I am planning to buy a pickup and wondering if a 5 Feet bed (6'8'' with tailgate down) is long enough to secure a 10-feet Kayak. Or should I go for 6-feet bed or longer??
Please advise it. Thanks in advance.

Mike

A long bed would really be optimal for this, but i've never had an issue loading a 12'+ kayak in a short bed pickup, as long as your gear is secured firmly & safely. Make sure the truck your buying has tie down points in the bed, the lower on the bed the better from my experience. Obviously you will want a red flag of some sort to display for the rear of the kayak since it will be extending out past the tailgate, I have a friend with a mid size truck (short bed) that utilizes the cab of his truck and his tailgate in the up/or closed position with foam blocks to transport his 14' kayak without any issues. Malone and other similar companies sell a T-Bone style bed extender that plugs into your trailer hitch and makes transport a breeze. Just a couple options, I am sure some of the other members will have more recommendations.

You will have no issues with a 3' overhang. I haul my PA14 in a short bed with a T-Bone extender with no issues. As Yakfishin said, at a minimum, you need to fly a red flag... although I feel much more comfortable with a break/running light.

If you elect to go with a T-Bone, you can rig a couple lights directly to each side of the T-Bone because your 10' yak will not extend more than 12" to 18" beyond the T-Bone.

Here is a link to a solution that Tallgrass came up with. His is better than mine because it has two lights (it's brighter and has blinker functionality)

https://texasfishingforum.com/forum...-hauling-kayak-in-truck-bed#Post13087075

Folks,

Thanks for your comments and suggestion. Have a nice weekend.

Mike

I haul a 15 foot kayak with a bed extender in the back of my 5.5 foot truck bed. I did create a light rig when transporting which has tail/turn/stop capabilities to make sure I'm legal going down the road.

Get the truck you want and get a bed extender, they are cheap. Personally, I would not want more than a few feet of unsupported kayak weight bouncing around.

Currently hauling a 13� kayak in a 5�8� bed no problem. No extender needed. Hauled it and another 12� kayak a few weeks ago as well with no issues.

I haul my Coosa HD which is 12' 8" I think in a short bed Ram 1500...no issues so far

I have a 5-1/2' bed on my crew cab. I haul my 11-1/2' Ride in it legally, with no lights. I put it in with the nose in 1 corner, and it hangs out of the bed less than 4' beyond the back of the bumper. I use a bed extender when I haul my 14' Commander, and I have lights installed on the bed extender. You can put a flag on the back of the kayak if it sticks out of the back more than 4'. But only in the daytime. You must have lights at night.

With the tailgate down - yes.

Thanks for your all comments and suggestion. Finally got the truck and tried loading the kayak. No issues. Thanks again.

Not sure if this came out ?

Check Craigslist often and you may find a rack for from time to time. With this system hauling multiples or any length isn’t a issue. Also saves your bed space .

I use a bed extender also. I got it at Harbor Freight for around $25 on sale. Works great for me. I have a toolbox in my bed that makes it around 5' and I carry my 11'6" just fine in it. I do keep a red flag on it and if I'll be on the road at night I will have a light on it.