There is nothing like going on a good vacation and finding a relaxing sanctuary with your pick-up truck. Going on a field trip is cool, but going on a field trip and kayaking is better!
Whether it be a lake, river, or sea, you get to enjoy a ride of whatever pace you want: a rampaging water roller coaster or a calm relaxing row. Do not forget fishing. You have to catch all of those fish and get ready for a blast!
All of that sounds fun, but there is one problem.
Therefore, you have a Kayak, an adventure plan, and a pick-up truck. However, what could go wrong? You have all these things checked on your checklist, but you do not know how to secure a kayak in a truck bed!
Total catastrophe!
How are you going to bring it to a kayaking water adventure? How are you going to secure it to the back of the truck without any damage? Lucky for you, you came to the right place. Ready for answers? Here are six simple steps on tying your kayak in the back of the truck.
Step by step to tie down a kayak in a truck bed:
Step 1: Clear your Truck bed
If you have a huddle of objects and a mess jumbled up and taking space, how are you going to fit your kayak in with the cluster? Make sure you make room for your kayak. You do not have to close the tailgate. Everyone knows a kayak is long, so you have to open it to let it fit.
You need to clean up the back so that your kayak can be on a smooth surface. You do not like any scratches in it, do you? You have to let the kayak stay in good condition if you intend going into deep waters. Who knows the possibilities of it sinking while you are in the middle of the deepest lake?
Step 2: Foam Blocks/ Padding in your Truck Bed
One should not let their kayak rest directly onto the truck bed. When the truck is already in motion and is rattling the back, the kayak, although tied down tightly, will still be able to slam hard on the metal surface due to bumpy roads and will either get scratched or damaged, depending on the current condition of your kayak.
If your yak were the type that comes with a rudder or a skeg, it would be best to put foam blocks or padding to prevent damages. Put the foams and pads underneath the yak so that it will not move as much. It is like putting sand on a slippery sidewalk. Easy peasy!
Step 3: Lift your Yak into your Truck
Make sure that when lifting the Kayak onto the truck bed, you have help. Unless you can carry it yourself of course. It all depends on the weight of your yak. When pushing it to the end of the truck bed, make sure not to let it slam to the rear panel.
Always remember to put it in stern first. Remember to let the bow, the rear of the yak, face the back.
Step 4: Secure with Cam Straps
Cam straps are the ones you use to tie the kayak into place. Using these will also help prevent the top parts like the stern, bow, port, and starboard from bumping into the wheel tub or the walls of the truck bed. They play an essential role when importing your kayak to your designated vacation location.
You pull the cam straps over either side of the kayak and pull them through the side carry handles or the scupper holes. After that, you tie the ends of the cam straps to the anchor points of the truck on opposite sides.
When done, you take the buckle and pull it to guarantee secure transportation. Do not make the cam straps too tight but do not make it too loose either.
Make it secure enough to let it stay steady. Making it too tight will cause damage to the vessel.
Step 5: Lock It
Why should you lock it to your truck bed?
So it will not be stolen when you are filling the truck with gas, you want to take a bite outside, or enjoy the view a bit while you have not reached your destination. What you need when locking your yak to the truck bed is a locking cable. Secure enough for theft.
Let the locking cable go through either any hole your kayak has, the yak handle or the supper hole. After that, you secure or lock it to the end of bed extender or the truck bed. Pick your choice between the two!
Step 6: Red Flag
Now going on to the last step.
After clearing your truck bed tonneau cover, adding foam blocks, lifting your kayak, and securing it, the last step is to tie a red flag at the end of the yak.
Why?
The red flag indicates that the one behind you, while you’re driving, should not go close to it or that it is valuable cargo at the back of your truck.
Consider it as a warning sign. It’s red for a reason.
Here is a video that you might enjoy to support the steps that I have just mentioned. Check it out!
Conclusion
Did you find it easy to understand? All of them are simple to do. Now that you have tied your kayak to the back of the truck, get ready for an adventure with a variety of water activities. Catch those fish and row those paddles!
I am Dave McCurdy I am the content developer on the ecodrivingusa.com website. I have 6 years of experience in marketing as an automotive major.