Took the Exped kayaking over the weekend

[Maverick1701]

I finally had some days off and decided to pack up the girlfriend and kayaks so we could take a day trip up to Lake Meredith (north-ish of Amarillo, TX).
The Exped did very well....no complaints whatsoever.

Pictures are attached....as we all know, pics or it didnt happen!

I wish we had snapped some pics at the lake but we both forgot our cameras...DOH!


the front straps I ran into the bumper and was able to hook on the frame (I really didnt want to hook directly to the bumper itself)
The rear straps I hooked into the towing chain holes on the hitch. The middle straps hooked perfectly to the luggage racks.

 

[Bowesmobile]

You know I've never tried Kayaking! Good to know I can fit two on the roof rack if I ever wanted to though. Any reason for so many tie downs on kayaks? Is it a fear of putting too much pressure on one area and cracking the hull?

 

[Maverick1701]

You know I've never tried Kayaking! Good to know I can fit two on the roof rack if I ever wanted to though. Any reason for so many tie downs on kayaks? Is it a fear of putting too much pressure on one area and cracking the hull?

Kayaking is a lot of fun. And its much much cheaper than buying a motorboat.

I wanted to make sure I had more than enough straps. I had to drive a pretty good distance on a major highway and I didnt want anything to come loose....I dont want any of that liability (if the kayaks came loose and caused a wreck or something).

Im not worried about cracking the hull of my kayaks. Mine are plastic. Even when cinched down w/the straps which caused some of the rim of the boat (where you enter/exit) to bend a little, everything popped back into place when I pulled it from the top of the truck.

 

[Bowesmobile]

I dont know how much cheaper it'd be for me. Wife, four kids and if each one needed their own kayak, lol. We live about 2 miles from the James river in Virginia. So we have a good option for going!

 

[Maverick1701]

I dont know how much cheaper it'd be for me. Wife, four kids and if each one needed their own kayak, lol. We live about 2 miles from the James river in Virginia. So we have a good option for going!

YIKES! yea that would add up pretty quick
I dont know what we payed for these (parents bought them when we were kids in the late 90s). At least w/kayaks you dont have to buy fuel or insurance and the kids will sleep well that night after paddling everywhere hahaha

 

[splintrcel]

i tired putting my kayaks on the roof like that and one time they fell off and left a nice dent so i just went and got a rack. I am not messing around trying to get them on the roof with out a rack. I had them pretty much like you did Maverick but with out the forward ties which prob was an issue waiting to happen for me.

 

[Bowesmobile]

YIKES! yea that would add up pretty quick
I dont know what we payed for these (parents bought them when we were kids in the late 90s). At least w/kayaks you dont have to buy fuel or insurance and the kids will sleep well that night after paddling everywhere hahaha

So true! It would definitely pay me back with quiet time while the kids sleep!

 

[Idahokid]

A nice canoe can provide fun also.I had an Old Town and it was great to fish or just cruz.