Sponsored

Kayak Transport

Kärsti

Active Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
32
Reaction score
50
Location
Southwest Virginia
Vehicles
R1T Adventure, 20' AT tires
For us kayaks seem to work best laying in the bed, of course these are only 9ft, so anything longer might not work. We tried the roof mounted racks but anything on the roof kills efficiency so we try to avoid that

Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport IMG_20220827_091458204


Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport IMG_20220827_091513626_HDR
Sponsored

 

Marchin_MTB

Well-Known Member
First Name
Marcin
Joined
Jun 25, 2022
Threads
14
Messages
1,505
Reaction score
1,971
Location
Colorado
Vehicles
2015 i3, 2011 Honda CRV.
Occupation
Aerospace Engineer turned Space Physicist
Clubs
 
Recent trip with the Yakima jaylow mounts and a Delta 12-10 yak. Trip details in another post.
Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport IMG_7280
 
OP
OP
bgoldber88

bgoldber88

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Mar 12, 2023
Threads
7
Messages
132
Reaction score
186
Location
Chicago, IL
Vehicles
2023 Rivian R1T LE, 2021 BMW X3 PHEV
Occupation
Engineer
I should take a picture of my setup the next time I'm out. I settled on using the Loadd Sheett with my 12' Old Town Kayak. I have yet to use it with two kayaks but I think it would be fine. My only complaint is that the straps can be a little annoying to tension down unless you feed the bottom portion up through the top well before tightening. Additionally, its a little hard to get the sheett well-centered on the kayak during tightening. Regardless, I find this system takes me about 5 minutes start to finish and is dramatically faster than my old thule roof racks.
 

ajhoop

Member
First Name
Andy
Joined
Mar 1, 2021
Threads
2
Messages
22
Reaction score
16
Location
VA
Vehicles
Macan
I should take a picture of my setup the next time I'm out. I settled on using the Loadd Sheett with my 12' Old Town Kayak. I have yet to use it with two kayaks but I think it would be fine. My only complaint is that the straps can be a little annoying to tension down unless you feed the bottom portion up through the top well before tightening. Additionally, its a little hard to get the sheett well-centered on the kayak during tightening. Regardless, I find this system takes me about 5 minutes start to finish and is dramatically faster than my old thule roof racks.
How long a kayak do you think this Sheett system would work with in an R1T? I'm contemplating picking up a used adventure kayak (maybe in the 14-16' range) but trying to think about how to move it around is throwing me for a loop. Do you do anything special to secure it in the front, or is it just the tension that holds it in place? FWIW, I have the Rivian bars that I keep on top of the bed with a bike rack that I use several times per week.
 

Marchin_MTB

Well-Known Member
First Name
Marcin
Joined
Jun 25, 2022
Threads
14
Messages
1,505
Reaction score
1,971
Location
Colorado
Vehicles
2015 i3, 2011 Honda CRV.
Occupation
Aerospace Engineer turned Space Physicist
Clubs
 
I should take a picture of my setup the next time I'm out. I settled on using the Loadd Sheett with my 12' Old Town Kayak. I have yet to use it with two kayaks but I think it would be fine. My only complaint is that the straps can be a little annoying to tension down unless you feed the bottom portion up through the top well before tightening. Additionally, its a little hard to get the sheett well-centered on the kayak during tightening. Regardless, I find this system takes me about 5 minutes start to finish and is dramatically faster than my old thule roof racks.
This is a solution that seems like the same principle as the load sheet but fine tuned for kayaks and boards. It’s no longer available but you can easily just make this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BKDY4C1P/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_10?smid=&psc=1
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
bgoldber88

bgoldber88

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Mar 12, 2023
Threads
7
Messages
132
Reaction score
186
Location
Chicago, IL
Vehicles
2023 Rivian R1T LE, 2021 BMW X3 PHEV
Occupation
Engineer
How long a kayak do you think this Sheett system would work with in an R1T? I'm contemplating picking up a used adventure kayak (maybe in the 14-16' range) but trying to think about how to move it around is throwing me for a loop. Do you do anything special to secure it in the front, or is it just the tension that holds it in place? FWIW, I have the Rivian bars that I keep on top of the bed with a bike rack that I use several times per week.
I also have the bars in the bed. I just tension it down at the back and let the pressure of the kayak against the front of the bed hold it in place. You can take your hand and shake the entire truck when it’s tensioned down, so I’m confident it’s staying in place.
 

PastyPilgrim

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 9, 2021
Threads
13
Messages
409
Reaction score
937
Location
New England
Vehicles
R1T
Any new recs for a 12' kayak? I'm thinking of buying one to use in a lake about 5min from my house, so ideally I'd want to keep the friction of loading/unloading to a minimum.

For a 5min trip, I'd think that the bed with strips should be fine, even if it would overhang quite a bit, but this is new to me so I'm looking for input.
 

karv

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2022
Threads
1
Messages
15
Reaction score
10
Location
Folsom, CA
Vehicles
Subaru Outback, Sienna
Clubs
 
This is my setup. Thule Hullavator carrying my 14’ kayak. Can’t use the factory crossbars though.

Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport IMG_1626
 

Marchin_MTB

Well-Known Member
First Name
Marcin
Joined
Jun 25, 2022
Threads
14
Messages
1,505
Reaction score
1,971
Location
Colorado
Vehicles
2015 i3, 2011 Honda CRV.
Occupation
Aerospace Engineer turned Space Physicist
Clubs
 
Any new recs for a 12' kayak? I'm thinking of buying one to use in a lake about 5min from my house, so ideally I'd want to keep the friction of loading/unloading to a minimum.

For a 5min trip, I'd think that the bed with strips should be fine, even if it would overhang quite a bit, but this is new to me so I'm looking for input.
This is 12’ 10” yak in the bed. Looks ridiculous but for a 5 minute trip I might grab the front in a strap loop and then pull back on that with additional straps to the tie downs. Really need to watch out for tail swing though.
Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport IMG_7276
 

PastyPilgrim

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 9, 2021
Threads
13
Messages
409
Reaction score
937
Location
New England
Vehicles
R1T
This is 12’ 10” yak in the bed. Looks ridiculous but for a 5 minute trip I might grab the front in a strap loop and then pull back on that with additional straps to the tie downs. Really need to watch out for tail swing though.
IMG_7276.jpeg
Thanks for the reference pic! Looks hilarious but might be sufficient for short drives.
 

Sponsored

gordonrands

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gordon
Joined
Mar 2, 2022
Threads
8
Messages
77
Reaction score
78
Location
Macomb, IL
Vehicles
'23 Dual Max R1T, 12 Prius Prime, '97 Dakota
Occupation
retired
Clubs
 

Fred6v

Well-Known Member
First Name
Fred
Joined
Oct 2, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
91
Reaction score
124
Location
02446
Vehicles
Audi avant, VW Tiguan
Occupation
Consultant
Clubs
 
Hey Gordon, did you go with that mockins extender? How did it work out?
 

WaterOne

Member
First Name
Tom
Joined
Jan 16, 2026
Threads
1
Messages
12
Reaction score
8
Location
Yakima
Vehicles
2025 R1T
Occupation
semi-retired
Clubs
 
Two of us have developed a way to utilize Yakima HD Overhaul uprights attached to the Rivian attachment points over the bed & truck side rails. Once that is completed (often with the use of Rivian bars over the truck cab, a very versatile 9 foot span, with significant height adjustment available for the back two bars. See attached:

Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport IMG_1561


Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport IMG_6185
 

WaterOne

Member
First Name
Tom
Joined
Jan 16, 2026
Threads
1
Messages
12
Reaction score
8
Location
Yakima
Vehicles
2025 R1T
Occupation
semi-retired
Clubs
 
Hi there! I just got my 8 steps email last night and I'm excited to take delivery of my new R1T soon.

Can anybody share how they're transporting their kayak in the R1T? I'd love to see photos if you can share. I have a set of Thule folding kayak holders, so I suppose those could go on top of the cab, though there would be significant overhang over the front of the car. I'm curious if people have tried loading them in the bed?
After 8 months of effort, this is what I have come up with … the sea kayak, the towers, the crossbars, the foam blocks and the custom clips to attach the Yakima system to the Rivian side rails all made in the USA.
Rivian R1T R1S Kayak Transport 1770563932898-
Sponsored

 
 








Top