How to Carry a Canoe on a Pickup Truck

The problem with carrying a canoe in a pickup is that the bed is seldom long enough to carry the canoe without it hanging far over the tailgate and becoming a hazard to following cars and an unstable load. If the bow is placed up on top of the cab, the lower rear end puts the canoe in a position to catch the rush of wind as the truck travels and may create unsafe lift for driving. You need to carry the canoe level.

Things You'll Need

  • Three 2-by-4 boards, 8 feet long
  • Two 4-inch carriage bolts
  • Bungee cords, rope or ratchet tie-downs
  • Power Saw
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Instructions

  1. Quick Pickup Truck Canoe Rack

    • 1

      Rip cut a pair of 2-by-4s so they fit down into the stake holders--the square holes on the sides at the back of the truck bed. Insert the now approximately 2-by-3 board into the hole so it sticks up a few inches higher than the back of the pickup.

    • 2

      Bolt a 2-by-4 across the top between the upright boards and a little higher than the cab. Wrap foam or carpet pieces around the top cross members and secure it with zip ties to protect the gunwales of the canoe.

    • 3

      Split a Styrofoam swim noodle that is hollow in the middle. Cut it halfway through so you can pull apart the noodle and clamp it over the gunwales of the canoe. Clamp the noodle strips over the gunwales (sides) of the canoe at the front end. This protects the canoe and the roof of the truck as well.

    • 4

      Lift the canoe onto the top of the truck with the padded gunwales toward the front of the truck so that the Styrofoam padding rests atop the cab. The back end of the canoe sits atop the cross member of the assembly at the back of the bed.

    • 5

      At the front, tie two ropes or ratchet tie-downs to loop in the bow of the canoe. Run one over the left front of the truck and attach to the tow loops under the front frame. These are steel loops used to attach the truck to the assembly line during manufacturing. Attach the other rope over the right front side to the tow loop on that side. Don't tighten it yet. The ropes should look like an upside down “V”. Attach the rear of the canoe to the top of the wooden framework on the back of the bed with bungee cords or ratchet ties. Attach the canoe directly to any hooks or loops in the bed of the truck to hold down the canoe and the wooden framework so it doesn't bounce when traveling. Now, toss your paddles and life jackets in the back of the truck with a cooler and you're ready to go. The canoe sits level and doesn't catch the wind.