Since I offloaded the sportwagon I don't have a very convenient way to haul the boat.
I threw this together last night with limited resources (skills and tools;))

Just wondering if anybody sees potential issues with it.

I plan to add eye bolts so I can the it down in the bed.

I like the addition of the BHA sticker! Awesome group to be associated with.

quote DeanL: "I like the addition of the BHA sticker! Awesome group to be associated with."

Thanks!

Was wondering how the cross piece is tied to the uprights? Is it just nailed or screwed? Might think about drilling holes and bolting the cross piece to the up rights with a couple carriage bolts. Also if you have to slam on the brakes is there a way to prevent the canoe and your rack from tipping forward? Not sure if tie downs on the cab would be strong enough to stop it. Just my thoughts. Have a good time on your trip. Larry

quote MHS67: "Was wondering how the cross piece is tied to the uprights? Is it just nailed or screwed? Might think about drilling holes and bolting the cross piece to the up rights with a couple carriage bolts. Also if you have to slam on the brakes is there a way to prevent the canoe and your rack from tipping forward? Not sure if tie downs on the cab would be strong enough to stop it. Just my thoughts. Have a good time on your trip. Larry"

Right now everything is just screwed together yes. I'll add carriage bolts.
I'll post pictures of the eye bolts set up after I get it together. What I'm picturing should prevent tipping, we will see. Lol

Looks like an EXCELLENT job! Since you're already adding carriage bolts, I think it looks good? If you want to make it even better, maybe make one for front and back of bed and/or "Join" them? And put pipe insulation or pool noodle on the canoe contact points. The foam blocks will occasionally get blown off if you use them long enough. I know, I know, there will be SOMEONE whose used foam blocks for 50 years, driving 90mph, 100,000 miles per year with nary a problem, but I digress. My friend TN Paddler has a home made rack that's really nice and I can't find any pics of his right now. But I think you've done a fine job?

quote ozarkpaddler: "Looks like an EXCELLENT job! Since you're already adding carriage bolts, I think it looks good? If you want to make it even better, maybe make one for front and back of bed and/or "Join" them? And put pipe insulation or pool noodle on the canoe contact points. The foam blocks will occasionally get blown off if you use them long enough. I know, I know, there will be SOMEONE whose used foam blocks for 50 years, driving 90mph, 100,000 miles per year with nary a problem, but I digress. My friend TN Paddler has a home made rack that's really nice and I can't find any pics of his right now. But I think you've done a fine job?"

Oh I hear ya. These foam blocks are from when I had my Silverado. I hate them, but the should be good enough for now. Once I have a plan to go some distance I will probably put down carpet along the board.

Depending on where the hold downs in the bed are could you get away with just strapping the rack down to those so it doesn't tip or slide?

This is how I strapped it down. Solid

Looks GREAT! I did a similar thing, except mine sits in peg holes in truck rails. I did add a diagonal support for additional stability. AND, I put in screw eyes to fit snuggly against [outside of] canoe which prevents boat from moving laterally, which can happen in normal travel, or in high winds. I put a short piece of bike inner-tube (about 1") over the screw eye to protect the gunnel from scratching, and then I run a length of rope over the boat and secure to both screw eyes. No shifting.
That said, I always secure the canoe to the truck itself, too.
I use a Spring Creek roof rack on cab of truck. I always take that off and lock it inside truck at the entry point.
I put a length of cut off bike inner tube along wood (stapled) which also prevents rubbing of boat against the wood rail. Have used for a few years now, so far so good!

Mine is similar except it's a box shape. I through bolted all the pieces so I can disassemble. I strap the box to my truck bed. Then canoe to the box. Very solid and works great. I'm sure yours will too. I stapled old carpet to the cross pieces.

Outdooraddict, Taking part of chessie's post about wind and Grizzlyman's picture of his rack which is tied down on all 4 corners. I wonder if it would be a good idea to put another set of I bolts on and tie those down to the forward tie downs on the truck bed? That way there is little or no possibility of the rack moving in any direction. Again just a thought. Larry

quote MHS67: "Outdooraddict, Taking part of chessie's post about wind and Grizzlyman's picture of his rack which is tied down on all 4 corners. I wonder if it would be a good idea to put another set of I bolts on and tie those down to the forward tie downs on the truck bed? That way there is little or no possibility of the rack moving in any direction. Again just a thought. Larry"

I do have eye bolts in front as well. I didn't use them on this trip. We had some crazy cross winds on my ride home. Back end stayed put, but the damn foam blocks tipped on the roof. So I will have to change that setup.

I was thinking about adding some small l
Pieces if wood to help place the canoe and keep it from shifting laterally. I will keep tinkering and "perfecting" the setup. Thanks for all the ideas.

I like the idea of the big frame, I was looking at the simplest lightest setup I could get away with. It may be hard to see, but there is a slot on the liner for that cross board too. Very light and fast to remove. Should also be able to lay it down and lock the bed when at an entry point.



I am probably a little over the top when it comes to tying down the boat ??

The only issue I see is that you are using up bed space and are now unable to roll down your toneau cover with the canoe rack on. You can make a rack plenty stable and only have it in the stake pockets of the bed. All you need to do is rip a few 2x4's to proper width(or shim a 2x2) and carriage bolt them to a 2x8. You can then use a ratchet strap to the bumper for front stake pocket to hold it in place. I finally upgraded and bought a Yakima bar on craigslist for the front, but I still use my homemade rack for the back. I have offroaded pretty heavily with mine and never had a problem.

quote Hub: "The only issue I see is that you are using up bed space and are now unable to roll down your toneau cover with the canoe rack on. You can make a rack plenty stable and only have it in the stake pockets of the bed. All you need to do is rip a few 2x4's to proper width(or shim a 2x2) and carriage bolt them to a 2x8. You can then use a ratchet strap to the bumper for front stake pocket to hold it in place. I finally upgraded and bought a Yakima bar on craigslist for the front, but I still use my homemade rack for the back. I have offroaded pretty heavily with mine and never had a problem."

That's my bed rail :/

Do you see that rounded rectangular cap 6" up from the end of your bed rail? You can pry that up and you have access to a stake pocket in there. That is where you can place a ripped 2x4 or shimmed 2x2. I am loading up the truck for 7 days in the BWCA tonight. I will try to remember to snap a picture of my setup.

quote Hub: "Do you see that rounded rectangular cap 6" up from the end of your bed rail? You can pry that up and you have access to a stake pocket in there. That is where you can place a ripped 2x4 or shimmed 2x2. I am loading up the truck for 7 days in the BWCA tonight. I will try to remember to snap a picture of my setup."

Please post a pic of your set up! I am going to make something along those lines.

I will attempt photos of my DIY truck rack.....
Mine sits in peg holes in sides of truck.
One view is looking forward as from tail gate. Second view is from side.
You can see how cut-off bike tube works over eye bolts to prevent rubbing, and eye bolts serve as "load stoppers." Have a few different set ups for hauling different boats, most recently both the Bell solo (Wildfire) and Seliga tandem for a short Horse Lake trip.
This works well for me because it is light weight and easy to get in/out. I secure it to truck bed with rope or straps.

Here are a few picks of my rack I described above.

Mine is similar to Hub's. I built it out of 3 pieces of 2x4 and 2 pieces of 5/4 decking. The bottom of the uprights have a notch cut in them that fits into the stake pockets in my bed rail. I then use a large screw and a washer to hold them in place. The best part is that I can still use my bed cover to keep our gear dry should it be raining.

I take two dogs to the BW. And I have a 2-dog box for my truck. Here is a rack I made for the top of that...

quote Mad_Angler: "I take two dogs to the BW. And I have a 2-dog box for my truck. Here is a rack I made for the top of that...
"

That is a pretty stout looking rack! Did you use a Kreg tool for the screw holes?

quote MHS67: "

quote Mad_Angler: "I take two dogs to the BW. And I have a 2-dog box for my truck. Here is a rack I made for the top of that...
"

That is a pretty stout looking rack! Did you use a Kreg tool for the screw holes?"

Kreg tool and gorilla glue. I didn't it to come apart (and I got the Kreg tool for another project and was having fun seeing what it could do).

My old truck I just made a 2x4 rack that fit in the stake pockets of the bed rails.

My new truck i just use the foam pads and 4 ratchet straps and it secures it just fine.

quote Kidd3491: "
My new truck i just use the foam pads and 4 ratchet straps and it secures it just fine.

"

Just curious, on the two straps going over/across your canoe on your new truck set up, do you just have the straps going through the inside of the truck? Could you possibly post a pic, or email me, so I could see how you secure the canoe with those straps? I'm going to do a similar approach on my upcoming trip.

Yes, I went through the door and had the ratchet on the inside of the truck. Put some twists in the straps so they don't vibrate and drive you nuts

Thanks for the great ideas! I've been struggling with how I'm going to do this with my new truck. I like the idea of a rack while still being able to keep the bed cover closed. I have been inspired....

These are all great ideas. Thanks for sharing. I was wondering what I could make for my truck. Now I have some great ideas
Thanks
Mike