I have a Ram 1500 crew cab with a 5.5 foot bed and am wondering what method people use for transporting a canoe with a similar vehicle. I do not have a topper, but I do have a tonneau cover.

My canoe is 1973 Grumman, I believe 17 feet.

Looking for suggestions or pictures of peoples setup on a crew cab truck.

Thanks

I have this same rack on my newer 4-door truck. Long bed.

I have a Thule Goal Post on my receiver hitch in the back and a Thule roof mount on cab over the center of the front doors. My 17' canoe extends from about the rear of the hood to about a 2' past the tail gate in the back. You can't find the bars in singles but I have found that you can sometime find the brackets and mounts as single sets on-line so you can by a single pair instead of two pairs. I just went ahead and purchased two pairs as there wasn't a big price difference that way I can mount other stuff on the roof if I want to, like a kayak carrier or a roof box for example. It's a great set up. Yakima makes a similar set up. Pricing is about the same for either once you have all the components, locks, etc. I have a folding hard cover.

Most all crew cab trucks have a long and flat roof that can support a canoe as well as any sedan or crossover. Just buy a Yakima (or other similar) rack set for the roof. Add hood tie loops in front ad a back tie set of loops tween the tailgate and fenders. this leaves the tonneau and the rack can be removed as need be, no need for a bed rack.

butthead

We used this exact same vehicle for a trip one time. It was a one time deal just used the foam blocks, straps at each foam block set through front and back windows and a front and back tie down. It really isn’t any different than using foam blocks on a car. A little more difficult for a short guy like me since the truck roof sits higher :) Maybe bring a small ladder or step stool…

T

butthead: "Most all crew cab trucks have a long and flat roof that can support a canoe as well as any sedan or crossover. Just buy a Yakima (or other similar) rack set for the roof. Add hood tie loops in front ad a back tie set of loops tween the tailgate and fenders. this leaves the tonneau and the rack can be removed as need be, no need for a bed rack.

butthead"

That's what I did with my Tundra before I got a topper

I have a F150 crew cab and foam blocks do not work well with it. There just isn't enough support. The roof has a tendency to bow in with my aluminum Grumman. Maybe I wouldn't have the same issue if I had a light weight kevlar.
My setup is the same as Bobbernumber3's rack. It's worked for me for the last 20+ years.

I have a single Yakima cross bar on the roof and I built a goal post for the hitch that extends far enough out that I can open the tailgate. It’s a pretty rock solid system. I was able to find single cross bars at etrailer.

I have the Spring Creek hitch rack. I've used it many times with no issues, it's aluminum so not very heavy and still pretty stable with the 2 included straps.

I use foam pads on the roof for the front of the canoe, the tip just sticks over the windshield a bit. I either tie that to webbing coming out of both sides of my hood or I go down to my 2 front tow loops on the bumper. I run one strap over the middle of the canoe that goes through my crew cab back windows. Very stable and nothing permanent on the truck when you're done.

Rope from bow to 2 points up front, strap across the middle, and stern tied right to the hitch rack.

https://www.springcreek.com/product/paddle-sports/car-truck-racks-and-accessories/double-hitch-rack/

I had the exact same setup as Bobber for years. I just got tired of assembling it and dissembling it all the time. I finally ponied up and spent the money on a roof rack system from Yakima and never looked back. No regrets. If you do decide to go that route check out Rack Attack.
roof racks

I already had a bull bar on the F250, so I fabbed up this to allow me to tow a trailer too if needed. With the rear rack, I can actually carry three canoes.

dschult2: "I had the exact same setup as Bobber for years. I just got tired of assembling it and dissembling it all the time...
"

Yes. Assembly and dissembling was a pain. Until I realized I could pull the whole thing off in one piece and store assembled in the side yard.

I have a 16’ Royalex Coleman I use foam pads and straps to front tow hooks and straps to my receiver hook loops in the back on a Crew Cab Tundra. It’s a two person load. Did it once alone but never again. With a 1973 Grumman I would definitely recommend a rack system compatable with your truck.

This is my home made set-up with 2x6's I had lying around.

I have '17 RAM 1500 Crew Cab with the 5'5" bed as well. Like Northwoodsman, I have a hybrid system. I have the Thule roof mount bar set, using only one over the front doors but a bed mounted support in the rear. I wanted a hard tonneau cover and found the Bakflip CS/F1 model comes with slightly raised rails that accept a set of bed rail rack supports that slide in and out. This allows access to the bed/tailgate and have the rack mounted at the same time and I take the racks off when I don't want them on - quick and easy. While I can carry the canoe on just the set of bed rack supports, I like using the one cab mount Thule and one rail rack positioned over the rear wheel arches. This gives a longer between supports distance than the two roof mount rails and still centers the length of the canoe more forward over the truck with less rear overhang. For short distances just straps are fine, otherwise I use front and rear tiedowns too. Since you already have a bed cover, the Thule Goal Post or similar sounds like the best bang for your buck.

pd

I use a cheapy back rack made of 1x2's and a 2x6 and a Yakima rack on the front. I have logged a lot of miles with this setup. Easy on and easy off....not much to store in the garage. I think this is the 3rd truck I have had it on....luckily they keep making new clips for the old towers.