Aluminium car topper. Yakima Rack Mounted Canoe Carrier & Yakima HD Crossbar Kit installed

[bigblockfox545]

Not sure if this has been done before so thought i would share.

Ford accessories part #'s used

VKB3Z-7855100-D (Yakima Rack Mounted Canoe Carrier)
VM1PZ-7855100-A (Yakima HD Crossbar Kit)

I also used a product that my dad purchased in the early 90's that i cant find much info on. Its called a totem pole and was made in canada at one time. makes a car topper real easy to load by yourself. it clamps on to the transom of the boat then lets you swing the boat around to the front while it pivots on the carrier. imagine wouldnt be to hard to fab up.

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[bigblockfox545]

final product

 

[Austin Bronco]

Looks really nice, well done sir.

 

[Free Pizza]

Very good. I have a jon boat I'd like to do this to.

 

[Billy Goat]

Outstanding! I fabbed one up years ago, didn't think one had ever been made, yours looks better. Calm Seas!

 

[GCC88]

Not sure if this has been done before so thought i would share.

Ford accessories part #'s used

VKB3Z-7855100-D (Yakima Rack Mounted Canoe Carrier)
VM1PZ-7855100-A (Yakima HD Crossbar Kit)

I also used a product that my dad purchased in the early 90's that i cant find much info on. Its called a totem pole and was made in canada at one time. makes a car topper real easy to load by yourself. it clamps on to the transom of the boat then lets you swing the boat around to the front while it pivots on the carrier. imagine wouldnt be to hard to fab up.

It look’s awkward but when you need to get the playing skill in go for it!

 

[Jtbob3]

Looks great.

 

[redone17]

Inspired! There is one nice lake by us that I want to take our little boat on, but it’s off of the parkway - so, no trailers.

 

[Danny's Bronco]

That's great! I wanna learn more about this Totem Pole.

I have a little 12' wood and canvas boat from the 40's called a Penn Yan Cartopper I want to put on my 2 door when it gets here soon. So relaxing to be out in a smaller boat on a calm lake.

 

[JT58Bronc]

Looks really nice. I would opt to do the same to carry kayaks and paddle boards but the carrier option you have is quite pricey. You need the factory rack at $800, then the cross bar kit at about $500? Then the canoe adapters to hold the canoe. Then the custom piece in the back. A used boat trailer would be way cheaper. I so wish there was an affordable easily removeable full rack system for like $400 but I have not been able to find anything. So I like the trailer option- even a folding one- provided you have a place to store it. But in my case I do not.

 

[TroutTrooper]

Yeahhhh we're gonna need to see how this totem pole works.

 

[Tricky Dick]

When you've finally had enough of the leaking MIC top.

 

[bigblockfox545]

i will post more pics of the totem pole when i get back from my trip for those that are interested.

i have a utility trailer that the boat stays on normally behind my f350 with my big foot camper. it sits on rack so my atv can go under neath. the problem is its heavy trailer and not very manoeuvrable off road. i'd rather not tow a trailer if i dont have too.

i ordered my bronco with the roof rack because i knew this was something i needed so all i had to add was the cross bars and the boat keel kit. yes it was expensive. my dad used carpeted 2x4 on the roofs of his explorers but they didnt fit between the roof and the rack, also didnt want a bunch of weight bouncing around on the MIC roof. yakima wanted $350 canadian for oar holders so i made my own with random amazon stuff for less than $100.

if all you have is canoes and kayaks you will not need the totem pole since they have no transom to mount too.

 

[GaryB2220]

I have been a hair away from pulling the trigger on the exact same cross bar kit and canoe carrier (keelover). I already own the reel deal (fishing rod holder) and have it mounted on the factory rails.
Im hoping that the yakima cross bars will sit at just the right height that my rods will clear the bars.
Could you please please please measure from the top of the factory cross bars to the bottom & top of the yakima bars?

Closest yakima authorized distributer to me is 180 miles away and they dont have the timberline towers and cross bars in stock or available to test.

I quoted/shared my original post. and for fun, here is my bronco with a 17' canoe on top without anything other than cam straps.

Hoping someone already tried this before i spend ~$1,000 to find out on my own if you can have the reeldeal rod mount, keelover canoe gunwale carriers, and yakima bar all up on your roof rails without intereference between the rods and the yakima HD bars.

I have the rod mount up there now and its great. Recently bought a canoe and it also fits up on the rack, but cannot load up the rod holder.
The yakima HD bar mounts to the roof rails, basically giving you cross bars several inches higher than the factory ones. Then the keelover canoe mounts can go on that lifting your canoe up above the rod holder, or at least, just barely.

Yakima support said it might work, but they dont give out dimensions or will load up the 3d models and check the assembly for us.

what would be super helpful, is if anyone with the yakima HD cross bar kit from the ford store could measure the height space between the factory cross bars and the bottom side of the yakima bars. Im wondering if when the rod mount is loaded with rods, will they clear the yakima bar or be blocked by them?

The picture i could find online shows the rod mounts on a yakima bar, but mine are on the factory rails (highlighted).

each part has a vague overall dimension but not enough info to know if the rods will clear above/below the bar or be blocked by it.

Also, if there was a spacer to get the yakima bar a few inches higher, if needed, that would be great but yakima support didnt offer a solution on that.

 

[bigblockfox545]

Few more pics

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