Getting a Kayak safely on/off a transit van/minibus

[tannys]

Shortly we will have to replace our car and are toying with the idea of a mini bus/transit van for space for our ever expanding gear - camping/trails bikes/kids/dogs and such like

Only problem I can see so far is the height for getting the kayak on top (perception carolina 14) and possible extra expense when using ferries

What would be the best gadget/method for getting the boat on and off, short of using ladders, given that we are both of the short variety. At the moment we have a skoda Octavia and use J bars

Many thanks

[Kayaks'N'Beer]

Kari Tek do a system just for this situation http://www.karitek.co.uk/ELRRHiLift1.html

[Bards]

I have an ex-minibus (LWB LDV Convoy, not a hi-top!), and use a Karitek slidey roofrack with which I can get two boats 'up and over' solo, and I'm no strapping lad, either... It is far easier when parked next to a kerb on the loading side to gain a few inches, and I'm bolting some low-level roof bars to the roof to replace the unnecessarily high Thule gutter-clamp bars the Kari-tek is currently fixed to. The kari-tek I picked up off the For Sale section here, and cost I think £175 as good as new as far as I recall...
Paddle wagon - just do it!

Bards

[Jim]

Tall people can get away with a roller or pad or the rear bar at the back of the van to help slide the boat up initially, but you do need to be able to reach from road level when the boat is horizontal, and you need to think about some of the stretches etc. and the affect on your back if something slips or you end up off balance.

For shorter people a karitek side loading system is not only much easier to deal with but much safer for your back as you never risk a boat slipping and trying to grab it at full extension (boats are strapped firmly to the rack when sliding the rack up and down). There may be other similar sytems, but comparing to my mate's old buggy loading (rearward sliding) rack I really wouldn't bother to try and bodge something together and expect it to perform as well.

Jim

[Curly67]

Got to be Kari-tek. I have one on my Transporter and it makes loading the Kayaks really easy and I`m so short I have turnups on my undies :-)

[tannys]

Thanks, knew there was a contraction but was not sure how good it was

Does the extra height cause any issues in windy condition?

[Bards]

Does the extra height cause any issues in windy condition?

Extra height will never be a help, but it's really no different to having a hi-top motor in the first place, and there's plenty of them around...
As well as the height reduction for loading, it's the increased reassurance of having the contact bolted through the roof rather than clipped to the gutter when in windy conditions (and/or flooring it!) that's motivated that alteration to mine. Any chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and constantly having that thing nibbling away at your cortex while trying to concentrate on the road is less than relaxing, though maybe I am a particular worrier..?

Bards

[Daker]

Another vote for the kariTek Easy Load Roof Rack system (ELRR).
Mine is on a High Top Transit and I can load 1 boat easily and 2 boats with a little effort solo, 3 boats with a bit of assistance and even 4 boats with rather more assistance.

Their newest sliding carriage system makes it even easier but is too difficult to explain so just look at their website.

Couple of things, with a high roof van you will likely still need a small step ladder to insert the locking pins and it definitely requires practice and a bit of a 'knack' to get the rack raised.

As an aside, if you are only loading 1 or maybe 2 boats and are happy to climb onto the roof to secure them, or if your van is a low / medium roof, what I used to do was -

Arrange a ramp from rear of van to ground (I used an aluminium motorbike loading ramp but a sturdy scafold plank may do the same job), lift boat above head ideally with some assistance, walk up ramp, put nose of boat onto rear most roof bar, work your way to other end of boat,walk up ramp whilst pushing boat forward, once it passes balance point just keep pushing. After this just climb up and secure, removal is same in reverse.

You'll rarely regret haveing a van as a sports toy box, well, apart from when filling up anyway !

[tannys]

Does the extra height cause any issues in windy condition?

Extra height will never be a help, but it's really no different to having a hi-top motor in the first place, and there's plenty of them around...
As well as the height reduction for loading, it's the increased reassurance of having the contact bolted through the roof rather than clipped to the gutter when in windy conditions (and/or flooring it!) that's motivated that alteration to mine. Any chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and constantly having that thing nibbling away at your cortex while trying to concentrate on the road is less than relaxing, though maybe I am a particular worrier..?

Bards

We had a rather hairy incident involving a broken j bar bolt on a motorway last year so I am probably worrying more because of that, luckily we were only just outside a town where there was a suitable shop but we have not relaxed with kayak on roof much since

Will keep my eyes open for a second hand set up

We do need small steps if we are minus curbs anyway so having bigger ones (in a much more spacious van) won't be a problem,

We are looking at a ford tourneo 9 seater locally advertised which comes in at 2 metres - giant like to my 5 ft height

[tg]

I used to paddle with a guy who, as it was a van, used to keep a short stepladder in the back.

T.

[Jim]

I used to paddle with a guy who, as it was a van, used to keep a short stepladder in the back.

T.

Just remember that under modern Health and Safety legislation if it will take you more than an hour to load the boats you can't use a ladder and will have to use a scaffold instead. :-)

[zec01]

I agree, karitek is the way, I have one on my car and its brilliant

[downunder]

Perhaps not for a transit van but for others have a look at Thule

Cheers

Bill

[Niall]

Only problem I can see so far is the height for getting the kayak on top (perception carolina 14) and possible extra expense when using ferries

For CalMac, 5m is the magic number - above that you're paying commercial rates unless your V5C shows you're a motorhome. Not looked at cross-channel yet, but will be soon.

[tannys]

I think it is going to be a no go at the moment, the driver has no no ncb due to only having a company car for the past 20 years so insurance quotes coming it at around £1100 - £1600, far to much for us to consider at the moment

[Taran Tyla]

I use a high top van & get away with a roller on the back. The trick is to make a wooden cup, basically a square of ply & fit some 1"by1" on three sides & tie it to the back of the van (tow mount, about 6 foot back). Then rest the front of the kayak on the roller & sit the stern in the cup. This will stop the kayak sliding back whilst you get yourself onto the roof to pull the kayak up.
Its easy to do once you got the knack but be careful that the kayak doesn't slide sideways off the roller.

Obviously a ladder fitted to the back door helps but isn't essential.

[ShellyR]

I think it is going to be a no go at the moment, the driver has no no ncb due to only having a company car for the past 20 years so insurance quotes coming it at around £1100 - £1600, far to much for us to consider at the moment

Obviously don't know your circumstances for no longer having company car but when I swapped out of the company car scheme to a car allowance (saved loads by not paying company car tax and buying a 2nd hand car!) my company provided a letter saying I had been a company car driver for 10+ years with no accidents and the insurance company accepted this and I got 60% NCB immediately.

FYI With NCB Fully comp insurance for a campervan (we converted a Merc sprinter long wheel base and got it insured as a campervan after providing pictures etc) for £240. not sure you may be just keeping as a van but thought I'd share the info anyway

Shel

[Chris329a]

I made one of these.....



This is how to make it...

http://www.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk/diy-k ... oading-bar