DIY kayak lift assist? Hullavator?

[greenscales]

I bought the TLoader for my 4Runner that has a spoiler that gets in my way - loading a PA 14 was impossible w/o it. But the TLoader is heavy and can be difficult if on a steep slope - and I need to put my ice chest up front to balance suspension for camping trips. That being said, It acts as legitimate 3rd support for the PA and has allowed me to use the 4x4 to secluded beaches in Baja.


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[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by greenscales

I bought the TLoader for my 4Runner that has a spoiler that gets in my way - loading a PA 14 was impossible w/o it. But the TLoader is heavy and can be difficult if on a steep slope - and I need to put my ice chest up front to balance suspension for camping trips. That being said, It acts as legitimate 3rd support for the PA and has allowed me to use the 4x4 to secluded beaches in Baja.


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I built a T loader for my Ram 2500. It is almost impossible to use on a steep ramp especially if the ramp is slick. A.t Dana Harbor all the boat people stood around and watched me struggle, not one of them offered to help. I've quit loading on my roof rack, it just got to be too much of a struggle by myself. Now I either load onto the trailer or into the truck bed.

[oredith]

Originally Posted by Harry Hill

I built a T loader for my Ram 2500. It is almost impossible to use on a steep ramp especially if the ramp is slick. A.t Dana Harbor all the boat people stood around and watched me struggle, not one of them offered to help. I've quit loading on my roof rack, it just got to be too much of a struggle by myself. Now I either load onto the trailer or into the truck bed.

how about a winch assisted loading? just thinking outloud.

[Hunters Pa]

Originally Posted by oredith

how about a winch assisted loading? just thinking outloud.

I have been thinking about this for a while. Would love to find a 500# winch that I could make an easily removed mount to attach to the front rack, plug into the utility outlet and use a remote to power pull the kayak up on the racks.

[steve999]

I've got the Yakima boat loader which is just a telescoping bar inside of the rack crossbar. Works really well. Plus cheap and real simple.

[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by oredith

how about a winch assisted loading? just thinking outloud.

I'm thinking about a winch in the bed of my truck near the cab on a rail. That way I can slide it to either side for loading the trailer or the middle for pulling into the truck bed. I am giving up on putting it on the rack. I thought about a winch for the rack but where to mount it? On the front bumper means the cable has to go over the hood and the cab. I can see wearing grooves into the hood and not being happy.