Kayak / Camping

[ThunderClap]

FNG here, just bought a 2025 Space White Tremor and am excited to start adding to it. I’m trying to find the best and most flexible option to balance having the ability to bring tubs, tents or other car camping gear with loading a kayak or two at the same time. I have a hitch extender already from my old truck but obviously using the bed doesn’t leave much room for gear if I have kidding the cab.
Looking at something like a Retrax with bed racks but hate having that canister take up 1 of the 5.5 feet. Anyone have a cool build they’ve used for kayak + car camping?
Thanks!

 

[ApolloChurchill]

Something like a BAK Revolver X4TS and the Elevate bed rack from RealTruck might be something to consider. Similar concept to the Retrax but the BAK doesn’t take up bed space.

 

[Escape Hatch]

This is what I have. Allows me to still use the bed for my coolers, food, and camping gear while using the rack for water, shower, shovel/are, etc..

 

[Rabidtastic]

Retrax definitely takes up too much room especially for the longer kayaks and you'd loose what little bed storage that would be available for paraphernalia. I started working on converting an old lawn/utility trailer into an offroad/roof tent/kayak trailer a while back and just got too busy to fart with it. Might be easier might be more of a pain in the ass for you. You could prob fit a couple small tubs cab side between the yaks/wheel wells but i doubt that'd be enough room if you're taking the kids. do you have large enough cargo areas on the yaks themselves to shove shit in them for transport?

 

[ThunderClap]

Something like a BAK Revolver X4TS and the Elevate bed rack from RealTruck might be something to consider. Similar concept to the Retrax but the BAK doesn’t take up bed space.

Yeah I've been thinking about the Revolver X4TS or the Bakflip MX4TS but kind of like the Yakima HD bed racks a bit more than the Elevate, but think the X4 or M4 + Elevate would help save that valuable bed space.

 

[ThunderClap]

This is what I have. Allows me to still use the bed for my coolers, food, and camping gear while using the rack for water, shower, shovel/are, etc..

View attachment 41395

That looks awesome!

 

[ThunderClap]

Retrax definitely takes up too much room especially for the longer kayaks and you'd loose what little bed storage that would be available for paraphernalia. I started working on converting an old lawn/utility trailer into an offroad/roof tent/kayak trailer a while back and just got too busy to fart with it. Might be easier might be more of a pain in the ass for you. You could prob fit a couple small tubs cab side between the yaks/wheel wells but i doubt that'd be enough room if you're taking the kids. do you have large enough cargo areas on the yaks themselves to shove shit in them for transport?

Yeah that's what I was thinking too. I'd love to do the trailer but probably can't afford to give up the garage space to store the trailer. There is a bit of room in the kayaks to store stuff and around them so honestly probably not an issue. Just wouldn't be able to keep the camping stuff in the large tubs I have them in now.

 

[Rabidtastic]

Yeah that's what I was thinking too. I'd love to do the trailer but probably can't afford to give up the garage space to store the trailer. There is a bit of room in the kayaks to store stuff and around them so honestly probably not an issue. Just wouldn't be able to keep the camping stuff in the large tubs I have them in now.

Depending on your kayaks/how you have to stack em when you run 2 could you pull a seat and put the tub in there then just strap that down with like a bungee net or something?