NorthWest Kayak Anglers
Kayak Fishing => Product Discussions => Topic started by: Tinker on May 02, 2021, 04:48:38 AM
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I have a short, short, tiny little pickup bed on my Nissan, and a Trident 13 kayak. I've been thinking about getting a hitch-mounted truck bed extender for short, quick, toss-it-on-and-go trips to my local lakes. Has anyone used one of them? Is anyone still using one?
I'd appreciate your thoughts or hearing about your experiences.
(And also, if someone has a better idea for a way to quickly and easily transport a 13'6" kayak in a 5' pickup bed, let me know).
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One of my buddies has a Nissan Frontier and hauls around a Hobie Pro Angler 14 in the bed using a Boonedox bed extender, has been working well for him for years. I work at a Hobie dealer in Seattle and sell lots of the Boonedox bed extenders to my customers and have not had any complaints.
The only situation I've run into with them not being a good solution is with a couple folks who had sliding drawers installed in their beds (taking up the whole bed and thus raising it by about a foot. The Boonedox is adjustable for height but not by that much. I think they ended up being able to get a Yakima or Harbor Freight version to work in those cases.
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I threw together a quick extender for my son to use to haul his 13.5ft Hobie in his 6ft truck bed. Works like a charm.
Then I added a bed rack and RTT that fit over the kayak for the full meal deal.
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One of my buddies has a Nissan Frontier and hauls around a Hobie Pro Angler 14 in the bed using a Boonedox bed extender, has been working well for him for years. I work at a Hobie dealer in Seattle and sell lots of the Boonedox bed extenders to my customers and have not had any complaints.
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Thanks, Kevin. The one thing I've been wondering about with the Boonedox T-Bone is how far they extend behind the truck. Seems like it would take up a lot of space in a parking lot (and be a temptation if I stored it in the pickup's bed). Do they really extend out as far as the online pictures suggest? I'd think I'd need no more than three extra feet to hold a T13 steady on short trips. For longer trips, I'd use the ladder racks.
I threw together a quick extender for my son to use to haul his 13.5ft Hobie in his 6ft truck bed. Works like a charm.
Then I added a bed rack and RTT that fit over the kayak for the full meal deal.
I don't believe for a minute that you just throw anything together. Maybe with your advice on measurements, etcetera, I can ask Mojo to put one together for me. It's a good design, and he's been trying to get me to come up to Tillamook for-ever. Thanks!
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This is what the T Bone looks like with outbacks on a Tacoma. I’ve been using it for over a year and really like it. Makes loading/unloading easy. Parking lots aren’t much of a problem but you may have to take up 2 stalls.
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I don't believe for a minute that you just throw anything together. Maybe with your advice on measurements, etcetera, I can ask Mojo to put one together for me. It's a good design, and he's been trying to get me to come up to Tillamook for-ever. Thanks!
I’m about 85% that I’ll be up that way June 19-25 staying at Barview. Party at Shannon’s!
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This is what the T Bone looks like with outbacks on a Tacoma. I’ve been using it for over a year and really like it. Makes loading/unloading easy. Parking lots aren’t much of a problem but you may have to take up 2 stalls.
Thanks Jed! That's not as long as it looks in promotional photos. This helps a lot, and I appreciate it.
I’m about 85% that I’ll be up that way June 19-25 staying at Barview. Party at Shannon’s!
Heck yeah!
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I have a Tacoma with a 6' bed and use one for my 2020 Outback. Works great! I added some padding to help with the metal on plastic contact when I am sliding it on and off. Only use one strap on the back to secure it. Ordered mine off Amazon. It was $100, worth every penny!
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I have a Tacoma with a 6' bed and use one for my 2020 Outback. Works great! I added some padding to help with the metal on plastic contact when I am sliding it on and off. Only use one strap on the back to secure it. Ordered mine off Amazon. It was $100, worth every penny!
Thank you. Now I feel like I'm the only one NOT using them.
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I have the T-Bone and LOVE it. The only thing I would advise is get a pair of used saddles (NOT rollers) from Re-Rack and put them as close together as the T-Bone will allow (dont ask me why I know the difference).
When I park to fish, I take it out and put it in the bed of the truck with a bed top cuz there are so many A-holes out there. I leave it, and the kayak, in the truck most of the time and parking is not a huge issue when just hitting the grocery store. A bit more walking that I totally need.
Fan!
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I have the Yakima Long Arm. Love it. Light weight, folds up nicely, and attaches to truck easily. Found it on Craigslist for around 100 bucks so that didn’t hurt!
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I have the T-bone too and what I can say so far is it's surprisingly light and does a great job.
I bought a trailer hitch pin that locks and added an extended padlock between the two sections for security. This way I don't have to remove it unless I need to do to parking constraints.
I have added foam noodles with zip ties but also plan to add some outdoor carpet to help prolong the life of the foam and make it easier to slide.
I just measured and from the bottom of my tailgate (when closed) to the end of the extension is 48 inches.
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I have the T-Bone and LOVE it. The only thing I would advise is get a pair of used saddles (NOT rollers) from Re-Rack and put them as close together as the T-Bone will allow (dont ask me why I know the difference).
When I park to fish, I take it out and put it in the bed of the truck with a bed top cuz there are so many A-holes out there. I leave it, and the kayak, in the truck most of the time and parking is not a huge issue when just hitting the grocery store. A bit more walking that I totally need.
Fan!
Never heard of Re-Rack before now. Thanks for telling me about them. Their saddle inventory is low right now but I'll keep an eye on them.
I never park close to the doors of grocery stores... I wish the walking was doing more to solve my "Pandemic 30" problem.
I have the Yakima Long Arm. Love it. Light weight, folds up nicely, and attaches to truck easily. Found it on Craigslist for around 100 bucks so that didn’t hurt!
I missed my chance to get a Boonedox T-Bone cheap. I haven't looked at Craigslist or the Facebook Marketplace but now I will.
Someone complained the Long Arm "rattled" because it fit their receiver loosely. People can find the darnedest things to complain about, but it's worth asking if you notice a loose fit?
I have the T-bone too and what I can say so far is it's surprisingly light and does a great job.
I bought a trailer hitch pin that locks and added an extended padlock between the two sections for security. This way I don't have to remove it unless I need to do to parking constraints.
I have added foam noodles with zip ties but also plan to add some outdoor carpet to help prolong the life of the foam and make it easier to slide.
I just measured and from the bottom of my tailgate (when closed) to the end of the extension is 48 inches.
Thank your for measuring the extension. Forty-eight inches isn't nearly as long as some photos make it look. Your extended padlock is a slick addition but I've never seen anything like it. Who makes those?
I'm wondering why I didn't take these things more seriously years ago. Thanks again, everyone.
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There is some movement but I don’t have anything to compare it to. Once my kayak is on all play dissipates. I really like that it folds up toward the truck...really useful for crowded boat launches or just driving around without removing the extender.
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I have the T-Bone extender AND the Decked Drawer system. That didn’t work too well so I ended up getting the T-Bone XL extender and that works great.
Beer_Run, do you happen to have a picture of your setup with the saddles on? I’ve been considering doing something like that and would like to see what it looks like.
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I bought a bed extender from Harbor Freight to help haul some 16' lumber.
What I found is that in its highest position it was still 3-4" below the level of the bed/tailgate of my 2020 F-150. I was able to make it work for the short trip by strapping which flexed it up, defeating any support it provided but at least it kept my material from bouncing. One of these days I'll take some measurements and fab an extension so I can actually use it.
Just a precautionary tale to check fitment to your vehicle, especially if you go "budget".
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I also tried the rollers that I used when car topping it but they wouldn’t stay put. This works great
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I've been using the BooneDox T-Bone (standard not the Groovy) for 7 years now. Love it. Not only does it help support the weight of a heavy Pro Angler 14ft -360 but also offers an additional tie down point around the bar of the T-Bone. I have a 2012 Nissan Frontier with a 5.5 ft truck bed. It's identical to the Toyota Tacoma.
Get a locking hitch pin as a theft deterrent. Mine slips in the back of my truck bed and out of site. Leave the hitch pin locked in it or run a cable through it and lock it to the truck if removed.
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I bought a bed extender from Harbor Freight to help haul some 16' lumber.
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Just a precautionary tale to check fitment to your vehicle, especially if you go "budget".
Precautionary tale appreciated.
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I've been using the BooneDox T-Bone (standard not the Groovy) for 7 years now. Love it. Not only does it help support the weight of a heavy Pro Angler 14ft -360 but also offers an additional tie down point around the bar of the T-Bone. I have a 2012 Nissan Frontier with a 5.5 ft truck bed. It's identical to the Toyota Tacoma.
Get a locking hitch pin as a theft deterrent. Mine slips in the back of my truck bed and out of site. Leave the hitch pin locked in it or run a cable through it and lock it to the truck if removed.
Best photos yet! Thanks! I assume your PA rides level to the truck bed? And hey! If you decide to switch to the Groovy model in the next month or so, keep me in mind... :icon_bounce:
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Thanks for the photo, Beer_Run. That's pretty much what I was wanting to do. I also think it'd be cool to have some of those saddles installed onto the top of my drawer system to help keep the kayak nice and secure.
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Here are pictures of my Tundra, Bigwater and the Yakima Extender. I also use it on the 4ft Tacoma bed with no problem
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Here are pictures of my Tundra, Bigwater and the Yakima Extender. I also use it on the 4ft Tacoma bed with no problem
Thank you for posting photos. I noticed someone is now seeking a Yakima Long Arm bed extender in the NCKA Classifieds...
One of the things I've always wondered was if these contraptions, regardless of who makes them, are strong enough to carry a full-sized kayak. Now I know: they certainly are more than strong enough for a puny Trident 13. Look at what some of you have been hauling around on them. Cool.
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I bought (and returned) the Yakima Long Arm. It didn’t work for me because when the tailgate was down, it would rest on the extender and I didn’t want it to damage my truck at all. That might only be a problem for full size pickups that have a deeper/taller bed, causing the tailgate to be a bit longer. <shrug>
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I don't believe for a minute that you just throw anything together. Maybe with your advice on measurements, etcetera, I can ask Mojo to put one together for me. It's a good design, and he's been trying to get me to come up to Tillamook for-ever. Thanks!
I didn't put a whole lot of effort into making his. And most of it was stuff I had laying around the garage from previous projects.
What is your timeline for getting yours functional?
I am on Sabbatical starting June 1st through mid-August and will have some free time here and there for things like this.
If things go right, may order up the 1-3/4" round tube die set for my tube bender to make rock sliders for my truck this summer. 1-3/4" round tube would certainly be up to the task of supporting a kayak. Heck, even 1-1/2" round tube would work and I have a few different dies for 1-1/2" already. 8)
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I didn't put a whole lot of effort into making his. And most of it was stuff I had laying around the garage from previous projects.
What is your timeline for getting yours functional?
I am on Sabbatical starting June 1st through mid-August and will have some free time here and there for things like this.
If things go right, may order up the 1-3/4" round tube die set for my tube bender to make rock sliders for my truck this summer. 1-3/4" round tube would certainly be up to the task of supporting a kayak. Heck, even 1-1/2" round tube would work and I have a few different dies for 1-1/2" already. 8)
Timeline? What's a timeline? Never heard of such a thing! The wind down here won't begin to settle until June-ish, and if this year is anything like last year, maybe it'll calm down by mid-August. Let me know if you decide to get the larger dies. "Bigger is definitely better!" I always say, starting today.
(And don't for a moment think I didn't see your crafty editing. :laughing7:)
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I didn't put a whole lot of effort into making his. And most of it was stuff I had laying around the garage from previous projects.
What is your timeline for getting yours functional?
I am on Sabbatical starting June 1st through mid-August and will have some free time here and there for things like this.
If things go right, may order up the 1-3/4" round tube die set for my tube bender to make rock sliders for my truck this summer. 1-3/4" round tube would certainly be up to the task of supporting a kayak. Heck, even 1-1/2" round tube would work and I have a few different dies for 1-1/2" already. 8)
Timeline? What's a timeline? Never heard of such a thing! The wind down here won't begin to settle until June-ish, and if this year is anything like last year, maybe it'll calm down by mid-August. Let me know if you decide to get the larger dies. "Bigger is definitely better!" I always say, starting today.
(And don't for a moment think I didn't see your crafty editing. :laughing7:)
:laughing7:
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Any recommendations for a bed extender when the kayak is on cargo bars above the truck bed?
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Any recommendations for a bed extender when the kayak is on cargo bars above the truck bed?
??? I'm not sure what you're asking so I don't know how to respond. Could you explain it a bit more, please?
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Any recommendations for a bed extender when the kayak is on cargo bars above the truck bed?
??? I'm not sure what you're asking so I don't know how to respond. Could you explain it a bit more, please?
This:
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Any recommendations for a bed extender when the kayak is on cargo bars above the truck bed?
??? I'm not sure what you're asking so I don't know how to respond. Could you explain it a bit more, please?
This:
Okay. THAT! (Thanks, crash). Those are sold all over the place. Should be a dealer somewhere nearby where you can check them out for quality. Other than that, there's not a lot of difference in them as far as I could tell. Even the costliest ones don't appear to be significantly better, even on corrosion resistance, but that's just my opinion.
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I have/had that exact bed extender.
Corrosion started the end and overloading finished it.
The two sections bolt together and the one with the upright is much thinner steel.
I'm not 100% on board with using the upright as the tongue extension
Interesting way to solve a problem.