carrying a canoe with 5th wheel attached

[lembaar]

I have an '01 3500 Quad cab. We tow a 30' Cameo 5th wheel. I am considering purchasing a canoe, probably 16' in length. The problem is finding a solution that will allow me to carry the canoe over the cab with the rig behind.



The problem is that the canoe should center over the rack supports since the portion with the portage yoke is the strongest (reinforced) part of the canoe. With the usable portion of the roof at 48" (allowing for the clearance lamps on the front of the cab) and available bed space with the 5er attached at max. 24", I would be pushing it to have anything over 8 ft using a conventional rack system (Yakima or Thule). That would qualify as a surfboard not a canoe!



Does anyone have experience with a similar situation? I have considered having a support fabricated that would attach somewhere in the front of the truck (under the bumper?) which would support the forward end of the canoe, but again, the reinforced center of the canoe would probably not be on that support either.



Of course, I could carry it on the top of the fifth wheel, but I'm not sure how many years of horsing a 60 lb. canoe up on the roof I have left in me. I've researched extensively on the web but haven't come across anything that meets my requirements.



Another option is a Folbot, but I really want a high-quality ABS or Kevlar canoe. My neighbors run a machine/fabrication shop so I may go the custom route but thought I'd check with TDR users first, since there is so much experience represented here!



Thoughtful suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[klenger]

Thoughtful suggestions will be appreciated.

Now that's a new one. Sorry, this is the TDR.

 

[rweis]

I'm in the same "boat", lol.



Really interested in what you come up with. I want to do the full up canoe too, not inflatable, not fold up.



I saw a rack on top of the 5er once, but it had to screw into the roof ribs at just the right places or you would damage the roof.



Please pm me if you get a new idea, i'm open to just about anything to do this.



Bob Weis

 

[ProspectorTim]

Same boat!

I hope someone has a solution. Plan "B" would be we all put on our thinking caps and come up with something new.

 

[StevenWalker]

I carry a 16' canoe and tow a 33' 5th wheel. I have a set of Yakama bars with the L shaped canoe brackets on them. I have a front receiver. For hauling the canoe, I fabricated a support that slips into the receiver using a ball mount with a length of 3/4" pipe welded to it coming up vertically. The pipe is about 5' in length and has a tee across the top end wide enough to support the front of the canoe. I padded it with some foam pipe insulation. The canoe is carried so that the stern is in front of the 5th wheel with enough clearance for turning. The center of the canoe rests on the Yakama rack and the front, which extends over the hood, is supported by the support attached to the front receiver. You'll need to tie it down very well on the front so that the canoe doesn't move sideways while driving. It has worked well. I've logged many miles at 70+ mph with out a problem. You'll get a lot of looks from folks going by, but it works.

 

[rweis]

Run8Ram,



Could you possibly post a pic of that setup?



Bob Weis

 

[Fireman]

lembaar,



I is interesting that I have been pondering on the same issue lately. In fact I was on the Folbot site last night. I have always liked the Folbots. I knew an old guy when I was a kid that had one he built from a set of plans or a kit from Folbot. That was wayyyy back in the sixties and he really used it, it heald up amazingly well. He died a few years back, I don't know for sure , but I would bet that his son still has that old Folbot. The new bots appear to be even more durable and require less maintenence due to the use of modern materials. The biggest drawback is the price, the two man boat starts at over 2X the price of an ABS canoe.



I,m leaning toward the Folbot, but I,ll have to wait a while because of the price. Good luck in your search.



Fireman

 

[Dean Upson]

Have you considered an inflatable?



Dean

 

[swampfox]

I suggest you contact Spring Creek Outfitters in Mt. Iron, MN

1-800-937-8881 and have then send you their catalog. They have a roofrack called a Barrecrafter which has straps and hooks that lock under the top of your door and will clear your clearance lights. I had it installed on my truck a few weeks ago and it works great. You can also get an extension bar with it which will allow you to place the canoe on the bar with the other end on the ground then lift the other end onto the back(front) rack. a single person can easily load a canoe/boat. I got mine without the extension... . This weekend I am going back up and buy it. The wife is too short to help me when I load the canoe unless I put her on a stepladder... . and she won't go for that. They also sell a front hitch rack designed for carrying a canoe while towing a 5th. wheel. The catalog also has a huge selection of items for canoing. Their web site is www.canoegear.com



If you get their catalog check out the Radisson canoes... These are superlightweight aluminum canoes made in Canada. I bought a 14 ft Wide Transom model (its really like a small 14 ft. boat) with a birch bark finish that weighs 59 lbs. I wanted a transom because I plan to use it with a motor. These canoes use . 022 aluminum (Grumman canoes use . 050) but the canoes are ribbed like a birch bark canoe. I've had mine for a couple weeks, tried it out on several lakes and it s great. I plan to take it along with my TT when my wife retires this summer. Good Luck

 

[StevenWalker]

rweis, I'll try and get some photos for you. Probably over the weekend.

 

[rweis]

Thanks,



This has started me checking the idea of a canoe carrier as a real possibility and seeing what commercially is out there. I have to measure from the 5er front plus distance for turning and then to the front of my 3500 and see what kind of distance there is vs canoe lengths. Have to see how much room the hood in the open position takes as well.



A front receiver should not be too difficult to attach, but have to get under the front and check possibilities.



Not concerned about "it might look a little weird", but the functionality. And it sound better than any other idea I have run across.



Thanks for the pics in advance,



Bob Weis

 

[Bob Stephens]

Commercially available t-rack

Here is a website with a commercial t-rack that can be used with a front mounted receiver for carrying a canoe with a fifth wheel. I have a similar setup that my local welding shop created. Most hitch / welding shops know about this kind of setup. Glenn's Welding in Lynnwood, WA actually has the setup on their price list so when you walk in an ask for this they know exactly what it costs.



http://rackwarehouse.com/f1.html

 

[SOLER]

You said you know a fabricator. Get a reciever put on the back of your 5er. Fabricate a mounting system to accomodate it on the back. If your canoe is 16', then if you mounted it straight up and down, it would stick up about 3-4 feet above the roof line of the 5er. Not good for going under low overpasses. Two options, either mount it diagonally, meaning one end of the canoe points to the top left of the 5er, and the other end points toward the bottem right.



The other option would be to fabricate a four foot extension on the hitch, and the canoe would sit at an angle, with the bottom attached to the hitch mount, and the top mounted to a brace at the top of the 5er, or to the ladder. A smaller canoe would obviously work easier, but a little imagination and engiuity will make it work.



Just my two cents.



Good luck.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Probably a dumb question but does anyone make a front receiver for the 2003 with the Sport package?

 

[Bob Stephens]

Front receiver for 2003 Sport

I would suspect that any good welding/hitch shop could fabricate one. My front receivers on my 1998 and my 2001 Sport were custom fabrications. Let's you decide how it lines up with the bumper, etc.

 

[tateinca]

Solution to canoe rack

I tow a 30 foot 5th wheel with a 93 1 ton. What

I did was fabricate a front reciever, then I had

one of those old military shop fans. I used the

shaft from the fan for the upright and made a "U"

bracket to rest the front of the canoe in. The

best part of this set-up is the shaft is 2 piece

with a swivel in the center which enables one man

loading and unloading. three allen screws lock

the shaft in place. Hope you can locate one of

these old fans. It sure makes a neat rig.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by lembaar

I have an '01 3500 Quad cab. We tow a 30' Cameo 5th wheel. I am considering purchasing a canoe, probably 16' in length. The problem is finding a solution that will allow me to carry the canoe over the cab with the rig behind.



The problem is that the canoe should center over the rack supports since the portion with the portage yoke is the strongest (reinforced) part of the canoe. With the usable portion of the roof at 48" (allowing for the clearance lamps on the front of the cab) and available bed space with the 5er attached at max. 24", I would be pushing it to have anything over 8 ft using a conventional rack system (Yakima or Thule). That would qualify as a surfboard not a canoe!



Does anyone have experience with a similar situation? I have considered having a support fabricated that would attach somewhere in the front of the truck (under the bumper?) which would support the forward end of the canoe, but again, the reinforced center of the canoe would probably not be on that support either.



Of course, I could carry it on the top of the fifth wheel, but I'm not sure how many years of horsing a 60 lb. canoe up on the roof I have left in me. I've researched extensively on the web but haven't come across anything that meets my requirements.



Another option is a Folbot, but I really want a high-quality ABS or Kevlar canoe. My neighbors run a machine/fabrication shop so I may go the custom route but thought I'd check with TDR users first, since there is so much experience represented here!



Thoughtful suggestions will be appreciated.

To carry a canoe on a rack no need for it to sit on the center reinforce area as the front and rear would at most have to support half or thirty pounds each at most and that would not effect the gunnel's at all the rub rail or front prow would not be hurt or as above either . rack rail suction cup support rear and pipe front to light receiver store bought or home spun will do and as other said guide wire or line to keep side movement from either side 1/16 wiercable with turn buckle and s hooks would do fine . Ron in Louisville Metro KY

 

[whogan]

Try a canoe loader, it attaches to a front mounted 2" hitch receiver . You can use one roof mount Yakima/Thule or use plastic pipe. simple and cheap. Make a "U" shaped mount and put the legs in the bed rail openings near the cab. If you need more , send me a PM. It worked for me.



Good Luck

 

[lembaar]

I appreciate all of the responses. I have looked at the recommended websites and am impressed with some of the solutions.

I have the foam supports that fit between the gunwales and the roof while you cinch the canoe with straps. Seems that all I need to do is fabricate a wooden support for the middle of the bed and some sort of front support. I am thinking of a simple, removable attachment for the front, perhaps made of treated lumber.

My wife thinks we can maneuver the canoe into the 5th wheel for transport. Maybe, but it will make getting to the refrigerator or bathroom a pain while en route!