How to Haul a 17' Canoe

[Longhorn1500]

Hi all. We just purchased a 17 foot canoe. Our truck (2014 CC SB, see picture below) has a Leer Canopy with Thule rack/crossbars. To get the Canoe home, we put it on the rack with more of the canoe up forward so the nose of the canoe was just forward of the front windshield with about three feet hanging over past the back of the truck bed. We put a folded up camping sleeping pad under the nose of the canoe on the cab roof including partly on the sun roof, then we lashed it down to the rack and put a rope through the nose of the canoe tied to our front hitch (not shown in the picture).

I would like to have a better setup than this for hauling the canoe. I would prefer to get one of those crossbars that goes into the front hitch receiver (see picture below, but it would go in the front hitch receiver). However, the distance between that crossbar and the front one on the canopy would be about 14 feet. That would leave about 1-1/2 feet of the canoe hanging off of the crossbars at each end, at that spot, the canoe is about 11 inches wide; at its widest, it is 34 inches.

Another option would be to install a crossbar on the roof of the truck. I do not like this as there are no rails to mount a rack on the roof so it would have to strap onto the door openings somehow.

Anyone have any thoughts or ideas. Anyone put a rack on the roof of their truck?

Thank you for your help!! Oh, and we need to be able to haul the canoe while towing the trailer in the picture.

 

[Gero]

Yakima 60" round bars with the ram Q clips.

 

[17Delmonico]

I would go with Gero's idea. There are several companies that make temporary roof rails, including Thule (since you already have their rack on the cap). They hold very well, and they don't interfere with the doors closing. I had a set for one of my previous cars, and it worked great. Clip it on, mount whatever you're going to mount (I had a soft roof bag on mine), and when you're not using it, just unclip it and store it somewhere.

 

[Longhorn1500]

Yakima 60" round bars with the ram Q clips.

Thank you @Gero that looks great. Do they mar the paint at all where they grip the top? How do you like them? And thank you @17Delmonico also; will look into the temporary rails too.

 

[Gero]

Thank you @Gero that looks great. Do they mar the paint at all where they grip the top? How do you like them? And thank you @17Delmonico also; will look into the temporary rails too.

No problem. My paint and clearcoat looks untouched but I know you can get protective clear pads that stick on.

I haven't used it much to be honest but when we do, it's for the canoe.

 

[Longhorn1500]

^^^ Roger that!! Thank you very much.