5th Wheel Rack: How To Haul Kayaks With a Fifth-Wheel Camper
Boys and their toys. Finding ways to haul those favorite vacation toys with you as you travel can be a creative process. They say that where there is a will, there is a way so if you try hard enough, you should find a decent way to haul your kayaks even if you use a 5th wheel trailer.
How to haul kayaks with a fifth-wheel camper: Some owners have gone to a cab-over design. After hooking up their 5th wheel, they use a cab over rack to secure their kayaks. This design utilizes all the free space you have left over and that is above your tow vehicle’s cab. It also does not hurt your aerodynamics.
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to find the right design to fit your RV situation. It may take a little brainpower, but getting this project done shouldn’t take a long time as you have only a few good options available.
How To Haul Kayaks With a Fifth-Wheel Camper
There are quite a few options that you have available. One is the cab-over design we just mentioned. It requires a nice roof rack made for kayaks or canoes and the best designs work with those super cabs with 4 doors.
You can get some cab over designs when your tow vehicle has only 2 doors but the roof length is short and you may need a-some help holding the rack and kayak in place and level. Some people use a rear support system, while others use their front bumper assembly to help support the rack and the kayak.
It is possible to place your kayak on the rear bumper of your 5th wheel. The main problems would be the strength of the rear bumper and securing the kayak properly. Some owners like to use an add-on or extension.
It goes on the rear trailer hitch found on some 5th wheel trailers. However, this is only a possibility in those states that allow double tows or classify those little add-on trailers as an extension.
No matter how you decide to haul your kayak(s), you always have to factor in the weight of the racks, the extension, and security systems before loading them. Your tow vehicle and 5th wheel must have the tow or hauling weight capacity that allows this feature.
5th Wheel Kayak Rack Options
There is the rear bike and kayak rack option that is available. This allows you to add up to 2 bikes and 2 kayaks to the rear of your 5th wheel. The key, as we have said, will be the extra weight. Not only do you have to have the weight capacities to use this option, but the bumper also has to be strong enough to hold the weight as well.
There is the kayak trailer option but this is only good if your 5th wheel is rated for towing and has a strong bumper. Plus, you need to travel in a state that allows double tows.
Then there is the ladder rack which looks a lot like a standard roof rack as it goes on the roof of your tow vehicle. In addition are the standard roof racks which can hold up to 500 pounds approx. in some models.
This allows you to put 2 kayaks on the roof of your tow vehicle without interfering with the 5th wheel hook up or movement of your trailer.
5th Wheel Roof Rack
There is one model that seems to be a fairly good idea. The rear rack support sits right behind the cab and the front support sits on top of the roof. This will secure the kayak in place but you also need a nose tie-down to make sure the kayak does not get torn off by the wind as you drive.
This particular model will hold up to 200 pounds and when you are not hauling your kayak, you can get optional deck panels to haul extra cargo when you need it. Another feature is that it can be taken out of your truck in 10 minutes, and then disassembled easily for compact storage.
There are two key components you need to consider when searching for a 5th wheel roof rack. the first is, will it fit your particular brand of the tow vehicle. Some only work well with those tow vehicles with a nice long bed.
Others will work with extended or super cab models and so on. The second consideration you have to think about will be their weight capacity. Not all roof racks are the same and they do come with different weight limits. Make sure you know the weight of your kayak(s) before buying any roof rack to haul them.
Kayak Rack For Truck With 5th Wheel
There is one that keeps coming up in our searches and it is called the 5th wheel truck rack and made by US Racks.com. We have described it briefly above and it sits right behind the cab and has a deck that extends forward over your cab.
This model works on a limited number of trucks, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan, Ford Super Duty & 150 models, the Dodge Ram Mega, and a few more models. However, its cost is over $2000 so it is something you should think twice about.
There are other excellent roof racks made by other brands that may not cost as much but still are heavy-duty and will handle the weight of your kayak(s). The key is factoring in the weight these racks will add to your overall total.
Some of these racks will add an additional 60 to 100 pounds because of the material they are made from. That may not seem a lot of weight until you find out that you can’t pack some key equipment or supplies because of this addition.
Kayak Racks on Truck Cab Pulling Fifth-Wheel Trailer
One way to handle this problem is to install a front hitch on your tow vehicle. This will allow you to attach a front-end support for the roof rack and push your kayak(s) forward so that they are out of the way of the 5th wheel and its movement.
This option may be a bit more expensive than the traditional roof rack but it gives you lots of clearance space when you make your turns. Other owners use traditional roof racks when they have a long enough roof to make this worthwhile.
They push the kayak forward as far as they can and then use tie-downs to secure the boat in place. the key when using tie-downs is to not make them so tight that they damage the hauls. You want them to be secure but not damaging.
Also, those tie-downs will need to be replaced from time to time due to weathering. However, there are very few options available. What you have to choose from will be different designs for the same exact thing.
You need to go with a brand and design that you like and fits your needs the best.
5th Wheel Kayak Carrier
One of the designs that many people have talked about is the rear bike and kayak rack that makes hauling your kayaks a lot easier. These are little platforms with individual racks on them that attach to the rear bumper of your 5th wheel.
The design keeps them out of the way of any trailer movement so they are safe and do not create any new challenges for you when you drive or try to maneuver the 5th wheel into place.
The 5th wheel kayak rack we have already mentioned seems to be an ideal option as it places the kayak well forward of the 5th wheel apparatus and trailer movement. It does not take up a lot of space in the bed of your truck and can be disassembled quickly for compact storage when not needed.
The major factor in finding the right kayak rack for your 5th wheel situation will be the cost. Some of the options are budget busters and you have to be careful, those expensive models are not universal in design.
Kayak Alternatives
If you cannot find a suitable kayak rack to fit your 5th wheel situation two kayak alternatives may help out. We are not sure if they are still being made or not but they do exist and can be a nice alternative to a standard kayak.
These alternatives are the inflatable kayak and the component kayak. The latter breaks down into pieces making hauling and storage of the boat very easy to do.
Some Final Words
Kayak rack locations are limited. You have to assess your situation and see which option is the best for your next camping trip. The key will be the cost of the racks and their weight.
