Folks, I'm a kayak tournament angler who will be traveling to tournaments all over the Southeast this year and I'm gonna be doing alot of sleeping in my truck simply because motel rooms are just to much $$$.

I'm looking to build a sleeper/kayak carrier in the bed(short) of my Ranger. Inclosed are a couple of pics to show you what it looks like for any ideas. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Doug

 

I would get a roof rack off of maybe and explorer and put that on the cap and then build a platform and put a memory foam mattress on it in the bed. Or a blowup mattress.

 

Well the whole reason I bought a truck and sold my Cherokee is so I wouldn't have to throw a 70lb.+ kayak on top of my vehicle LOL.

Doug

 

So you want to put the kayak in the bed of the truck then?

 

Yes, for hauling purposes...I'll be taking the kayak out once I get to where I'm going.

DM<

 

Hmmmm that makes it a little tougher. Does it fit with the tailgate up?

 

Yes, the kayak will fit with the tailgate up. Even though its gonna stick out about 6' LOL

DM<

 

Im kinda stumped. Buuut you could maybe hang the kayak from a couple reinforced hooks or eyelets and rope attached to the underside of the shell, build a platform that evens up the floor with some storage under it, toss some type of mattress on top and there ya go. My reasoning for hang the kayak would be to free up space and keep a stinky kayak off your bed. Good luck and post some pix when you get it figured out.

 

In the first pic I see a trailer tongue. So I assume you have a hitch on the truck.
You can buy an extender that fits in a 2 inch receiver that is made to carry longer lumber in the bed. That would help with the kayak.
I would build a fold down sleeping platform for the passenger side (you'll have to do something different with the cap clamps) that would fold in half length wise for width.Put 2-3 legs on hinges for one side. Hinge the other to the truck box where it meets the cap.
A tarp to start with for rain protection/privacy from the top of the cap to the ground.I'm sure you could improve on that.

 

Yeah thats what I was thinking. Or just buy a little kayak trailer. Those are out there or you can make a trailer into one for cheap. Harbor Freight has trailers for like $400.

 

The extender I'm talking about is a basic tube that is adjustable in length with a "T" at the end Which is adjustable for height. I believe they can be had for ~ $100.
Easily removed and stored in the truck.No trailer to fuss with.

 

The trailer tongue you see is from my bass boat. LOL Which I hardly ever use being as I shifted over to kayak tourneys.


DM<