How to tie down a kayak in a truck bed? The methods below will assist you in achieving your aim of a safe and secure boat transfer. Kayaking may be a lovely way to go out and appreciate the wonders of nature while also putting in a good exercise. Whether you spend every day on the water or simply go once or twice a year.
To avoid slipping, place a rubber mat on the truck bed’s floor. When tying down a kayak, avoid using bungee cords since they may stretch and cause the hooks to come undone. Replace the normal hook ends with a load rated carabiner if you must use black rubber tie-downs. The cost of a good pair of cam buckle tie-down straps is well worth it for your kayak. As a result, you’ll be left to cope with the stress and frustration of collecting a boat from the side of the road.
If you’re transporting a kayak on a truck bed, there are a few easy methods to securing it. Depending on the kayak you’re carrying and the length of the truck bed, the method may vary. However, in general, the solution may be summed up by following these steps:
How To Tie Down A Kayak In A Truck Bed
Several criteria, like the size of your kayaks and the length of your truck bed, will determine the best way for tying down your kayak. When it comes to carrying a kayak in a truck, the three most important guidelines to remember are to make sure it doesn’t fall out.
Get Your Bed Truck Ready
It’s advisable to totally empty your truck bed before loading one or two kayaks, whether you transport one or two. Any goods or kayak accessories that could come in the way throughout the procedure will be removed. It also reduces the chances of your kayak being strapped to anything that might be damaged while you’re driving.
A good truck bed liner can preserve your vehicle’s bed as well as the integrity of your kayaks from harm. We suggest adding a bed liner before strapping down kayaks in your truck if you don’t already have one. In addition, a little foam cushion across the front of your pickup truck bed could be a good idea. Instead of laying the bow straight on the harsher surface of your bed liner, you’ll have something soft and cushioned to set it on.
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Get Your Kayaks Ready
Any loose items, such as the paddle and kayak seat, must be removed. Secure the paddle to the side of your kayak with bungee cords, then fold down – or remove – your seat. Place the cover over the kayak and fasten it with the provided straps after you’re finished. It’s a low-cost technique to keep mosquitoes and debris out while also shielding the boat from the effects of the wind.
Load Up The Truck With Your Kayak.
Before lowering your boat into the bed, drop your tailgate and clear up your truck bed. When you lift the tailgate, any overhang is raised to a high angle over the hoods of any automobiles behind you. If you do acquire enough overhang, tie sure to attach a flag to the end of your boat to assist other vehicles see you.
Place The Foam Blocks and Secure Kayak
Instead of resting the kayak straight on the not-so-cushioned surface of the truck bed mat, use foam blocks to create a comfortable, padded space to rest it on. If you don’t want your foam blocks to slide out from beneath your kayak, make sure they have non-slip bottoms.
Secure The Kayak Straps
Although the picture above may seem to suggest otherwise, we recommend securing your kayak cam straps before loading it into your truck bed. Most truck beds feature hooks or loops on the floor or sides that may be used to secure your Kayak. The knots and points you employ will be determined by the size of your kayaks and the length of your cam straps.
Whenever feasible, tie-down points on the truck bed’s bottom are recommended. This will improve your chances of correctly fastening your kayak. Don’t just strap across your truck bed, since this may leave the door open. Don’t depend on higher tie-downs on the bed walls if you’re ascending a slope or speeding swiftly.
Get Your Kayaks Loaded
It’s time to put your kayak into your truck bed after you’ve secured it with straps. Some kayaks may be placed directly into the truck bed, while others must be put at an angle such that the bow of the kayak rests on one of the truck’s corners. If your kayak hangs out of your truck bed more than it fits inside, you’ll want to keep the tailgate down.
This is also a preferable option for kayaks that are carried into truck beds that are shorter. We don’t advocate loading your kayak such that the stern of the kayak is angled down into the rear of the truck bed and the front of the kayak is resting against the cab over the truck’s roof. As you can expect, this exposes it to a greater amount of wind when you’re travelling.
If you put your kayak directly into your truck or angle it in, your truck’s cab will function as a windshield while you drive. This will help you keep your kayaks securely fastened down to your truck bed until you get to one of the greatest kayaking locations for beginners in the United States.
Read more: How to load kayak on j rack by yourself?
Secure The Kayak Truck Bed
First, parallel to the tailgate, thread a buckle strap over the top of your kayak. Then, from the tow loop to your bed anchor, thread a second tie-down. Pull the boat forward into the rear bed wall by tightening the strap. This approach is ideal for kayaks under 11 feet in length; anything larger should be carried on a rack.
Use a locking cable run if your car will be out of sight for a lengthy period of time. To secure your rig and avoid theft, the wire should go through the tow loop, seat, or grab grips. Ratchet straps and cam straps are the only alternatives for securing the ‘yak. Follow these simple instructions to guarantee that your yak arrives to and departs from your favourite body of water safely.
For this style of kayak truck bed , you’ll need two tie-down straps, one of which should be a cam or cam strap. The former tightens the strap using a ratchet mechanism, which some people prefer. Cam straps are more simpler to use and put up since you just pull the tag end through the cam closure until it is tight. In any case, take careful not to overtighten the straps, since this might result in a distorted hull.
Strap It
If you use the angled loading option, make sure your tailgate is closed before you start tightening your kayak straps. Once you’ve secured your paddling kayak, it’ll be impossible. If your kayak straps are properly adjusted, they should flow over the top of the kayak, past the cam closure, and then draw back towards your body to tighten.
Although some people prefer ratchet straps for tying down kayaks, a hand-tied strap is usually adequate for tying down a kayak in a truck bed. There should be no reason for the strap to go below your kayak while you’re strapping it down. This will just serve to raise your kayaks as you tighten your straps, thus increasing the risk of them falling or sliding out of your truck bed.
There may be a cause to pass the straps through the handles or D-rings on your Kayak. These may be used as extra anchor points to assist you in pulling it down and toward the front of your car. To begin, make sure that any handles or D-rings you choose to connect them to are firmly welded or screwed in place. If older and worn out handles fall free under pressure while driving, they might create a weak point.
Lock It
Why bother using cable locks if you’re already using ratchet straps to secure your kayak? For starters, it will provide as an additional layer of protection. Two, it will keep the kayak from being stolen if you take a break along the route and leave it unattended.
Before you hit the road, secure the kayak using simple cable locks after everything is in place. It’s as simple as putting the cable through one of the scupper holes on a sit-on-top kayak before securing it. Check for separate cable bars or utilise Lasso locking cables instead for sit-in kayaks.
Include A Flag
In most places, using a safety flag on excessive goods will be required by law. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check what your state’s DOT rules say about the situation — and then act appropriately. The same is true while transporting merchandise at night, when vision is reduced. Whether or whether it is essential, use the red flag as a precaution. It will cost you very little money, but it will increase your overall safety.
Most places require you to attach a bright-colored flag to the rear of any object that protrudes beyond your vehicle’s bumper. This serves as a warning to other drivers that your vehicle is longer than usual. It’s also a fail-safe for you to prevent other vehicles from colliding with (and damaging) your kayak.
Check out these clip-on golf towels if you want something that you can secure in seconds without having to tie it to your kayak. While they’re intended for golfers, the inclusion of a carabiner makes them ideal for use as a flag. Simply make sure that whichever flag, handkerchief, or towel you pick is securely fastened so that it does not fall off while driving.
For safe towing and transportation of kayaks, check your local rules. If your kayak extends over your truck’s bumper, you must have a red-colored flag affixed to the rear of it in certain regions. Other locations may allow you to use any kind of brightly coloured towel or flag.
Check Everything Again, Wrap Any Loose Ends, Which Need To Transport Your Kayaks
Before loading your kayak into the back of your truck, double-check everything. It’s preferable to double-check now than to find out later if something isn’t tight or secure enough. If the ratchet straps have any loose ends, wrap them up while you’re at it. Don’t let them flap in the breeze.
Upon completion of fastening your kayak within the truck’s bed, one should not overlook the possibility of utilizing supplementary tools, such as a specialized kayak cart. This equipment may simplify the movement of your vessel from the vehicle to the water, enhancing the overall transportation experience.
Having navigated through the intricate process of effectively positioning and safeguarding your kayak within your vehicle, it is vital to understand the underlying principles that govern these actions. In the ensuing segment, we shall embark on a journey to unravel the profound implications of affixing a kayak to a vehicle in a manner that emphasizes not only safety but also the preservation of the watercraft’s structural integrity.
The Importance Of Securing A Kayak To A Truck Bed Properly
Any competent driver should be aware of the dangers of transporting cargo that isn’t properly fastened to the truck’s bed. You’d be shocked how quickly a kayak may transform into a lethal missile. Does a large lump of plastic protruding from the rear end of your truck – unsecured, to be sure – while you’re travelling down the highway seem very safe to you?
Goods securement regulations exist; moving unsecured cargo, such as an untethered kayak, is typically considered prohibited. Cargo that is securely secured and tied down is less likely to fly away, making it safer for everyone involved. The chance of injuring the kayak — whether by dropping it or allowing it to move about in the truck bed – is greatly decreased.
Final Thoughts
You won’t have to worry about getting your kayaks on top of your car by raising them really high. When it’s time to unload, you’ll be able to back right up to the water’s edge. Kayaks may also be transported in truck beds with camper shells and tonneau coverings. The most crucial factor is that your kayak straps and tie-down points are secure.
If you can’t move your kayak forward, backward, or side-to-side after strapping it down, the wind isn’t likely to move it. However, having a buddy or paddle partner double-check your work before you start driving away is always a good idea. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t double (or even quadruple!) check your strap-down work.
