Transporting Kayaks

[MAM]

Dear All,

Do any of you transport a Kayak (or two) on your caravan? After a recent trip away we've decided to buy a kayak as this is a watersport that my young children can also participate in.

However, how do I transport a 12ft Kayak? I don't want to use the roof of the car as I already carry four bikes on there so I was thinking about using the roof of the caravan. Has anyone else transported large, light (32kg) objects this way?

 

[Oldfogey]

I think I would be very dubious about this. Modern caravans carry quite a lot of weight high up, and to add more, as weel as increasing the height, and thus the vulnerability to side winds, sounds like a recipe for instability.

Do you not have a large enough opening end window to enable you to slide a kayak inside? This would be much preferable (as long as it is within the load limits of the van).

If you had a word with a local carpet shop, they should be able to provide you with the tube of plastic carpet rolls arrive in, which you could slip on to keep the van clean.

 

[Rod_5041370]

Both of my caravans are fitted with roof rails and bars for carrying surfboards, skis etc. up to 50Kg.

Check out the Fiamma website to see if they would be suitable for your caravan, if so fix them so the bolts are hidden inside the lockers/wardrobe.

 

[JimP]

Would you not be better off transporting it inside the caravan????

I've got a 12ft sit on top kayak and although I've not took it with me yet, when I do it will be put inside the van rather than the roof of the car or indeed the van.

 

[Rod_5041370]

Providing you don't need to take it out on every over night stop.

OK if you're going straight from home to your final destination in one go but a "pita" if you are touring to Spain, Italy or even Southern France.

 

[MAM]

Bought the Kayak. After spending all Sunday on the water in 5 or 6 different kayaks we've chosen a Wilderness Tarpon 130T.

Carried it home down the middle of the caravan and got it in there through the back window. It just about fitted down the middle of our Pageant Provence. At 30kg I wasn't too worried about the weight. Trouble is - we bought a new "dry" one - next time we come back it'll be a wet boat so we might have to take the bikes off the roof of the car.

Or back to thinking how it might go on the roof of the caravan!