I'm looking for a bed rack to transport kayaks above the bed/roof. Everything I am finding that I like is either ridiculously expensive or won't fit the 2 kayaks I would want to transport. Below is an imagine of the best one I have found so far. It is a little more than I need but there are many features that I really like. Unfortunately this was made custom by a guy in Alabama and even if he would make one for me, the shipping costs would likely negate the savings.



Would be on a short bed Toyota Tundra (2013). Would prefer to clamp rather than bolt directly to the bed. Need to be able to carry 2 35" wide kayaks side by side. Really like the "built in" crank straps.

Near design. Would not be hard. Finding the steel you would need in reasonable quantities would be the toughest part. It generally comes in 21 foot lengths.

Something like the yakima outdoorsman 300 doesn't do the trick?

Outdoorsman is out of stock most everywhere I looked plus after you add up all the pieces you have to buy (2 sets of risers, 2 bar, clamps, etc...) you end up sitting around $700 for a pretty basic setup.

Hmmm... maybe we should talk. I would personally get a set of roof bars then supplement them with one additional bar/rack at the far back. That truck have stake pockets?

Yes but they are currently covered. Ideally I would prefer to mount with C clamps to avoid having to modify anything on the actual truck.

Hadn't thought about roof bars. Would that work with needing such a wide bar (2 35" wide kayak/paddle boards)? Any suggestions on good options?

MouthBQ98 said:

---

Near design. Would not be hard. Finding the steel you would need in reasonable quantities would be the toughest part. It generally comes in 21 foot lengths.

---

Finding the steel is easy

Yakima makes 66" wide bars, that may be wide enough for boats that are 35" wide at the middle because they taper to where the bars/straps will be. But i should have time next week if you want to talk about doing something custom

schmellba99 said:

---

MouthBQ98 said:

---

Near design. Would not be hard. Finding the steel you would need in reasonable quantities would be the toughest part. It generally comes in 21 foot lengths.

---

Finding the steel is easy

---

Finding maybe a lot more than you need. The distributors I go to often only sell lengths and half lengths. A few common pieces in 5' or 8'

Weird. My home town guy will cut you lengths less than the width of the material if you want it. Cut fee is reasonable.

Steel for fabrication in NW Houston. Used them for many projects small and large. Off 290 and West Road.

https://www.steelsupplylp.com/

Northwest Location

14130 West Rd. Houston, TX 77041
Toll-free: 1.866.991.7600
Phone: 713.991.7600
Email: sales@steelsupplyinc.com

Cut, yes. Buy? Maybe.

The place above I used regularly in Houston.

MouthBQ98 said:

---

schmellba99 said:

---

MouthBQ98 said:

---

Near design. Would not be hard. Finding the steel you would need in reasonable quantities would be the toughest part. It generally comes in 21 foot lengths.

---

Finding the steel is easy

---

Finding maybe a lot more than you need. The distributors I go to often only sell lengths and half lengths. A few common pieces in 5' or 8'

---

Every place I've bought stock from will provide 1 cut for free, each additional cut is a fee. No problem.

True. I guess there wouldn't be that much extra of anything if you planned your design out to maximize the use of 20 feet of materials at a time. I say that as someone with a big pile of steel tube and bar in my garage as leftovers from previous projects. I suppose it'll get used eventually.

If you find someone let me know, I've been interested in a truck rack for my F150 for a while and if someone can do one locally better than what's available out there I would be very interested.

Steel prices are at an all time high right now.

If you have a bunch of random leftovers, you might think about taking it down to C&D Scrap and trading it for $2.00 bills.

I'm getting about the same for scrap now than I was selling prime steel a year ago.

Question for the group (from a side convo with NRD)... rather than steel, what about aluminum? I'd be looking at maybe 200lb max being hauled on the rack. Aluminum would be lighter weight for taking it off and storage. Would it be more cost efficient?

chjoak said:

---

Question for the group (from a side convo with NRD)... rather than steel, what about aluminum? I'd be looking at maybe 200lb max being hauled on the rack. Aluminum would be lighter weight for taking it off and storage. Would it be more cost efficient?

---

Steel will be your most economical material.
Easy to cut and weld. A decent GMAW (MIG) welder (Person not equipment) will be able to make good welds that will SAFELY hold everything together.
Cost effective
For what you're doing the rack may be a little heavy, but not significant in the back of a truck

Aluminum will be lighter.
More difficult to weld - It's different than steel. Need someone who knows what they are doing.
Some of the aluminum tubing and angle I've welded over the years has issues with cracking due to vibration.
Again - need someone who knows what they are doing with aluminum (more $...)

Here's another thought that may help on some of the fabrication.
Find a good electrician who can bend rigid conduit. Have him bend you two "hoops" for the front and back of the frame - then run the horizontal braces (front to back) with some 3/4" or 1" square tubing to tie it all together.
Some angle on the "feet" of the hoops to clamp to the bed rails. You can weld on the rigid conduit without a problem.

Or find an offroad fab shop and have them bend you some DOM tubing for the hoops.....

These guys do good fabrication/offroad work.

Brave Motorsports

BRAVE Motorsports
4416 Steffani Lane
Houston, TX 77041
713.896.8559

Here's a rack they built for their overland Dodge 2500. Similar to what you're looking to build.

I have a guy in Hockley that will build a custom rack. He is actually working on something similar for his own truck. PM me and I can give you his info.