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Updated on Dec 9, 2024
Nothing beats exploring this country's beautiful, sprawling waters—besides hitting some trails en route to the dock. Luckily, you don’t have to pick one or the other—this season, load up your kayak or canoe with RealTruck’s top racks and carriers and hit your favorite lakes and rivers.
If you’re in need of a capable rack and mounting system, we’ve got you covered. At RealTruck®, we don’t just care about trucks but the lives our customers get to lead because of them. For this reason, we carry all the top truck racks, canoe carriers, and kayak mounts to aid in your adventures. If you’re unsure which rack or holder best suits your needs, check out our expert-curated list to make loading, transporting, and unloading your canoes, kayaks, and associated gear a breeze.
While canoes and kayaks are a blast, all that adventure comes at a price…literally. Small boats are a serious investment, coming in at prices ranging from $500–$1,000 for simple recreational models and $5,000+ for ocean-going models. With such high price tags, the last thing you’ll want is to watch a thousand-dollar vessel slip off your truck and skid across the freeway. Instead, protect your investment with the proper racks and carriers to ensure safe and stress-free transportation.
Before getting into our top canoe and kayak mounts, you’ll need the proper base rack system to build on. If you already own a bed rack or roof rack system with crossbars, skip ahead. If not, check out our top rack systems.
The RealTruck Elevate Rack System is a premium, telescopic bed rack that’s sleek, aerodynamic, and fully adjustable. The Elevate Rack System will fight off corrosion for life, even if regularly exposed to salty seaside air, featuring heavy-duty aluminum construction with a protective powder coat finish.
Telescopic vertical bars allow you to adjust the rack to your desired height, preventing oversized kayaks from abrading and denting your truck’s roof. The rack’s aero-style crossbars accept most canoe and kayak mounts, making it the ideal choice for canoers and kayakers. Additionally, the Elevate Rack System is compatible with most inboard-mounting or T-slot-compatible truck bed covers, like the BAK® Revolver X4ts, allowing you to maintain the security of a locking bed cover to safely transport oars, life vests, and other essential gear.
Features:
Lightweight and robust engineered aluminum construction
Durable, textured powder coat finish
Compatible with TruXedo covers or covers with built-in T-slot rails
Install, adjust, or remove in minutes
Elevate T-Slot Rails required for installation on most applications
Elevate T-Slot Rails NOT required when equipped with a T-slot-accessory-compatible tonneau cover (i.e., RetraxONE® XR, RetraxPRO® XR, and Roll-N-Lock® XT)
Adjustable, telescoping design locks at 18, 23 or 28 inches
Integrated T-slot channels accept numerous cargo management accessories sold here
750-lbs. static load capacity
500-lbs. on-road load capacity
250-lbs. off-road load capacity
Limited lifetime warranty
It’s tough to beat the TracRac TracOne Universal Truck Rack for a budget-friendly base rack. It offers a no-drill design, rugged all-aluminum construction, and aerodynamic crossbars to minimize wind noise at highway speeds. With its stylish aesthetics yet burly 800 lbs. weight rating, the TracRac TracOne is the perfect setup for work or play. Whether you’re hauling a load of lumber or a couple of kayaks, the TracRac TracOne is up to the task.
Features:
6063 T-6 aluminum construction
800-lb. weight capacity
Simple no-drill installation
Available in silver or matte black finishes
Includes four uprights and two crossbars
Integrated mounting channels
Sleek crossbars offer improved aerodynamics
Wind deflectors help eliminate noise
Made in the USA
Limited lifetime warranty
For the ultimate blend of rugged styling and durability, check out the Go Rhino® XRS Cross Bar system. This heavy-duty steel crossbar-style bed rack features a simple clamp-on installation with no drilling required. The low-profile cross bars offer a sleek aesthetic—however, they sit well below the cab height, which is something to keep in mind when hauling XL kayaks or large canoes.
The Go Rhino XRS is compatible with most Go Rhino 4-Core accessories, promoting maximum utility to fasten tools and gear securely. Additionally, the rack’s aero-style crossbars accept most canoe and kayak racks.
Features:
Heavy-duty steel construction
Textured black powder coat finish
Easy, no-drill installation
Compatible with select tonneau covers
Includes two 4-core cross-rails
Optional side rail accessory kits available (sold separately)
Compatible with most Go Rhino 4-Core accessories (sold separately)
Supports up to 600 lbs.
Limited 5-year warranty
Especially if you plan to camp out beside the body of water you just spent the day canoeing or kayaking in, check out the all-new RealTruck Ascend Rack. This premium overland-style bed rack features a heavy-duty 14-gauge AISI 1018 steel construction for maximum strength and rigidity, earning it a 500 lbs. dynamic and 1,000 lbs. static weight rating. RealTruck’s corrosion-resistant electrocoat base finished with a durable powder coat helps to prevent the typical rust and corrosion from excessive moisture exposure.
This versatile rack system can easily withstand the weight of large kayaks or canoes. When you’re done navigating lakes or rivers, fasten a tent to the roof and camp out beneath the open sky. Or, fasten an awning onto the rack for some much-needed shade after a long day on the water.
Feature:
High-strength, 14-gauge AISI 1018 steel alloy construction with pre-welded fasteners
Cab-height overlanding rack
500 lbs. dynamic | 1,000 lbs. static weight rating
Corrosion-resistant E-coat base finished with a durable powder coat
Easily-configurable side accessory panels provide versatile and secure mounting for gear and supplies
Easy to install in less than 30 minutes
Limited lifetime warranty
With your base rack sorted, let’s look at the top kayak and canoe-specific mounts.
No matter the brand of your rack or crossbar style, Rhino Rack has the canoe/kayak mounting solution for you. From simple canoe-holder pedestals to premium J-cradles (fixed or folding), Rhino Rack offers carriers to suit canoes and kayaks of all shapes and sizes. All holders are manufactured from high-quality, UV-protected materials for long service life—even when exposed to the relentless sun. As a bonus, thick padding protects your valuable investment from scuffs and abrasions.
Features:
Designed to fit almost any roof rack crossbars
Crossbar-specific fitments available
Kayak carrier has self-adjusting pedestals
J-cradle carriers carry kayaks on the side, saving valuable room
Engineered to fit a wide variety of hull shapes
Resistant to mold, water, and corrosion
UV-protected against fading
Padded cradles help to protect watercraft during transit
The Kuat Class 2 Fixed Rooftop Kayak Carrier is the ultimate budget-minded solution to transport a single kayak. The carrier’s rugged alloy construction and Ballistic Black powder coat finish ensure years of fatigue-free service, while rubber-padded cradles prevent dings and abrasions to your valuable kayak. The simple J-cradle design offers quick loading and unloading, and the included straps/ropes allow you to snuggly secure your kayak in place. The Kuat’s universal mounting system is compatible with nearly all crossbars.
Features:
Ballistic Black powder coat finish
80-lb. weight capacity
Compatible with factory and aftermarket cross bars
Secure and stable fixed J-cradle design
Co-molded rubber for superior boat protection
Includes rubber-protected cam buckles and bow stern lines
Limited Lifetime Warranty
If you rarely Kayak solo, check out the 2-boat-capable Thule Hull-a-Port XRT Kayak Carrier. This collapsible, J-cradle-style kayak carrier supports either a single 175-lb. kayak or two small kayaks with a combined weight of 130 lbs. or less. When not in use, the Hull-a-Port XTR folds flat for streamlined aerodynamics or compact storage.
The Hull-a-Port XTR comes fully assembled and is compatible with Thule’s one-key-system lock cores, securing the mount to your rack to prevent theft. With a universal design, the Thule Hull-a-Port XTR mounts to almost any crossbar-style roof rack in minutes.
Features:
Holds two kayaks
Folds flat for storage
Arrives assembled
Universal mounting
Lockable
Limited lifetime warranty
Make loading and unloading Kayaks a breeze with Thule DockGrip Kayak Saddles, which are compatible with Thule-branded crossbars, round bars, and factory crossbar rack systems. Featuring multiple pivot points and padded feet, DockGrip Kayak Saddles conform perfectly to all hull shapes, maintaining a secure grip on any vessel.
Each DockGrip Kayak Saddle includes two saddles (four required), one load strap, and one ratcheting rope.
Features:
Compatible with Thule Crossbars, Round Bars, or Factory Rack
Features multiple pivot points that conform to different hull shapes
Soft form-fitting design increases stability
Sold as pair—two pairs required to carry one kayak
Accommodates kayaks up to 34-in. wide and 75 lbs.
Includes one load strap with padded buckle
Includes one ratcheting bow/stern rope
For Kayak or SUP vessels
Large cushioned, flexible pads
Limited lifetime warranty
RealTruck is your home for the best products to outfit your build for unforgettable adventures.
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