the gate up is a very bad idea.

There are many products on the market to help get kayaks onto the roof rack while working solo.

 

[jwkilgore]

Are you talking whitewater kayaks (short, fat) or flatwater kayaks (long & skinnier)?

If you drive with the hatch up the constant alarm ping will drive you crazy.

The roll-down rear window on a 4R is an awesome feature. I've used it multiple times. That would be my first option for storing anything long inside the cab. Otherwise you'll have to look into getting an aftermarket roof rack with boat mounts. A rear hatch ladder will help immensely with loading/unloading if that is what your wife is worried about.

 

[GGeezer]

If you're only going a mile or two, maybe. Otherwise it seems like exhaust fumes would be a real problem. But, maybe now since the window rolls down anyway. Maybe do a test run and let us know how it works out!

 

[atalarico]

I have a 3rd Gen, but I've definitely rolled the rear window down and driven shorter kayaks around before. You'd obviously want a mat to go over the tailgate to protect it from the kayak bouncing around...and you'd want to utilize the little hooks in the trunk floor to tie that thing down.

I've also hauled a 78" long couch out of the rear hitch a few miles too. It was secured with some webbing, but it seemed like I could take it hundreds of miles if I had to.

Are you talking whitewater kayaks (short, fat) or flatwater kayaks (long & skinnier)?

Definitely important info too.

Oh, also, having sold car racks for 7 years of my life in a previous life, you can definitely get a roof rack with a "hull-a-vator" type lift on it. You could also just get a very light trailer and be done with it.

 

[SpoonDiddy]

I carried my kayak 10.5 ft inside couple times and it stuck out the rear window with no issues. Still didn't feel all that safe and wouldn't recommend it for the long haul. Since then I installed the roof rack and kayak mounts and not looking back.

 

[drcharlton]

I did this too through the back window and it just didn't feel safe at all tbh.

 

[Colemanfu]

For longer trips it was the roof and for the shorter ones I would put it in diagonally with the seats and window down. It would stick out a little. I bet if I put the passenger seat all the way up it would stuff in.

 

[Ross]

With one kayak yes but far from ideal. But in the OP it says kayaks. Unless they are skinny kayaks, you won't be able to fit them though the window and I would not carry anything with the rear door open.

I would put them on the roof or get a trailer. I prefer a trailer.