Well instead of cleaning my truck on the first couple of nice days here I decided to get a canoe and make a rack. And then of course see if I can use it without swimming, the water is still cold.

 

Thats sweet. Now people wont ride your *** too.


How sturdy is it when you pick up speed?

 

You would think a 15foot long canoe on top of a truck would keep people off the bumper but sadly it's just not true.

The rack itself is sturdy and fits extremely snugly into the stake pockets. It's still only cheap ratchet straps holding the canoe into the rack. The straps are over the top of the canoe/rack and go to the tie down points in the bed. You can grab it at any point, rack or canoe and try to move it but you just move the truck (even without the straps, the crossbars are notched so the canoe is held by that front to back and side/side.)

You can feel the difference in the body roll from having the weight way up there but it's still stable. You're much more susceptible to crosswind but I'm not going to be moving the canoe in a hurricane... unless this place floods and then the truck can easily be carried by strapping it to the rack upside down.

 

Cool man! Looks like a good job.

 

Looks good.
One thing I would add would be to take a couple pieces of 1-1 1/2 inch water line pipe (the black PVC type) and slit it lengthwise . Slide the cut edge over the top of the cross bars the canoe rests on then glue/screw the ends down . This would help to keep from scratching the gunwales and it will slid on and off easier.

 

I have a 12' Jeep and I run with a 16'1" kayak on the top. People still ride my *** with 4' of kayak hanging off.