Truck bed extenders for Kayak and ball hitch question

[Haris122]

I had a question on truck hitches and kayak/load extenders. I was looking at some light trucks, and one of the better deals I've come across, doesn't have the traditional rectangular tow package hitch thing going. There's basically just a cutout section to install a ball-hitch, near the license plate, as opposed to that. Now granted I know that means it can't haul as much, which is not as much of an issue for me since I don't think I will be hauling much. But I do have one long kayak, and it would stick out quite a bit out of the bed. So to remedy that, the extender bars would help and make things still pretty nice and affordable. However, my question is, if I can only attach the hitch through that cutout by the license plate, are there truck bed extenders that I can actually use, or am I SOL with that style.  

[moguy1973]

You could always go to Uhaul to have a receiver hitch installed.  Nothing wrong with the kayak sticking out the back though.  My F150 has a 5 1/2' bed and I put the tailgate down and just strap it in.  Sticks out about 2 1/2' past the end of the tailgate.  No big deal.  My kayak is 11 1/2' long.

The problem I've seen with the extender rails for kayaks and canoes is that when you go up a steeper slope they drag on the ground as your front wheels go up the slope and your back wheels are still on the ground.

[Gavin]

Check out the prices on hitch receivers at etrailer.com...should not cost that much...You could get a Tracrac for a bit more. Home Depot carries them but not at every store. You wont have to give up any bed space with one.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/TracRac-TracOne-800-lb-Capacity-Universal-Truck-Rack-27000-01/203346592

[TroutRinger]

51 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

You could always go to Uhaul to have a receiver hitch installed.  Nothing wrong with the kayak sticking out the back though.  My F150 has a 5 1/2' bed and I put the tailgate down and just strap it in.  Sticks out about 2 1/2' past the end of the tailgate.  No big deal.  My kayak is 11 1/2' long.

The problem I've seen with the extender rails for kayaks and canoes is that when you go up a steeper slope they drag on the ground as your front wheels go up the slope and your back wheels are still on the ground.

A 12’ kayak can be hauled out of a short-bend pickup, but it is WAY more secure with an extender. I think you’d have to get a proper hitch installed to use an extender. 

Another option is to make a truck bed rack out of 2x4s and carry them up top. Lot of YouTube videos on this. 

[ollie]

Shoot, I haul my canoe out of a ranger with it sticking out the back and have NEVER had a problem. 

[Haris122]

4 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

You could always go to Uhaul to have a receiver hitch installed.  Nothing wrong with the kayak sticking out the back though.  My F150 has a 5 1/2' bed and I put the tailgate down and just strap it in.  Sticks out about 2 1/2' past the end of the tailgate.  No big deal.  My kayak is 11 1/2' long.

The problem I've seen with the extender rails for kayaks and canoes is that when you go up a steeper slope they drag on the ground as your front wheels go up the slope and your back wheels are still on the ground.

That's a good point with the dragging up a slope. I guess I just wouldn't extend it far out. Btw how does that work for your kayak, do you put it diagonally across the bed or something? I'm assuming if you strapped it straight back it'd be 5 1/2 of bed, maybe 1 1/2 of tailgate, so would it not stick out about another 4 1/2 feet if straight back?

 

3 hours ago, Gavin said:

Check out the prices on hitch receivers at etrailer.com...should not cost that much...You could get a Tracrac for a bit more. Home Depot carries them but not at every store. You wont have to give up any bed space with one.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/TracRac-TracOne-800-lb-Capacity-Universal-Truck-Rack-27000-01/203346592

The problem with the track rack is weight. My heavy kayak weighs like 100 pounds and is kind of cumbersome to get leverage on. A big reason I wanted a truck is so I don't have to bother with lifting it all the way up on the roof any more.

 

1 hour ago, ollie said:

Shoot, I haul my canoe out of a ranger with it sticking out the back and have NEVER had a problem.  

How far is the canoe sticking out of the back? I figure with my smaller one it won't be an issue, but my bigger kayak is like 12' long, and if the truck I get is 5 foot bed, or even 6 foot bed, there's still going to be like 6-5 foot of kayak sticking out of the back. Seems kind of like more sticking out than is really safe, even if it's well secured.

 

How far would you guys be comfortable with a kayak sticking out of the bed without the extender? Also, would it be feasible to use one of those combo ball hitch/rectangular piece extensions to instead of attaching it to the main tow thing, just use it the reversed way, to where the hitch attaches to near the license plate, and the metal piece sticks out away from the car, so the extender can attach to it?

 

Btw, what i consider the extension might be the hitch receivers you guys mention. I don't know the proper terms for it.

[TroutRinger]

IMHO, I am comfortable with up to an 11’ kayak in a short bed for long distance. 12’ is doable but noticeably harder to get a solid setup unless it is a flat bottom kayak like an Ascend 12T. The 12T sits flat so it is pretty easy.

Regarding the issue with the bed extended hitting the ground. I only have that problem going from my flat garage which immediately hits a steep driveway. However, that kind of abrupt angle change is unusual and I have never had an issue. Plus, they make bed extenders that curve up right out of the hitch which would eliminate this problem. 

https://www.austinkayak.com/products/15163/Boonedox-T-Bone-Bed-Extender.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping:%20ACK%20PLA&adpos=1o1&scid=scplp15163_14178_1&sc_intid=15163_14178_1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7KGdxI-L2wIVBVgNCh0seA91EAQYASABEgJWdfD_BwE

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I have hauled my 13 foot gheenoe in my short bed Dodge Dakota many times. Just make sure you use a red flag maybe a couple to alert people what's behind you. Ratchet strap diagonally across from forward to backward inside the bed. When I first picked it up in Lebanon Missouri, I only had a ratchet strap from the nose to the back of the bed. Took some good hills and curves never had any issues nor was I uncomfortable.

[moguy1973]

5 hours ago, Haris122 said:

That's a good point with the dragging up a slope. I guess I just wouldn't extend it far out. Btw how does that work for your kayak, do you put it diagonally across the bed or something? I'm assuming if you strapped it straight back it'd be 5 1/2 of bed, maybe 1 1/2 of tailgate, so would it not stick out about another 4 1/2 feet if straight back?

 

 

Yeah, I put it across the diagonal of the bed so it's only sticking off the edge of the bed a foot or so.  If I have two in there they stick out a little farther because they stick straight out.  Ratchet straps work really well to hold them in there.  

[ollie]

My canoe is a Disco 119 so it is almost 12' long.  Yes it sticks out the back of the truck and it sticks out around 3 feet, but again I don't have a problem with it since I use a ratchet strap and a red flag on the back of it.  I just can't see getting an extender for something I don't think would be a problem, but to each his own.  If I had to haul multiple boats then I could see a reason for it. JMO