How to Tie Down a Kayak in a Truck Bed
If you are planning on traveling somewhere for a kayaking trip and you are a first-time kayak owner, you may be unsure how to transport a kayak in your truck.
In this article you will learn how to properly secure a kayak in the bed of your truck. It is important that you tightly secure any cargo you are transporting in the bed of a pickup truck to be sure that nothing falls out.
How to Position Kayaks in Your Truck Bed
When you are loading kayaks in your truck bed, it is best to travel with the tailgate open. If your liftgate is closed, your kayak will be protruding out of the bed into the air.
This position is not ideal as it may cause part of the kayak to be disturbed by the wind as you are traveling. When you leave the liftgate of your truck open it allows the kayaks to be undisturbed.
What Equipment to Use
The best way to secure a kayak to your truckbed is to use cam straps. These adjustable straps will allow you to tightly tie down your kayak. If you do not have any of these straps, you can purchase them online or at a local retail store.
In some cases, your kayak may be unstable when it is hanging out the back of your truck because the kayak is too long. There are towing attachments for a truck that are sold on amazon to remedy this. The device attaches to your hitch and acts as extra support for your kayak.
Where to Put Straps on a Kayak
When your kayak or multiple kayaks are positioned in the bed of your truck with the tailgate down, you are ready to put the cam straps across your cargo to secure it.
It is best to place several straps over the kayaks to ensure that they will not move during transport. When deciding where to run the straps across your kayak, make note of all handles that are attached to the kayak for carrying.
These handles are a good place to run your straps through as they will give you an extra layer of security. You will want to run several straps across the front and back ends of your kayak.
Another good place to place a strap is across the small lip that protrudes from the cockpit in the center of your kayak.
Make Sure you are Safe When Driving
It is good practice to tie a red flag to the end of your kayak so that vehicles behind you know that your kayak is protruding out the back of your truck bed.
You should also travel at relatively low speeds and make sure to check your rearview mirror often for any signs of your kayak moving around.
If you notice that your kayak is not completely secured and jostling around at all when you are driving, stop immediately to resecure or reposition your straps.
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