Have truck, have canoe - how to put canoe on truck?

[pat32rf]

I would invest in a front mount 2" receiver such as made by Kurt. Fab up a support that you can set the front of the canoe on, then walk the other end around to the rear and support it on a Back Rack. Do not just support the middle and tie both ends down....

 

[jmc]

I think they make a bed extender for carrying long boards in a PU truck. It fits into the receiver hitch and levitates a support well behind the tailgate, coplanar with the bed. So it's like having a PU truck with a 12 foot (or so) bed.

 

[sixdogs]

You know, while I don't do it and almost no one does it, canoe companies will tell you not to transport an aluminum (not sure about other materials) canoe upside down because the gunwales aren't strong enough to support the canoe. You're supposed to transport it right side up. I'm not going to do it either but that's what Grumman told me.

The photo below is what I was told was the right way.

 

[zing]

How about a bed extender? It would be a lot easier to lift and remove your canoe since you don't have to go so high. Definitely would need a red flag at the end of your 16 foot canoe, but easy to manage with just one person. Here's an example, but lots of places sell them.

Extend-A-Truck | Canadian Tire


EDIT: Oops, JMC already mentioned a bed extender, so yeah, what he said.

 

[MossRoad]

I have a Dodge pick em up truck, long bed extra cab 4x4.
I have canoe, 16'.
I have some pads for canoe

Any of you guys haul a canoe on a truck without a rack?

I have hauled this one a number of times before, but I used a utility trailer. I put the canoe on the trailer. I want to use the canoe, but not take the utility trailer. My thought was to rest the canoe on the cab, using the pads. Then use straps from front of canoe to front bumper and another set from back of canoe to tie points in the bed.

I can't lift it on top of the cab by myself. It is too high to lift, and heavy, for my wife to help. A rack for the truck is not an option at the moment, although eventually I would like some kind of rack so I could take the canoe when we use the 5th wheel.

Here is a pic of the truck. Note I do NOT have the 5th wheel hooked up; just best picture I have at the moment.

Re-reading this post...
I don't think you'll get a 16' canoe on top of that truck with a rack and still be able to use the 5th wheel at the same time. It would have to stick out too far in front of the truck. But if you had a rack, you can rig a hand winch and some rollers to pull it up there for you. Or you could just use a rope a couple carabiners to gain a 3:1 mechanical advantage instead of a hand winch. There's lots of rear trailer hitch extenders out there as well that extend your be another 4' or more. You just lift the canoe up to bed height onto the extender and slide the canoe on. Or, again, use a rope and two caribiners. It'll make a 100# boat feel like about 35#. Very manageable. :thumbsup:

If you didn't have the trailer, as mentioned by several others, just put the canoe in the bed, secure the front in one corner with two straps and two more straps on the rear. The rear ones pulling the back of the canoe towards the bumper will help wedge the front of the canoe into the corner as well. Should be fine.

 

[RobertN]

I just showed that picture because it was only one I had of the truck. For right now, I do not plan to try and haul canoe and 5th wheel. I just want to haul the canoe.

I just want to haul the canoe. I will probably put it in the bed as mentioned.

Re-reading this post...
I don't think you'll get a 16' canoe on top of that truck with a rack and still be able to use the 5th wheel at the same time. It would have to stick out too far in front of the truck. But if you had a rack,

 

[RobertN]

I just showed that picture because it was only one I had of the truck. For right now, I do not plan to try and haul canoe and 5th wheel. I just want to haul the canoe.

I just want to haul the canoe. I will probably put it in the bed as mentioned.

Re-reading this post...
I don't think you'll get a 16' canoe on top of that truck with a rack and still be able to use the 5th wheel at the same time. It would have to stick out too far in front of the truck. But if you had a rack,

 

[fixitman123]

How about a bed extender? It would be a lot easier to lift and remove your canoe since you don't have to go so high. Definitely would need a red flag at the end of your 16 foot canoe, but easy to manage with just one person. Here's an example, but lots of places sell them.

Extend-A-Truck | Canadian Tire


EDIT: Oops, JMC already mentioned a bed extender, so yeah, what he said.

That's how I haul mine. Makes it real easy and harbor freight sells one at a good price. Truck Bed Extender

 

[Al 2]

Maybe not what you want but others may be interested. A swivel tee post mounted in or on your receiver hitch with the cross arm as high as you racks (can be adjustable for height). Put one end of the canoe on the cross arm from the rear and walk the canoe around to the front of the truck to whatever rack you have on the cab. Pin the tee post in place and tie down the canoe. I have made a couple of these but may have borrowed the idea from a manufacturer. If you weld on a pin on mount on top of your receiver hitch you can still use the ball. Weld on tie down loops on the tee post as needed.

Al

 

[aczlan]

Stand up a pallet in the front of your bed (strap it in) and it should be just tall enough to lift the canoe above the cab.
Then put the back of the canoe on the tailgate and adjust it to fit where you are comfortable with it.
You will want something to pull the bow of the canoe down so the wind doesn't pick it up.

Aaron Z