Trying to decide on the best sit-on-top fishing kayak (<11') storage solution with a Promaster long wheel base (not sure if extended yet) and ride improvement kit. 3 options I see are:
Top mounted is problematic with planned 2 max fans and solar panels mounted on a rectangular roof box spanning the top width. Removing kayak just to not shade the solar panels seems PITA. In addition, roof box + solar panels + suspension/large tires + kayak height might exceed the 14' min bridge height.
For the side mounted solution, I wonder about problems with:
Also, this blocks off the garage I plan to put in the back of the van (rear doors must open).
The best solution I saw was only for Sprinters but it had a hitch extension on passenger side and a hinge so the entire rack can swing out and you can access rear doors and the garage.
In addition there may be a height issue as a 10'7' kayak plus 2 feet of hitch clearance + suspension/large tires could come close to 14'.
Any help on this would be appreciated. Looking in particular for input on kayak durability in the hitch situation and side rack experience.
This site had the hitch-no-garage-access solutions.
[font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,][font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,]https://vertiyak.com[/font][/font]
[font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,]Here's the video with the swing-gate approach (garage/rear door access): [/font]
[size=small][font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,]
- Top mounted (solar shading)
- Side mounted
- Hitch mounted (rear, vertical kayak)
Top mounted is problematic with planned 2 max fans and solar panels mounted on a rectangular roof box spanning the top width. Removing kayak just to not shade the solar panels seems PITA. In addition, roof box + solar panels + suspension/large tires + kayak height might exceed the 14' min bridge height.
For the side mounted solution, I wonder about problems with:
- Drivability (parking, manuevering)
- Durability (not sure if the rack would hold up)
- Vibration
Also, this blocks off the garage I plan to put in the back of the van (rear doors must open).
The best solution I saw was only for Sprinters but it had a hitch extension on passenger side and a hinge so the entire rack can swing out and you can access rear doors and the garage.
In addition there may be a height issue as a 10'7' kayak plus 2 feet of hitch clearance + suspension/large tires could come close to 14'.
Any help on this would be appreciated. Looking in particular for input on kayak durability in the hitch situation and side rack experience.
This site had the hitch-no-garage-access solutions.
[font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,][font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,]https://vertiyak.com[/font][/font]
[font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,]Here's the video with the swing-gate approach (garage/rear door access): [/font]
[size=small][font=DDG_ProximaNova, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_0, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_1, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_2, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_3, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_4, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_5, DDG_ProximaNova_UI_6,]