Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Carrying Vehicle

Doug Lloyd wrote:

> I can't go the Dave Kruger way (as in a pickup truck, as I have a family
> to haul too). Logging roads take their toll on cars, so I need something
> tough and reliable.

Doug, the addition of a grandchild needing a legitimate bench seat in the 
rear for mounting a child restraint system pushed me away from my string of 
jump-seats-in-the-rear Japanese pickups to a Dodge Dakota in Quad Cab 
version.  This thing has a very comfy bench seat in the rear, seating three 
full-size adults, a pair of buckets in the front, and a 5-foot-long bed. 
In the 3.7 L V6 2WD variation, I get 20 mpg on the highway with a load of 
people; a little better with just one passenger, and about 16-17 in town.

With a pair of Yakima Outdoorsman supports on the rails, I can use my old 
Yakima bars, cradles, hully rollers, etc., and carry two or three sea 
kayaks over the bed, and a slew of dry bags in the bed.  No more canopies 
for this boy!  If investing in the Outdoorsman rigs does not suit you, 
consider a Yakima Drydock for the rear rack -- goes into a standard 2 x 2 
hitch receiver -- and cradles on the cab for better support separation up 
top for boats.

Chevy, Ford also make PU's with a similar small engine/large passenger 
compartment arrangement, which are probably similarly fuel-efficient.  Not 
as good as the 2.4 L Japanese 4-bangers, but still very acceptable.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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