Daily Driver and Kayak Transport

[Irishman]

Who drives what vehicle and feedback on transporting a kayak. I have a 2005 Frontier Crew Cab with a roof rack and "extend a truck" hitch that I use in the vertical position. Works well but loading and unloading is tedious. I may have to switch to a more fuel efficient vehicle and was wondering if anyone else has feedback on what cars / station wagons are in use that can handle a 14' kayak. Regrets from going from a truck to station wagon??

[CKallday71]

I use my 2012 TDI Golf to tote my Yak around. 40MPG and it does EVERYTHING!!

You can also get a TDI Volkswagen Jetta Wagon. Same fuel economy with a little more storage.

I sell Volkswagen by the way so if you need a car send me a PM. (Shameless plug)

[danjor]

2001 Toyota Tacoma Double cab with a camper shell. Carries all my gear and yaks great. Tons of storage, only downside is with the bigger tires and lift I get 12mpg....
I would get one of those TDI Volkswagen's in a heart beat if it wasn't for the fact I can't stand to drive a small car and I use my truck to tow stuff too often so I'm stuck with my truck that gets the same gas mileage wide open as I it does driving it like a old person, so wide open it is

[Raskal311]

Same here I have a 2007 Double Cab Tacoma with bigger tires and small lift. I get about 16mpg. I use my truck as a truck to often to drive anything else at this point. ffice

I transport the PA in the bed (5’) using a bed extender and it’s a breeze getting it on and off. I’m only 5’7” 140 lb btw.

The Frontier is a great truck so it makes little sense if aren’t going to be savings a substantial amount taking in to account lost of usability, extra car payments, insurance ect.

Originally Posted by danjor

2001 Toyota Tacoma Double cab with a camper shell. Carries all my gear and yaks great. Tons of storage, only downside is with the bigger tires and lift I get 12mpg....
I would get one of those TDI Volkswagen's in a heart beat if it wasn't for the fact I can't stand to drive a small car and I use my truck to tow stuff too often so I'm stuck with my truck that gets the same gas mileage wide open as I it does driving it like a old person, so wide open it is

[bus kid]

Titan Crew cab 5.2 V8 17-22 mpg. who cares about gas mileage when the WSB are biting.

[TEAMFISH]

2004 F350 4x4 Diesel...Hauls the yak just fine
Also hauls the Skipjack and 40' toyhauler

[dra8642]

I drive 62 miles one way and paddle either before work or after. I can put 2 Revo 13's on top and a bike in the middle (all at the same time). I bought bars that were just a little longer to accommodate the extra stuff. For most of us "Super commuters" that live (literally) out of their cars, you learn to make due with what you have. I still get in the mid 30's MPG and it cruises the freeway just fine. " A man's got to know his limitations!" I do put one extra strap across the top center to pull the load tight inward to stabilize the load but that is just an extra and probably not needed. I hope this helps.

[Raskal311]

Originally Posted by dra8642

I drive 62 miles one way and paddle either before work or after. I can put 2 Revo 13's on top and a bike in the middle (all at the same time). I bought bars that were just a little longer to accommodate the extra stuff. For most of us "Super commuters" that live (literally) out of their cars, you learn to make due with what you have. I still get in the mid 30's MPG and it cruises the freeway just fine. " A man's got to know his limitations!" I do put one extra strap across the top center to pull the load tight inward to stabilize the load but that is just an extra and probably not needed. I hope this helps.

Dang and I feel uneasy about having one sit flat on the roof rack of my truck. That would be nerve racking to me. Props to you sir.

[Dannowar]

Originally Posted by dra8642

I drive 62 miles one way and paddle either before work or after. I can put 2 Revo 13's on top and a bike in the middle (all at the same time). I bought bars that were just a little longer to accommodate the extra stuff. For most of us "Super commuters" that live (literally) out of their cars, you learn to make due with what you have. I still get in the mid 30's MPG and it cruises the freeway just fine. " A man's got to know his limitations!" I do put one extra strap across the top center to pull the load tight inward to stabilize the load but that is just an extra and probably not needed. I hope this helps.

Hah. I saw you at Torrey pines thus morning while I was checking the surf

[beef78]

I drive a jeep commander and I use a kayak mount for the roof racks. I know the advantage of using a smaller car or a truck is that you don't have to lift you kayak above your head to get it on the car. I have seen little prius with an 18 foot kayak on top, so I don't think you'd have much issue. You might want to get one of those rooftop cargo boxes for some of your gear tho, if you don't have a lot of cargo space in the car.

[Big Wave Dave]

I have a Chevy Silverado, but while in Hawaii last summer, I drove all over the island with a kayak on top of a Chevy sonic. I think you can put one on top of about anything but a smart car.

[vincentek9]

heres my civic with a 12ft OK scrambler XT, and my tacoma with a Tarpon 12 + Cobra excape (you cant see the escape)
civic got 18MPG (motor mods kill gas). the tacoma is a 5lug ext cab 4cyl so it gets 24mpg (freshly rebuilt motor)