Roof racks for one person loading

[baitmansam]

I am looking for either a manufacturer or a set of plans for a roof rack loader system so that one person can load a small rowboat or jon boat onto a car roof.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Sam

 

[BillP]

Re: Roof racks for one person loading

I use Thule racks with the extension bar. It's used for 16' kayaks or a 10' fiberglass dink and I frequently load them without help. Hauls about 150 lbs on interstates. You may want to try http://www.paddling.net/ for info on racks.

 

[zoom50]

Re: Roof racks for one person loading

Sam,<br /><br />If you have roof rails that run length of car, a cheap way ($25) to make crossbars to haul a small boat is to purchase:<br /><br />painted piping with rubber end caps from Home depot<br />heavy duty pipe covers (dark grey foam)<br />heavy duty wire zip strips (black)<br /><br />drill hole through pipe on both ends where it intersects roof rack (pre cut pipe will be a bit wider than the distance between most rails)<br /><br />thread 3 or 4 zip strips through pipe and foam cover and around rack (threading one under rail support to stop any movement from front to back).<br /><br />When tight, this setup is very strong. The foam allows me to pick front of 15' canoe (laying canoe from ground to back roof of truck). I then pick up the back and slide it foreward.<br /><br />I use ratchet straps and I never worry about canoe falling off. Feels good to save hundreds of bucks on canoe roof rack and it looks pretty good.

 

[JB]

Re: Roof racks for one person loading

Hi, Sam.<br /><br />Welcome to iboats. <br /><br />Years ago I used to cartop a 14' tinny.<br /><br />I had a pole that attached to a bumper trailer hitch on one end and clamped to the transom on the other end. <br /><br />I would turn the boat over, clamp the pole to the transom, raise it enough for the pin to go through the hitch, then rotate it around to place the bow over the hood. I had a cheap roof rack to protect the roof. The pin through the hitch had a tractor style locking pin on the end to hold it in and I used a ratchet strap from the bow eye to my front bumper.<br /><br />I don't remember what it was called or where I got it, but it worked fine for one-person loading and unloading. Seems to me it would be easy to make one at home. It would work on a pickup just as well.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[DJ]

Re: Roof racks for one person loading

This may help.<br /><br />I'm sure this outfit makes items for larger boats. I remember seeing them all the time.<br /><br />http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jhtml?id=0001393&navAction=jump&navCount=1&indexId=&parentId=&parentType=&rid=&link=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon% 2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml.1_A&_DAV=search

 

[baitmansam]

Re: Roof racks for one person loading

Thanks to everyone for all your help and input.<br /><br />Sam