Finding a reliable kayak carrier for 5th wheel trailers is a bit of a puzzle since you can't just throw your boats on the roof of the truck like you would with a standard bumper-pull camper. That massive overhang from the 5th wheel takes up all your bed space and a good chunk of the air above your truck cab, leaving most paddlers scratching their heads about how to get their gear to the lake.
If you've recently made the jump from a travel trailer to a 5th wheel, you probably realized pretty quickly that your old rack system is basically useless now. But don't worry, people have been getting creative with this for years. Whether you want to mount them on the front, the back, or somewhere in between, there's a way to make it work without compromising your safety or your rig's integrity.
Why 5th Wheels Create a Kayak Logistics Nightmare
The main issue is geometry. With a standard trailer, the hitch is at the bumper, leaving the entire truck bed and roof open for business. With a 5th wheel, the pivot point is right over your rear axle. As you turn, the front of the trailer swings over the bed of the truck. If you have kayaks sticking up or out, they're going to get crunched the first time you make a tight turn at a gas station.
Because of that "swing zone," you have to be incredibly careful about where you place a kayak carrier for 5th wheel setups. You're basically limited to the very front of the truck, the very back of the trailer, or some clever vertical arrangement that stays out of the way of the kingpin's movement.
The Front-Mounted Hitch Solution
One of the most popular ways to solve this is by installing a front-mounted receiver hitch on your truck. It sounds a little weird if you've never seen it, but it's actually a brilliant move. You get a 2-inch receiver bolted to the front frame of your pickup, and then you use a T-bar style rack to hold the front of the kayaks.
The back of the kayaks usually rests on a rack over the truck cab. This keeps the boats completely clear of the trailer. The big plus here is visibility; you can see your kayaks the whole time you're driving. If a strap starts flapping or something looks loose, you'll know instantly.
The downside? It can be a bit distracting having two big boats in your peripheral vision while driving down the interstate. Plus, if you have a massive kayak, it might block your headlights or your view of the road slightly, so you have to be mindful of the height.
Vertical Rear Racks: The "VertiYak" Approach
If you don't want anything on the front of your truck, the back of the 5th wheel is your next best bet. However, you can't just strap a kayak horizontally across the back—it would stick out way too far on the sides and probably clip a road sign or a tree.
This is where vertical racks come in. These carriers hold the kayaks upright, standing on their tails. They usually plug into a hitch receiver on the rear bumper of the trailer. It's a very clean look and keeps the kayaks out of the wind's main path.
Watch Out for That Bumper Strength
Before you go buying a vertical kayak carrier for 5th wheel use, you must check your trailer's rear bumper. A lot of RV bumpers are just "sewer hose holders" made of thin square steel tacked on with basic welds. They aren't designed to hold 100+ pounds of rack and kayaks bouncing down a bumpy highway.
If your bumper isn't up to the task, you'll need to have a frame-mounted hitch installed by a professional. It's an extra expense, but it's a lot cheaper than watching your expensive kayaks and your rack tumble down the highway in your rearview mirror.
Rooftop Carriers on the Trailer
Some people decide to put the kayaks on the actual roof of the 5th wheel. There are specialized racks designed for this, often involving a ladder-mount system or tracks that bolt into the roof structure.
While this keeps the kayaks completely out of the way, it's a total pain in the neck to get them up there. You're looking at lifting a 60-pound kayak 13 feet into the air while standing on a shaky RV ladder. It's also worth noting that 5th wheels are already very tall. Adding a kayak on top might put you over the legal height limit or, more likely, make you the victim of a low-hanging bridge or a stray oak branch at the campground.
The "Over-the-Cab" Specialized Racks
There are a few companies that make specialized racks specifically for this "5th wheel problem." These are heavy-duty frames that mount to the front of your truck bed or the frame of the truck and extend a platform out over the cab.
The goal is to keep the kayaks high enough that the "nose" of the 5th wheel can swing underneath them during a turn. This requires some very precise measuring. You need to know exactly how much clearance your trailer has when it's tilted at an angle (like when pulling into a steep driveway) to make sure it doesn't smash into the bottom of the kayaks.
Things to Consider Before You Buy
Choosing a kayak carrier for 5th wheel hauling isn't just about what looks cool. There are some practicalities you really can't ignore if you want a stress-free trip.
- Weight Capacity: Don't just think about the kayaks. Think about the rack itself. Some of these steel vertical racks are heavy. Make sure your hitch and your truck/trailer can handle the tongue weight.
- Ease of Use: If it takes 45 minutes of wrestling and sweating to get the kayaks loaded, you're eventually going to stop bringing them. Look for systems that allow you to load from a lower height or have "assist" features.
- Security: Kayaks are expensive. Ensure whatever rack you choose has a way to lock the boats to the frame. A simple cable lock is often enough to deter a "crime of opportunity" at a rest stop.
- Vibration and Sway: Anything hanging off the back of a trailer is going to experience a lot of "bounce." Use high-quality straps and maybe even some extra bungee cords to keep things from rattling apart.
Keeping Your Gear Safe on the Road
Once you've picked your kayak carrier for 5th wheel travel, the job isn't quite done. You've got to make sure those boats stay put. I always recommend using cam-buckle straps rather than ratchet straps. Ratchet straps are powerful—sometimes too powerful. It's incredibly easy to over-tighten them and actually crack the plastic hull of your kayak, especially on a hot day when the plastic is a bit softer.
Also, do yourself a favor and check your straps every time you stop for gas. Straps can stretch, and knots can slip. A quick "tug test" gives you a lot of peace of mind for the next 200 miles.
Is a Folding or Inflatable Kayak the Better Choice?
Honestly, for some 5th wheel owners, the best "rack" is no rack at all. If you're tired of the logistics, you might look into high-end inflatable kayaks or folding ones like the Oru. These can fit inside your storage bays or even in the "basement" of the 5th wheel.
That said, if you're a serious paddler, you probably want your hardshell boat. There's just no substitute for how a real glass or plastic boat handles in the water. In that case, investing in a solid, frame-mounted rear vertical rack or a front-hitch T-bar is worth every penny.
Final Thoughts on Hauling Your Boats
At the end of the day, there isn't a one-size-fits-all kayak carrier for 5th wheel setups. Every truck and every trailer has slightly different dimensions. My best advice is to grab a tape measure and a friend, and really visualize how that trailer is going to move when you're backing into a tight campsite.
Once you find the setup that works for you, the freedom of having your boats at every destination makes the initial headache of finding a rack totally worth it. There's nothing quite like unhooking the rig, setting up camp, and being on the water twenty minutes later. Safe travels and happy paddling!