Hello everyone, as my title states i am curious about how you folks haul your canoes. i just got my truck not to long ago (first pickup) and thought this would be easy, but as i look around the smallest 2 seaters that i can find are upwards of 14' long. of course this would leave 7 feet or so hanging out the rear end of the truck so i'm not sure that is the best idea. i am still in the market for the canoe itself while working with a fairly limited budget... are any of you guys aware of any restrictions on how much you can have extended out the bed of our trucks? i was hoping you guys could offer up some assistance. i appreciate your time, and i'm sorry if this has been covered before but a search here didn't seem to turn to much and google also has not been kind. thanks again!!!

 

I usually just put it in the back of my dads F150 with the 6.5 foot box and put the spare tire in for weight and tie if it just a short trip, but they do hang out along ways. But for long trips I have either a 16 or 18 foot car trailer to use...

 

Thank you bucky that sounds like a good idea with the spare. unfortunately i do not have access to any trailers. i have been wanting to get a canoe for awhile now, and fishing/ bush wacking adventure today convinced me that now is the time to make that happen. a buddy of mine and i spent an hour carving our way through thick brush only to find the spot we were aiming for was in fact inaccessible from the shore, it sucked. like most of us though i have a family i am working with a tight budget with is basically just enough for a boat itself, so im hoping working with the bed of the truck is do-able.

 

To be legal and all you should really get yourself a roof rack or a ladder rack to put it on. Short trips it would be ok to leave it hang off, maybe? The law says no more than 3or4 foot over hang. I forget now may be three in front and four in the rear?

 

Problem solved.

Thule 422XT Xsporter

 

^^^^^^Now that would be I was talking about.

 

Yeah I figured that.

The Thule 422XT Xsporter looks like it's held on with clamps so it comes off and there is no drilling involved.

 

awesome thank you guys ill look into that now. also thanks for the mention of the law pace, hard to find specifics on RI some people have said that things over 4 are ok with red flags attached to them? ill have to figure that out myself. i like the look and the no drilling aspect of that 422xt karbass

 

Yeah from some pics I just looked at it uses the same style clamps as tonneau covers.

 

another option is a "goalpost" they fit into your trailer reciever.. i use that when i haul a 12 ft kayak

 

My canopy has a boat rack on it, but when I don't have the canopy on, I tie it like this. You do have to be careful with it on your roof, but beyond that your good. I like to tire a little red flag at the end, but if they do not see a giant reg canoe on the back, they are going to hit me anyways.

 

Here is one way to do it, just build your self a rear support that goes into the stake holes in the bed rails. Just a cheaper way to do it if your a diy'er.

 

I use the roof rack I installed and a Thule Goalpost. The kayak seen in my avatar is 16.2' in length.

 

thanks for the great ideas guys, im open to more if anyone has anything else they would like to share. the "goalpost" is interesting, something more in my price range. schatten that looks like an awesome idea that should also be fairly inexpensive...looks like this may be a bit more than i anticipated ( assuming i would just toss it in the bed and go lol) but should def be worth the extra effort.

 

I use a goalpost when I move either my 12ft kayak or 18ft canoe. I got mine from Cabelas. It came with everything in a nice zippered case. It also swivels so you can load one end onto it and then swing it around and set in onto your roof. Makes it a little easier if you are doing it yourself. Then you just tie it off and your set.

 

i have another option to run past you guys. As i said earlier budget (unfortunately) is a big concern to me, and i only fish small ponds and rivers. Ive been checking out some other options, here is one for example, a 2 man 8ft jon boat type which i should be able to finagle into the bed of the truck. im on my way to work now so ill be gone all night but here is a link and im curious to see your replies...

Sports Authority - Outdoors: Boating / Marine: Fishing Boats: Pelican Bass Raider 8E Pontoon Fishing Boat

thanks again!

 

My friend has a boat very similar to that that he keeps at his pond. Its a nice boat but it being so short and small it is easier to dunk a corner under water then say a 10ft aluminum boat. We once went to move my friends and it was heavy as hell, I think it had water in it so they probably aren't that heavy when dry inside. His has a hole in it from a bb gun and has been sunk a couple times from filling up with rain water wile setting in the pond, so im sure that added some weight to it.

 

good info shcatten, basically i fish with the wife, 11 year old stepson, or a buddy of mine on small, relatively calm bodies of water. so along with getting it in the 08 sport, being lightweight and easy to handle are very important to me as well, they actually have that type of boat in 10 foot versions also, and they cost a bit less at the store than they do online.

 

Any of you ladies or gents have any experience with something like this? seemingly much more affordable option.

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

You need to get yourself 3 or 4 of these guys, they should be able to transport your canoe...

 

Yep, I used to tote my 'yaks with it before I added the roofrack and got the goalpost. It worked fine until I bought the 16.2'er.

 

awesome, good to hear! sounds like it should handle a 14 footer fine if i go that route then thanks! tough decisions for me to make lol!