Setting up a rack for your RV kayak can be challenging when you first start kayaking. Most people find it difficult to determine precisely which rack will fit and how to get started. While it can be costly to buy purpose-built kayak racks for RVs, it is possible to go with the DIY vertical kayak rack option or other design that could fit better.
How do you design your kayak rack without spending hours on YouTube or welding many metal components together? Luckily, our guide has all you need to develop a kayak carrier to meet your needs, from using an existing cargo carrier as a kayak rack for your RV to something more elaborate.
By the end, you’ll see most use the tow hitch to take the weight, and you can carry one or two kayaks with little extra effort. (Find the Best Kayak Fish Finder)
Carry Kayaks On RV Roof
Because they are reasonably priced and simple to install, kayak roof racks are an everyday RV accessory, especially on travel trailers. However, because the wind can generate a lot of lift beneath the rack when it moves quickly, make sure yours is tied firmly.
A roof rack can be an excellent platform for more than kayaks. It works well for additional camping supplies, baggage, water jugs, and other goods. Additionally, you may use a few pool noodles to make a relatively affordable DIY roof rack.
Ratchet everything down with straps to the roof, ensuring they’re as far apart as the ends of your kayak. Use as many pool noodles as possible to hold it down as you haul your RV down the highway toward the lake. One downside is that you need help to get your kayaks onto the roof, hence the reason you need to know how to build a vertical kayak rack for an RV.
DIY Kayak Rack for RV
Most DIY kayak racks made by campers use the hitch mount cargo carrier for the base of their rack. Most hook right onto your tow hitch, thus have the strength to hold hundreds of pounds, which is ample for one or two kayaks standing upright.
Here is the first of several options to help you build your new RV kayak rack.
What You Need:
- Hitch mount cargo carrier with over 500 lbs. carrying capacity to include camping gear and your kayak.
- 2 x ratchet straps
- A cargo net including a heavy-duty hitch stabilizer.
Directions
1. Assemble the Tray
Most racks are 60 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 6 inches tall. Assemble and position it onto your RV’s tow hitch.
2. Use Empty Milk Crates
Strap empty milk crates to your base, and protect them using foam packing sheets. You could cut custom holes and use a suitable container like a bucket for sitting the end of your kayak into.
3. Strap Kayaks Securely
Using the height of your RV to make your vertical kayak rack is straightforward. First, mount your kayaks by standing on the end. Next, strap the top end to the RV’s rear ladder and your cargo tray. Next, strap the bottom end to the ladder at the back. Your kayak is firmly positioned as it sits below the cargo tray surface. (Learn How To Load A Kayak By Yourself)
What To Consider
You should consider vertical clearance when storing your DIY kayak rack on the back of your RV, as well as the total weight of the kayaks and gear.
Most kayaks weigh between 30 and 80 pounds, and most often, the weight won’t be a concern unless you also want to pack lots of other equipment.
Besides this, the kayak’s height comes from its length. For instance, a twelve-footer may impact clearance should you come to a low bridge, as it will stick out more than the top of your RV.
DIY RV Kayak Rack Carrier
You can make a rack for bikes and kayaks; size and length are the determining factors. Although, you can quickly scale these for bigger bikes and longer kayaks without too much effort.
What You Need:
- Bumper sleeve materials
- Stanchions for bike rack
- Attach bar for camper rear wall
- Kayak pads
- Bike rack pads
- Ratchet straps (optional)
Directions
1. Build Your Bumper Sleeve
- 2” x 2” x 6 feet long steel angle iron
- 2″ x 6″ x 6 .4 feet long wood boards
- 2 x 3/8” x 4” x 7” shackle bolts
- Build your bumper sleeve using the wood boards and steel angle iron. To assemble it, form an “L” with adhesive and bolts.
- The shackle bolts should then install on either side of your bumper sleeve. Instead of placing it on your RV’s bumper, place it around the camper frame.
2. Make Your Kayak Pads
- 2” x 12” wood boards
- ¾” PVC tubing
- Your kayak’s base should be made of wooden boards. Make a hole on your kayak pads to sit in the end of your kayak.
- Likewise, wrap the pads in PVC tubing. When your RV is running, it acts like support to hold your kayaks securely.
- Next, fasten your kayak pads to your bumper sleeve using adhesive and bolts. Their backs should encircle the bumper and extend to the length of it.
3. Bike Rack Pads
- 2” x 6” wood boards
- 2” U-clamp
- 2 x 1” aluminum channel
- For each side, you’ll need two bike rack pads. As a result, you also need two sets of each material. Use planks made of wood for the surface.
- The U-clamp with an aluminum channel on each side is fastened in the middle of the surface.
- Since you’ll be placing it vertically, it supports the rear tire of your bike. After that, fasten your bumper sleeve to your bike rack pads with adhesive and bolts.
4. Bike Rack Fixings
- 2 × 4” wood
- 1-1/2 inch x 1-1/2 foot aluminum L channel
- 2” U-clamp
- 2 x 1” aluminum channel
- You’ll also need two bike rack fixtures.
- Bolt the top and bottom of each bike rack fixture to the aluminum L channel.
- Then bolt it vertically to your bumper sleeve.
- As with the bike rack pads, attach the U-clamp with an aluminum channel to the top of each fixture.
- It’ll hold your bike’s vertical front tire.
- Attach it to your bumper sleeve with adhesive and bolts.
5. Camper Back Wall Bar
1 x 6 feet long 1” steel angle iron
2 x ¾” PVC pipe
Pin sets
3 x Anchor loop hold-downs (ratchet straps optional)
- Attach the steel angle iron to the rear of your RV. Drill five mounting holes in the wall, then bolt it in place.
- Then, to secure your bike rack fittings, drill two sets of 1” diameter clearance holes.
- Next, wrap each side of the PVC pipe in foam pipe insulation (pool noodles). It will act as bumpers for your rack’s upper portion. Next, install three anchor loop hold-downs so you can secure your kayaks.
6. Fit Kayak Hold Down Bar
- ¾” PVC fittings
- 2 x ¾” 200-PSI PVC pipe
- ¾” EMT steel pipe
- Spring pin
- To put it together, join a 200-PSI PVC pipe to each end of an EMT steel pipe. The 200-PSI PVC pipe should have the PVC fittings attached to each side.
- Its structure should feature a fixed end and a detachable connector or pin end for the other side.
- After that, put it on your RV. Your two kayaks hook together and are locked in a position to enhance security.
Note:
Most camper bumpers can’t hold a lot of weight. The camper frame is supposed to support most weight using this technique.
Therefore, if the bumper were not strengthened by welding an additional channel, using it would be dangerous.
You can also weld uprights to help support the weight of your kayaks and other gear rather than using your RV ladder as support. (Read Can One Person Use A Two Person Kayak)
Modified Cargo Racks
The heights of RVs make mounting kayaks or anything on the roof challenging and increase high driving clearance.
It might make sense to install your kayak on the rear of your RV for such reasons. Then, you can mount a sturdy rack to carry your kayaks vertically.
Using fold-down hitch-mounted cargo trays can save all the welding and metal construction.
These trays are used for bikes, generators, etc., yet you can modify them to hold your kayak.
The bottoms often mesh metal grating, so you’ll need to cut holes for the one end of your kayak. Then, simply protect the hole with pool noodles to prevent the kayak from touching the metal edges.
Different ways exist to secure your kayak’s top. For example, you can use a hitch-mounted truck bed extender to create an easy-to-access kayak rack.
The double hitch receiver is essential since it lets two items be attached to the hitch at once.
The truck bed extender will support and secure the kayak’s top. Protect your kayak’s metal bar with foam. Pool noodles work great.
Use a ladder for kayak support
A second option is to locate the cutouts in the cargo rack in line with your RV roof ladder. The ladder is a secure area where to strap kayaks. The downfall here is when the kayaks are in place, you won’t be able to access your roof. A single ratchet strap should be all you need to secure the kayak, so removal is quick and easy.
Custom-fitted kayak racks can be pricey, so DIY racks are very common. There are many creative ideas online on building a kayak rack for an RV, and many can be easily duplicated.
FAQs
Is it good to mount your RV Racks on the roof?
A roof-mounted rack is one way to move a kayak to an RV. DIY RV or travel trailer rack installation is easy. Securing your kayak is vital, especially when going at high speeds on freeways or highways.
A roof rack has other uses. It can carry your kayak and camping gear. It’s helpful to haul bags and water containers to your camping and kayaking location.
Can I carry two kayaks in my RV?
Yes, generally, you can store two kayaks fit in an RV. You just need a rack to store multiple kayaks. Choose smaller, lighter kayaks if you plan to transport more than two. Kayak trailers can carry two or more kayaks.
RVs can carry kayaks. 10-foot kayaks fit well in RV spaces. Ratchet straps and pool noodles mean you can easily adjust the strap and pool noodles to fit various-sized kayaks. (Learn How Much Weight Can A Kayak Hold)
Can I Use Wood To Build a Kayak Rack
The builder’s preferred material is wood. Wood can be shaped into almost anything, much like PVC. Perhaps building a kayak rack out of wood requires more expertise than building one out of PVC, as well as more equipment and fastening gear.
Finished wood is robust, long-lasting, and has a great aroma after being cut and sanded. Therefore, when selecting wood, choosing a species that will endure outside and be simple to deal with is crucial.
Mounting it to your RV is where using wood might be problematic. It will be simpler if a roof rack already exists, but it will be difficult to attach it directly to the roof or back of your RV. Generally, it’s not impossible, but it’s probably not the greatest option for how to build a kayak rack for an RV.
