Best vehicle for hauling a kayak? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

cris · 03-06-2018, 08:04 AM

I lift a Hobie Oasis which has a fitted hull weight of 93 lbs onto my car by myself when I fish solo. I have a Subaru Outback which is lower than the 4Runner and I usually slide it up the back over a mat. It also has AWD which has been great so far and I haven't been stuck yet. It does have a 2700lb tow limit and 200lb tongue weight with the H4 engine which means you can barely haul anything.

MITCHELL · 03-06-2018, 09:22 AM

Parking and still get my kayak on and off....i have pvc rollers on both sides of my rack. And ratchet straps that go through the cab,my kayak never touches my car. I use a truck for long hauls.

Baja_Traveler · 03-06-2018, 10:17 AM

Up, Down, Left, Right, Dead up the Center - it's all worked for me fine since 2001. 335,000 miles and day after tomorrow heading back down to San Ignacio Lagoon again. Yes - it's a diesel. Whatever you get - get the 8 foot bed and with the tailgate down my PA14 (or My Solo Skiff) only over hangs three and a half feet, so no further contraptions required other than a red flag.

MITCHELL · 03-06-2018, 12:58 PM

Long bed tailgate down.....

ProfessorLongArms · 03-06-2018, 01:40 PM

First up, thanks for the input and the snark

Kind of a simplistic thread, but I appreciate the ideas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ful-rac

You have a snug top, type cover correct? If so take it off and put a rack on it. Sounds like you already have a great vehicle for hauling your kayak around.

With that said, a newer 4 runner would be nice...

Yeah... on that one, I like being able to load up my truck and lock it the night before since I'm in the truck at 4am trying not to wake the wife. Been playing with a few ideas on rod storage (though I could just leave them in the house and carry them out the door with me)

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

Im confused. You’re currently driving a Tacoma but you are looking at Tacoma’s? Are you simply looking for a 4 wheel drive vehicle? If you like the Tacoma’s, Ditch your two wheel drive truck and buy a 4x4 Tacoma. Great baja vehicle.

Yeah this is probably where I'm headed. I've put 60k miles on this tacoma and it's damn near bulletproof.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monstahfish

I'd caution against the xterra for roof height alone. I had one for a few years and it did everything I ever asked of it, but getting the yak on the roof was a pain. I drive a 2011 4wd ford escape and it's been low maintenance tows small and medium trailers fairly well, has easily roamed the beach at Makoville, even surprised people by how well it did on the sand and taken me into moderately difficult trails in the sierras and east coast. Ground clearance becomes an issue at some point though.

Good to know on the Escape for offroad. I've long been wary of American made cars, but I loved my Mazda version (Tribute) before it was totalled in an accident.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

I have a 4runner myself, and I have to say that anything outside of a pickup truck is not that ideal for hauling a kayak. Overhead lifting a decent ocean kayak comes with challenges. It limits what kind of kayak you can have, you sure as hell aren't putting a PA up there. To top it, lifting overhead you get tons of sand and saltwater all over the car and have to have all kinds of roof rack additions. To top it you're risking dinging the car. Also it's not ideally aerodynamic for long road trips to have kayaks on the roof.

But it's sure damn nice to have all that interior room for stuff, locking things away and even sleeping in when camping.

Pickup truck, a simple T bar and you're good to haul 2 kayaks. No overhead lifting, all the gear can be stored in the bed and keep all the sand as well. Easy to 1 man it.

Also good to know. One thing I noted when looking at 4runners is how far back the roof bars sit because of the sunroof. I don't mind throwing my yak on the roof and I'll likely go no bigger than my Outback.... But I'm young yet

You make a good point about Saltwater though... I remember seeing Jim Sammons strongly endorse trailering because there's *no* getting around eventual body rust from throwing a kayak on the roof all the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

Up, Down, Left, Right, Dead up the Center - it's all worked for me fine since 2001. 335,000 miles and day after tomorrow heading back down to San Ignacio Lagoon again. Yes - it's a diesel. Whatever you get - get the 8 foot bed and with the tailgate down my PA14 (or My Solo Skiff) only over hangs three and a half feet, so no further contraptions required other than a red flag.

Yeah.... I might have gotten a bit of drool on your truck down in Baja looking at all of your customization

Problem with the current truck is that it sits so low, the bed extender scrubs super easy.

monstahfish · 03-07-2018, 07:14 AM

Whatever you do, no sun roofs! They will get ruined by salt and sand, then it will leak and ruin the head liner and cause rust and they're a pain to repair. When I bought my car the guy kept trying to give me one with a sun roof after I explained why I didn't want one. I just started walking away, then he listened.

YakDout · 03-07-2018, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorLongArms

First up, thanks for the input and the snark

Kind of a simplistic thread, but I appreciate the ideas.

Yeah... on that one, I like being able to load up my truck and lock it the night before since I'm in the truck at 4am trying not to wake the wife. Been playing with a few ideas on rod storage (though I could just leave them in the house and carry them out the door with me)

Yeah this is probably where I'm headed. I've put 60k miles on this tacoma and it's damn near bulletproof.

Good to know on the Escape for offroad. I've long been wary of American made cars, but I loved my Mazda version (Tribute) before it was totalled in an accident.

Also good to know. One thing I noted when looking at 4runners is how far back the roof bars sit because of the sunroof. I don't mind throwing my yak on the roof and I'll likely go no bigger than my Outback.... But I'm young yet

You make a good point about Saltwater though... I remember seeing Jim Sammons strongly endorse trailering because there's *no* getting around eventual body rust from throwing a kayak on the roof all the time.

Yeah.... I might have gotten a bit of drool on your truck down in Baja looking at all of your customization

Problem with the current truck is that it sits so low, the bed extender scrubs super easy.

I like baja travelers style. This is how I roll to baja. Diesel all the way

IMG_4079.JPG

goldenglory18 · 03-12-2018, 01:27 PM

I've had a few "yak haulers" in my day. All topped/roof racked, and they have all worked well enough....

Most Fun: 2011 Jeep Wrangler. That pig could get me ANYWHERE, it was just a shit on the highway. That's what happens when engineers put a minivan drive train in a tin can body.

Cheapest: 2001 Chevy Blazer. Maintained this thing will run forever. Only sold it as I had funds for a newer car

Nicest: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Current ride and sooooooo comfortable. Almost too nice to use as a yak hauler. The only thing I wished it had is a 4WD, but so far, not needed.

Most Dependable: 2008 Xterra. One of the best vehicles I've ever owned. If it wasnt for the mandatory 100k service that we couldnt afford at the time, I might still have that truck. I echo what was said above, that roof line is WAY up there. That weird stadium seating is comfy inside, but for topping anything its a chore. I needed to use a step stool for that first "handle grab" each time...

Next Yak ride for GG18: Either a current generation 4Runner, or upgrade the Jeep GC to a 2016 w/4WD.

03-06-2018, 09:22 AM	#2
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,289	I load my kayak from either side....i could be locked in bumper to bumper.... Parking and still get my kayak on and off....i have pvc rollers on both sides of my rack. And ratchet straps that go through the cab,my kayak never touches my car. I use a truck for long hauls. __________________ Duke Mitchell

03-06-2018, 08:04 AM	#1
cris Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 254	I lift a Hobie Oasis which has a fitted hull weight of 93 lbs onto my car by myself when I fish solo. I have a Subaru Outback which is lower than the 4Runner and I usually slide it up the back over a mat. It also has AWD which has been great so far and I haven't been stuck yet. It does have a 2700lb tow limit and 200lb tongue weight with the H4 engine which means you can barely haul anything.

03-06-2018, 10:17 AM	#3
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	Up, Down, Left, Right, Dead up the Center - it's all worked for me fine since 2001. 335,000 miles and day after tomorrow heading back down to San Ignacio Lagoon again. Yes - it's a diesel. Whatever you get - get the 8 foot bed and with the tailgate down my PA14 (or My Solo Skiff) only over hangs three and a half feet, so no further contraptions required other than a red flag.

03-07-2018, 07:14 AM	#6
monstahfish Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 423	Whatever you do, no sun roofs! They will get ruined by salt and sand, then it will leak and ruin the head liner and cause rust and they're a pain to repair. When I bought my car the guy kept trying to give me one with a sun roof after I explained why I didn't want one. I just started walking away, then he listened.

03-12-2018, 01:27 PM	#8
goldenglory18 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Seattle Area Posts: 861	I've had a few "yak haulers" in my day. All topped/roof racked, and they have all worked well enough.... Most Fun: 2011 Jeep Wrangler. That pig could get me ANYWHERE, it was just a shit on the highway. That's what happens when engineers put a minivan drive train in a tin can body. Cheapest: 2001 Chevy Blazer. Maintained this thing will run forever. Only sold it as I had funds for a newer car Nicest: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Current ride and sooooooo comfortable. Almost too nice to use as a yak hauler. The only thing I wished it had is a 4WD, but so far, not needed. Most Dependable: 2008 Xterra. One of the best vehicles I've ever owned. If it wasnt for the mandatory 100k service that we couldnt afford at the time, I might still have that truck. I echo what was said above, that roof line is WAY up there. That weird stadium seating is comfy inside, but for topping anything its a chore. I needed to use a step stool for that first "handle grab" each time... Next Yak ride for GG18: Either a current generation 4Runner, or upgrade the Jeep GC to a 2016 w/4WD.