I am moving from the Dallas area to Colorado Springs. I have two yaks I would like to take. Moving company is way too high. Locally I throw them in back of pickup for an hour or two. But need a better transport system. Thinking of getting ladder racks for my pick up truck and putting them on that. But likely to be traveling in August blast furnace and don't want my yaks to melt or deform in the panhandle. Any suggestions? I could sell them here and buy new up there but like my two yaks. Thanks for any help or suggestions. BTW yaking seems pretty limited in Springs for fishing and flatter water.

You shouldn't have problems for a 12-hour drive. Use lots of padding (pool noodles) on your rack, don't torque the sh!t out of them when strapping them down (I would stay away from ratcheting straps); make sure you have a saftey line tied to the bows; and stop every few hours to check on them.

You shouldn't have problems for a 12-hour drive. Use lots of padding (pool noodles) on your rack, don't torque the sh!t out of them when strapping them down (I would stay away from ratcheting straps); make sure you have a saftey line tied to the bows; and stop every few hours to check on them.

Depending on your kayak, there are also some sleeve/covers you can get that would keep the direct sun off of them. At some point, I would like to take my kayaks up to a fishing lake in Minnesota my family has gone to since 1938 and have wondered the same thing about long distance transport. I can get them both on top of my Xterra for short hauls around the area but they are sitting up on their sides and can act as sails when it is windy. I would like to eventually get a trailer but something that can take the long trip. I don't think the Harbor Freight type trailers with the smaller tires would work well for that.

There doesn't seem to be much in terms of lakes right around Colorado Springs but if you go out a bit there are some options. Chatfield St Park on the southwest side of Denver might be the closest to Colorado Springs and is a decent fishery with trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass. Cherry Creek and Aurora are in the south part of Denver. Standley Lake in Westminster further up is a decent fishery. Even further up is Horsetooth Reservoir on the west side of Fort Collins. A number of smaller lakes up in that area north of Denver. South of Colorado Springs is Lake Pueblo and further south is Lathrop St Park. There are decent places to kayak and fish but will take more driving and of course the season is shorter also.

Like B_rod said, cushion the cross members with thick pool noodles, transport the kayaks upside down, use regular straps (not the ratchet style), and run bow lines from the front bumper and you'll be OK. You may get some deformation, but that can be remedied by sitting the kayak out in the sun when you get to Colorado Springs.

Ive been to all three coasts and the great lakes hauling kayaks the whole time. Heck they dont usually leave my truck bed. Make sure they are secured properly and your good.