I have been searching for about 4 days now, and have not been able to find out how to put some rails on my 07 tacoma double cab, long bed p/u that will fit the Thule feet I already have.
I did peak under the weather strip and saw a clip looking thing, then stuck the strip back down. Does Thule make a rail that goes on where the factory rail would go? The reason I'm trying to get this is that I have the feet, towers and cross bars from my trade-in vehicle and like how they work.
from my experience with the local thule dealership, their "feet" only lock into the door sill. You could try to buy just the OEM feet and use your crossbars. Lucky you have a double cause toyota dont make roof racks for the access cabs, WTF? Good luck, I use the cheap foam pads for my canoe, it really sucks. my roof is weak as shiat and buckles under the weight of a 16' canoe! plus the slope of it really blocks the view.
Tomorrow, I'll post some pics of the feet for the Thule towers, they fit in a rail and are anchored via tightening up the allen wrench screw. The would fit in the bed rails and tighten down just fine...
This is what I did to carry my two Kayaks (or sometimes three shoving another in between the J hooks!). Mine got set up at Rack Warehouse, a rack retail store in my town. I never researched using the spots under the strips. This set up works for me.
Here are some pictures of the rack, feet, and rail adapter that it clamps in. Two feet pictured for clarity.
I would like to be able to mount this type/shape of rail in the current place where the roof rack mounts, but may have to put them on the top surface. Don't really want to drill holes up there though..
xedge.. like the color of your truck!!
Here are some pictures of the rack, feet, and rail adapter that it clamps in. Two feet pictured for clarity.
I would like to be able to mount this type/shape of rail in the current place where the roof rack mounts, but may have to put them on the top surface. Don't really want to drill holes up there though..
xedge.. like the color of your truck!!
Any Ideas?
Thanks..
Tony
Tony, I don't know if you can use the tk fit kits with the Tacoma. There was a guy over at TundraSolutions.com who researched extensively trying to use a kit like youra and went as far as wanting to fabricate mounting strips similiar to thules and yakimas for the spot on the roof. He just happens to be from Vermont too and lives in a huge machining town and found out how expensive it would be due to the curvature of the roof line. He was a mtn biker so he ended up mounting strips on his retrax bed cover which works for bikes but not necessarily kayaks. You can always research over there to see what I mean.
What I found is people either use an oem rack (which your kit won't fit due to how the side bars are made) or an xsportser or a goalpost hitch thingy with bars like mine on the roof or go with a cap then you can mount the strips which accomodate your setup.
My setup w/ the fairing cost around $260. The J hooks were silly expensive but my Kayaks are wide so I couldn't lay em flat and fit two, Plus as said, I can get three up there easily now. I pretty much kayak all the time so I do get my money's worth out of the system. Also have travelled on a few long road trips via the interstate at 70+ with no problems with whistling or leakage, but as stated earlier the roof is thin & can easily get dented if you kneel on it so beware! Also watch out for low overhangs & parking garages, etc. All in all its a pretty solid rack.
Thanks for the compliment and I hope you enjoy your new truck too, its pretty sharp as well. As far as your kit, maybe some other members have ideas for ya!
My setup w/ the fairing cost around $260. The J hooks were silly expensive but my Kayaks are wide so I couldn't lay em flat and fit two, Plus as said, I can get three up there easily now. I pretty much kayak all the time so I do get my money's worth out of the system. Also have travelled on a few long road trips via the interstate at 70+ with no problems with whistling or leakage, but as stated earlier the roof is thin & can easily get dented if you kneel on it so beware! Also watch out for low overhangs & parking garages, etc. All in all its a pretty solid rack.
Thanks for the compliment and I hope you enjoy your new truck too, its pretty sharp as well. As far as your kit, maybe some other members have ideas for ya!
Yes, those j cradles are crazy pricey. Work nice though!
I'm about to the point of just getting a small trailer for the yaks, I have 3 of them and the trailer could be stored in the shed with yaks aboard and not have to worry about low over heads, unloading etc..
OK, I'm convinced... trailer it is.. well, maybe.
Here's what my latest yak looks like on the honda element I traded in. It's 17 feet long by 19 inces wide. And yes, you need to learn to roll with this one.
Thanks for the compliment, it is a cedar strip with epoxied fiber glass. You can click on that picture for a bunch of pics on how it was done.. That was my 3rd boat, fastest and most manuverable. also the tightest fit. Sort of like a small sports car compared to my tacoma, about the same difference in comfort too.
To keep this on subject, I needed a new truck to take kayaking, and the tacoma fit the bill. esp. in 4wd.
I do think I'll go with the trailer though, when discussing this with my wife, she suggested it! said that the 250$ or so factory rack could go towards the trailer and be handier in the long run.. Now I just gotta know, since she's so dang smart, why the heck did she marry me??
Yeah, the multi-sport racks are nice, but man, you take a severe beating when you buy it. And try and convert to a new rack when you replace vehicles... the few bits you need to change are often half the price or more of a whole new rack. Finally, they don;t carry all that much.
If you have three boats, I'd do a trailer also. Like you said, it's easier to store the whole rig, with the boats on it.
I've built a cedar canoe before, and have a good set of plans for a nice kayak of similar construction. Pictures seldom do them justice!
I had been trouble finding a rack for my '07 4x4 regular cab for 4 months. US racks just came out with this one...http://www.usrack.com/railrack.shtml
I ordered one yesterday... it's $380, or $550 for stainless steel. I will post agin once it arrives
For another solution, I use the bed extender from Harbor Freight to lug around my Ocean Kayak Prowler 14. It gives enough support and you don't have to worry about a tag like you would with a trailer. It makes loading a lot easier as there is no lifting above the head. You can use foam block to cushion and I actually use pool noodle. Just a thought http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39168
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need to mount a kayak rack
rack rail pics
All in all its a pretty solid rack. 
Now I just gotta know, since she's so dang smart, why the heck did she marry me??
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