Best Kayak Racks for Trucks in 2022-Detailed review
Today I’m gonna talk about a subject that irritate me for long time. I had a serious problem: You know me now, I love outdoor activities and specially Kayaking, I bought a Truck and the big question was, how will i Load my Kayak?
This is why I decided to write this article about a very necessary kayak accessories if you have a truck.
Selecting kayak racks for pickup trucks might take a lot of time. You should presumably be familiar with the dimensions of your kayak, including its length and weight and the length and length of your truck bed and cab.
There are also a variety of sorts available for selection. On the other hand, we have compiled some information that will assist you in evaluating the various racks to choose which one could be the most appropriate for you and your kayak. In other words this will help you get the best kayak racks for trucks.
What to consider to Select a Truck Rack?
There is a wide range of kayak racks available for vehicles, giving you various options for transporting your kayak. Whether or not you wish to transport other items in the truck bed simultaneously, as well as how many kayaks you want to transport, will often determine which model is best for your needs.
You will likely need to acquire other attachments in addition to your kayak rack, regardless of whether it is a vertical bed extension, a horizontal bed extender, or a conventional rack. For instance, you could want to get kayak saddles or cradles so that your kayak can sit comfortably while it is stored on the rack.
These can often be attached to the crossbars of your rack and offer your kayak a stable, and in some cases cushioned, foundation to prevent it from being damaged while it is being transported.
Vertical Bed Extenders
A diverse range of kayak racks is available for vehicles, giving you various options for transporting your kayak. Whether or whether you wish to transport additional gear in the back of your vehicle simultaneously, as well as the number of kayaks you want to transport, will often determine which is the best kayak racks for trucks you need.
A good number of kayak racks, whether they include a horizontal bed extension, a vertical bed extender, or just the “basic” rack, may still require you to purchase extra attachments. For instance, you might want to acquire kayak saddles or cradles so that your kayak will have somewhere to sit while it is transported on the rack.
Horizontal Bed Extenders
Racks can be quite similar to those seen on the roofs of cars; however, rather than being meant to attach to the roof, they are intended to attach to the bed of a truck. Racks may often be attached to the side rails of a truck bed, providing the driver with a series of crossbars that can be used for transporting kayaks and other types of goods above the bed.
If you wish to be able to remove the rack when it is not in use, purchasing one of these is probably not a smart option because it is normally attached to the bed of your vehicle using bolts.
Racks, on the other hand, often have a larger weight capacity than bed extenders, which might be handy if you transport kayaks regularly and wish to transport more than one or two kayaks.
Kayak Racks for trucks
Bellow the list of racks that can support kayaks from different brands and either they are sit in, sit on top, inflatable or even tandem.
And don’t forget to protect your kayak from dust and scratches by using appropriate accessories like cockpit covers.
Thule GoalPost (best vertical extender)
The Thule GoalPost is an accessory that can be attached to the crossbar of a roof rack already installed on your vehicle’s bed. It is designed to be attached to the hitch on the back of your truck and can be extended vertically to offer a second crossbar that will hold your kayak.
The telescopic vertical bar has an extensive range of 46 to 67 inches, allowing it to be changed to accommodate different heights and types of trucks. It allows it to remain aligned with the crossbar on the top of your cab.
The GoalPost comes with a crossbar that is 58 inches long and helps to hold the weight of your kayak. This crossbar attaches to the vertical extension and is included in the package. Using this rack, you may also transport two kayaks; however, the rack has a maximum load capacity, which must be connected to at all times (165 pounds).
This one can be used for a wide range of kayaks from different brands.
Buy here the Thule GoalPost
Yakima LongArm Truck Bed Extender (best horizontal extender)
Your truck must have a tow hitch at least 2 inches wide to securely install the Yakima LongArm Truck Bed Extender. It offers three distinct load-bearing heights, each of which may be tailored to your truck and the kind of load you intend to transport.
On the other hand, to use the extender at heights other than the height of the bed, you will need extra attachments, which are not included in the package.
Because the LongArm bed extender has a high capacity of 300 pounds, you should be able to transport two fishing kayaks in your truck as long as there is adequate width in the bed of your truck. These features are what making it the best kayak racks for trucks.
You can buy here the Yakima LongArm Truck Bed Extender
Darby Industries 944 Extend-A-Truck (Best kayak racks for trucks)
If you utilize the Darby Industries 944 Extend-A-Truck as a horizontal bed extender with your tailgate down, it may add up to 53 inches to the length of your truck bed and you will realize that it’s the best kayak racks for trucks. However, in addition to its primary use, this rack may also be used as a vertical extension, allowing it to be combined with a cab-top roof rack (offered separately) to transport a kayak atop your vehicle.
Because of the rack’s high weight limit of 350 pounds, it has the potential to be an excellent choice for carrying large fishing kayaks. If you have access to a sufficiently wide space, you should be able to transport two kayaks in a parallel fashion.
The length of the rack’s crossbar is 49 inches, and it comes with a bright red flag that may be attached to the end of your kayak to draw attention to yourself or to warn other motorists.
Buy here the Darby Industries 944 Extend-A-Truck
Yakima SideCar Side Rails – Long Bed (best adjustable truck rack)
The Yakima SideCar Side Rails are intended to be used in conjunction with the Yakima OutPost HD and Yakima OverHaul HD truck rack systems. These are the best kayak racks for trucks and their systems are sold separately and must be bought before using the Yakima SideCar Side Rails. These side rails may be attached to an existing Yakima truck rack by connecting them to the frame of the crossbars.
When you attach the SideCar side rails to your rack system, you can safely store more equipment using additional mounting accessories (sold separately). If you fasten your belongings to the side rails between the crossbars of your truck bed, you can expand the space available for storage in your vehicle.
Aluminum is used in the construction of the side rails, which gives them sturdiness and durability while maintaining their overall weight to a minimum.
Buy here the Yakima SideCar Side Rails
Yakima BigCatch Kayak Saddles (rack saddles)
If you already have a rack acceptable for your boat but want additional protection, then these Yakima BigCatch Kayak Saddles may be the best kayak racks for trucks. They are meant to be used on a variety of racks and crossbars. Because they have a high weight limit of 150 pounds, so they might be great for comfortably putting bigger fishing kayaks on your rack. It makes them an excellent value.
Due to the configuration of the cradles, the four saddles are designed for fishing kayaks and recreational kayaks; thus, it is possible that certain touring boats with smaller cockpits may not be able to use them.
The huge saddles have a layer of rubber padding on top of extra felt pads to save your kayak from scratching while it is being loaded.
Buy here the Yakima BigCatch Kayak Saddles
Final Thoughts
Your personal choice and the length & weight of the kayaks you intend to carry will most likely play a role in determining the kind of rack you choose for your vehicle. The Thule GoalPost may serve as an excellent vertical bed extension, enabling you to transport up to two kayaks simultaneously.
Due to its large weight capacity, the Yakima LongArm Truck Bed Extender might be an ideal choice for those who would rather have a horizontal bed extender for transporting one or two fishing kayaks.
The Yakima SideBar Side Rails are a useful attachment that, when combined with your current Yakima truck bed racks, may increase the total weight that the racks can support. The Yakima BigCatch Kayak Saddles are another excellent item that may be helpful for many different truck racks. These kayak saddles include a universal mounting method and padded cradles to protect your kayak while it is transported on a truck rack.
As is the case with all items, not all of these will be appropriate for every vehicle or kayak; thus, before you acquire any products, it is important to be aware of your equipment’s precise dimensions and weight. That is going to help you choose the best kayak racks for trucks you need.
If you want to read more about ways to transport kayaks, please check these 2 articles: Trailers for kayaks and roof racks.
