Modifying roof rack to accommodate tent and canoe/kayak

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JtD88

JtD88

Member
Posts
18
Location
Darlington
Hi, has anyone tried to carry a roof tent and a canoe? I've thrown together this idea to accommodate both safely and without damaging either. Constructive criticism is appreciated!

Aim
Getting the roof tent and canoe secured. Modify roof rack to accommodate both.

Math/Method
  1. Measure the depth of the tent against the depth given from the rack
  2. Modify side of the rack so tent would sit into the rack and open without obstruction (Cutting the rails off one side allowing it to fold out)
  3. Fit points front and back of the rack for canoe to be secure and lay flush across the top of the tent (Raised mounts if needed to lift canoe height above the tent)
Image 1/2 - Lower the tent depth into the frame of the rack. Cut sides out of the rack so tent can open and sit more flush

Image 2/3 - Establish the tent depth and the racking depth to see how flush the tent will sit allowing canoe to sit lower and be supported on the rack. If tent is not flush, fabricate two mounts front and back to raise canoe so its strapped to the rack and not damaging the tent.
 

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Fit the canoe sideways across the front of the rack might work...

Otherwise, simply fabricate uprights on the sides of 5he rack to accommodate the canoe, L shaped brackets will suffice and allow the tent to sit on the roof rack as intended
 
hi, its a defender 90 , bnb is too mainstream! we want to visit/camp more remote locations! .. L shape racking isn't a bad idea. were you thinking to run parallel with the 90? if so, what overhang off of one side is acceptable do you know? thanks
 
JtD88 said:
hi, its a defender 90 , bnb is too mainstream! we want to visit/camp more remote locations! .. L shape racking isn't a bad idea. were you thinking to run parallel with the 90? if so, what overhang off of one side is acceptable do you know? thanks
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t risk an overhang of more than a few inches, you’ll be tempting fate otherwise, especially squeezing down the smaller lanes. I had a ladder on top once, one with those horizontal stabiliser bars on the base, the stabiliser was sticking out from the roof rack by about 6”. I met a bin lorry down a small lane and as we were squeezing past each other crunch! We were all to busy making sure the body of the vehicles didn’t touch, we forgot to look up at the roof!
 
bluedog333 said:
I wouldn’t risk an overhang of more than a few inches, you’ll be tempting fate otherwise, especially squeezing down the smaller lanes. I had a ladder on top once, one with those horizontal stabiliser bars on the base, the stabiliser was sticking out from the roof rack by about 6”. I met a bin lorry down a small lane and as we were squeezing past each other crunch! We were all to busy making sure the body of the vehicles didn’t touch, we forgot to look up at the roof!
Click to expand...

Yes thats a valid point about the lanes, maybe a good idea as i can imagine in a narrow situation your mind can forgot about whats on the roof! Il figure something out. I like the satisfaction of modifying to work instead of going the easy route of buying a pop up tent and an inflatable canoe :)
 
JtD88 said:
Yes thats a valid point about the lanes, maybe a good idea as i can imagine in a narrow situation your mind can forgot about whats on the roof! Il figure something out. I like the satisfaction of modifying to work instead of going the easy route of buying a pop up tent and an inflatable canoe :)
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I’m quite tempted by the inflatables they sell in Decathlon, a lot easy than lugging the Coleman Explore up and down on to the roof rack. Though part of me loves the look of a fully-loaded Landy with canoe on the roof and bikes on the back!
 
bluedog333 said:
I’m quite tempted by the inflatables they sell in Decathlon, a lot easy than lugging the Coleman Explore up and down on to the roof rack. Though part of me loves the look of a fully-loaded Landy with canoe on the roof and bikes on the back!
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as daft as it sounds you can't beat a mean looking defender fully loaded!!
 
Some hard shell rooftents have roof bars built in. Example would be the Autohome Maggiolina Extreme which can take up to 25 kg on top of the hard shell.


Brendan
 
you could open your tent over the rear, and it could over hang a little that way when folded up (mine does), then a brownchurch (?) slightly forward hanging roof rack and you might have enough space to either have the canoe forward of the tent, or slide it fwd (rather than taking it off) when you need the tent to open.

law is broad on fwd / rear overhang. But you hardly get any room for error when side overhanging.
 
I used to carry a large Canadian on top of my 109". You will both (it really needs two people) need to be fairly strong and agile to load and unload it. If it were me, I'd look at an extra frame to hold the canoe upside down over the top of the folded tent, in the centre of the roof. You will need to avoid very windy days - and the forth bridge - as you are effectively fitting a large sail to the top of a heavy vehicle with soft springs, it can get exciting!
 
Easy. The back of the canoe - mounted inverted - sits on the roof tent assuming it's mounted towards the rear of the rack. The front sits on the front of the rack, suitably supported to get it level if you're fussed. I have a sea kayak which I load using that principle. The major issue is "how do you get it up there, and down again?". Some thought required there.
 
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