DIY roller for roof rack?

Any pictures would help for an idea.  going to tackle this project in a week so I'm trying to gather whatever I can. 

Thank guys Pete

OK, here's some pics I already took of the 1st prototype of my roof-rack load roller. After using this prototype, I added the bushings to the holes in the arms to get smoother rolling action. I replaced the hose clamps with a cotter pin on one end and a clevis pin on the other. The arms were sanded, primed and finished with black spray paint. It really looks a lot better now that its done.

Nicely done CHM! I love the disclaimers scrawled all over it.

Z

Right on!! and very groovy CHM...I love the ghetto in ya!
 

Thanks guys, but those kind of comments will only encourage me do do more! I aspire to become a junk artist and lunatic inventor when I retire from being an underemployed beach bum.

Yesterday evening after fishing along the Jetty here, I got to demo the load roller to some young surfers who saw me hauling my yak back up over the berm on my Wheeleez cart. I had just horsed it up over the 2 foot "lip" at the top of the berm (Wheeleez carts rock!) and was getting ready to load the yak on the roof racks, when they offered to help me. I thanked them and declined their offer and said, "Watch this!"
I easily lifted the bow of my yak up onto the rollers, like in the pics, and then grabbed the stern grab-handle and lifted and shoved the yak up onto the racks in one easy move. Voila!  This is actually much easier than 2 people trying to load it with a person on each end trying to lift the yak into the racks.
The surfer's were impressed with the slick "one man operation," and that I had concocted it out of junk!

I bought a Yakima Boat Loader and it has worked extremely well for me. It just installs into the bar on your rack and it's a really good permanent solution. Now I'm all self sufficient and it feels soo good! I know Thule has a similar system but I don't know what it's called. I think I paid around $60 for mine.

I was thinking I could use some boat roller from a trailer kind of like this one and attach it with some u bolts.  I may have to drill some new holes since the tubing is only 1" thick.  But this may helps.   Thoughts?

I have an old shoulder injury that keeps me from throwing the kayak on top too.

Damn ConeHead!!! that looks simpler than what I had in mind.  I might make those brackets out of Aluminum instead of Plywood!!!
Do you have a photo of that from behind?

Don't have a photo handy, but I could take one, if you really need it. Its a very simple design, from a very simple mind!
From straight behind, you would see that the roller bar is just covered with a foam tube that is similar to pipe insulation, but not sliced lengthwise down one side. This particular foam was actually scavenged from some old surf racks after the cheap steel crossbars rusted away.

To keep it all together, you could use hose clamps, cotter pins, clevis pins, or even a bent nail thru a hole in each end of the crossbar tube. I use a quick release clevis pin on one end so that I can disassemble it if I need more packing room in my rig.

I cut the foam "foot-pads" from a large chunk of "eathafoam" and just zip-tied them to the feet of this strange animal (that has feet on the ends of its arms).

didn't Revo Roy build an auto loader and post it here? I looked but can't seem to find it now.
 It was very slick, with a small electric motor to do the lifting for you.
great for those of us with a bad back.
 

Yep, he has the auto loader, It's on my Youtube page. It uses one of the cheapy Harbor freight ATV winches thats like 59 bucks

Hopefully I have time tonight to work on mine, at work!  LOL!
I bought a keel roller at Canadian Tire yesterday and my boss has a idea for the material to build the rest of it out of.  I'll post it when finished!

Thanks Conehead!!!

CHM that is truely slicker than snot! I gotta build one! 

One question though, After you put the bow (or stern) on the roller, how do you keep the end thats on the ground from sliding?

I can't envision it sliding on most surfaces.  What surface would it slide on?

Rubber door mat?

I can't envision it sliding on most surfaces.  What surface would it slide on?

Rubber door mat?

For me? All of them!

Especially asphalt.

Try it.

For me? All of them!

Especially asphalt.

Try it.

And I thought it was just me that dumps it on the asphalt - at least it gives the onlookers a good laugh for the day.

This is the aluminum version of Conehead's plywood loader!  I gotta give him full credit!
1/4' 6061 aluminum and .625 round stock.  Got the Keel Roller from Canadian Tire for $27.  Everything else from the scrap bin!
There will be a tab on front that swings down and holds the loader in place.  There will be padded feet added too!