RV Kayak and Bike racks

Suza · 05-02-2016, 02:19 AM

Want to take your bikes and kayaks along on your RV trips? Check this out:

The Original Vertical RV Kayak Racks - Made In The USA. RV KAYAK RACK

wincrasher · 05-02-2016, 02:39 AM

Cool design, but the price is ridiculous!

Davydd · 05-02-2016, 04:08 AM

you will also notice the examples are all on Class A RVs that are considerably taller than Class Bs. I investigated this idea years ago and about the longest kayak you could put on the back of a Class B in a practical manner is about 8 ft. That's not very many potential kayaks.

Suza · 05-02-2016, 08:54 AM

Do you think it would work on the LTV Unity? Our kayaks are 9 ft 6 and 11 ft.

Suza · 05-02-2016, 08:59 AM

Yes, a lot to pay for a rack. But I have a $140K motorhome and $5K worth of toys I want to take along . . . . .

Suza · 05-02-2016, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

you will also notice the examples are all on Class A RVs that are considerably taller than Class Bs. I investigated this idea years ago and about the longest kayak you could put on the back of a Class B in a practical manner is about 8 ft. That's not very many potential kayaks.

Here is a picture of the Yakups rack mounted on a Winnebago View. Other photos in the gallery show the rack mounted on what appears to be a LTV Unity as well as another on a LTV Freedom II (Serenity?) Don't know the length of the kayaks. I am going to email for more info.

Here is a link to the Yakups gallery

The Original Vertical RV Kayak Racks - Made In The USA. RV KAYAK RACK

Davydd · 05-02-2016, 05:48 PM

The Winnebago View is about 1-1/2 foot taller than Sprinter Class Bs camper vans as well and over two feet taller than the Chevy Roadtreks. Judge for yourself, a Sprinter van would come up to about where you see the Winnebago name. Those look like angler kayaks which run 10' to 11'-6"

Suza · 05-02-2016, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

The Winnebago View is about 1-1/2 foot taller than Sprinter Class Bs camper vans as well and over two feet taller than the Chevy Roadtreks. Judge for yourself, a Sprinter van would come up to about where you see the Winnebago name. Those look like angler kayaks which run 10' to 11'-6"

Thanks for the perspective. I have been corresponding with the Yakups representative regarding suitability for our particular 'yaks. He has already voiced one concern that my boat, a Perception Tribe 9.6 SOT with a 16.25" deck, might make spacing for the bikes a little tight. He is going to do more research.

I will post back any information that might help others with bike/kayak hauling solutions.

Suza · 05-02-2016, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suza

Here is a picture of the Yakups rack mounted on a Winnebago View. Other photos in the gallery show the rack mounted on what appears to be a LTV Unity as well as another on a LTV Freedom II (Serenity?) Don't know the length of the kayaks. I am going to email for more info.

Here is a link to the Yakups gallery

The Original Vertical RV Kayak Racks - Made In The USA. RV KAYAK RACK

For size comparison, I have identified these kayaks:
Malibu Kayaks Stealth 9
length- 9'3"
width - 33.5"
depth-12"

Bruceper · 05-02-2016, 11:15 PM

A kayak on the back of my B like that would probably be sitting 3 feet higher than the roof. Not a good situation.

wincrasher · 05-03-2016, 03:39 AM

I talked to their rep at length at Hershey last year. I also got to inspect their products on display. Nothing special, just tubular steel. It's got to be all bolted up to the hitch- it's not an easy on, easy off type of deal.

I considered it not too long ago to attach to the back of my travel trailer, and a 10' yak wasn't crazy tall, as the trailer is over 12' tall, but it would be dangerously close to 13' 2" which I think is the limit for recreational vehicles, correct? I'd never consider it for a B - just too tall.

Now something that combines a storage box for folding or inflatable kayaks and a bike rack, that would be something!

Suza · 05-03-2016, 04:00 AM

I've discovered it will only work on a B+

Sorry. B-kayakers will have to resort to a Travato (not sure how you get the yaks topside) or towing. I suppose, with twin bed layout, you could lay one on the floor between the beds, but it would fill most of the van.

gregmchugh · 05-03-2016, 04:11 AM

I have looked but not found any storage box large enough for our folding or inflatable kayaks combined with a bike rack. Best option I have found so far would be a Fiamma bike rack on the rear door with our Stowaway cargo box on the hitch.

Suza · 05-03-2016, 04:39 AM

Interesting combination. Good reason to get an optional ladder. We don't want to trade in our conventional kayaks for folding or inflatables, but this could be a solution to one of our kayaks possibly having too high of a deck to fit and still allow room for two bikes, in a Yakups rack hitch mounted on a Unity. We could get the optional ladder (weren't planning on it, though) and mount the bikes there. If the kayak only hitch mount Yakups rack can be offset to the side of the rear view camera, it could carry the 'yaks. If not, it is my understanding the center/vertically mounted kayaks will obstruct the camera. I will add this to my discussion with the Yakups rep.

Thanks for the great idea!

mkguitar · 05-03-2016, 06:02 AM

I already have the harbour freight rack- I made "box" out of an old retail wire display bin to hold the end of the kayak with shaped foam in the bottom- the kayak is then strapped to the spare tire on the leftt rear door of the chev

it's a small plastic kayak and takes my clearance from 8'10" to 10'

My cost is repurposing stuff I had around, some bolts and paint..maybe $20

mike

Davydd · 05-03-2016, 03:05 PM

It might be a little hard to see but there are two Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks on the right side under our beds with more storage area to spare.

Suza · 05-03-2016, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

It might be a little hard to see but there are two Advanced Elements inflatable kayaks on the right side under our beds with more storage area to spare.

We have been wondering about inflatables. How do you like them? What about putting them away - how long do they have to dry before you can stow them? We kayak small lakes and flat water rivers/streams.

Davydd · 05-03-2016, 08:35 PM

We have two Advanced Elements Kayaks. They are $540 now at REI Coop and when we bought them there they only cost $300! They are easy to inflate and deflate with a double-acting pump. You do have to wipe them dry before putting them away and it is a good idea to hose them down if you have been in algae water.

https://www.rei.com/product/736945/a...cedframe-kayak

Suza · 05-04-2016, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

We have two Advanced Elements Kayaks. They are $540 now at REI Coop and when we bought them there they only cost $300! They are easy to inflate and deflate with a double-acting pump. You do have to wipe them dry before putting them away and it is a good idea to hose them down if you have been in algae water.

https://www.rei.com/product/736945/a...cedframe-kayak

Thanks! They look nice, but I'm used to a SOT. I know they make them too.

Are they pretty stable with the rigid frame? How does getting in and out compare to a conventional kayak?

Suza · 05-04-2016, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davydd

We have two Advanced Elements Kayaks. They are $540 now at REI Coop and when we bought them there they only cost $300! They are easy to inflate and deflate with a double-acting pump. You do have to wipe them dry before putting them away and it is a good idea to hose them down if you have been in algae water.

https://www.rei.com/product/736945/a...cedframe-kayak

This model has a bit larger cockpit. I would like it better, I think.

https://www.rei.com/product/800973/a...me-sport-kayak

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