Northwest Fishing Reports

My wife and I are have been talking about what to do with my 14' Jonboat and how to get it to the lakes. I would be happy with a galvanized Easy Loader Trailer, but she is insisting on getting a rack installed over the canopy of our F250 that self loads. That way we can take the camp trailer instead of tenting it.

Has anyone out there had any first hand experience with that type of set-up on their truck?

Is it a pain to deal with compared to a trailer?

Can a boat be launched and loaded by one person with one of those set-ups?

Any ideas?

Who does that kind of work? And is the rack removable?

I have seen more than one guy using this system on their trucks (all Fords coincidentally) at Beaver Lake. It is usually loaded/unloaded by a single individual while the other person, if there is one, is unloading the stuff from the cab. Next time I see one of them I'll ask them if I get a chance.

I don't know what you have attached to your Jon boat, but another option is, assuming you have the long-box bed:
1.) Go to the hardware store and get some of that foam piping insulation
2.) Put it on your gunwales just prior to loading the boat
3.) Stand the boat on end (transom-end down)
4.) Slowly flip the boat over onto the tailgate bottom-side up and push the boat up into the bed with the bow over the cab
5.) Secure the boat with straps
Another option is to do pretty much the same thing except load it transom first into the bed, put up the tailgate, and strap it down. This is probably a little safer and definitely more fuel efficient.

Those EZ loaders are really easy trailers to work with, especially when theres just an aluminum on them. Plus you don't have to unload the boat completely to flip it up on top of your rig...You can keep the heavy stuff (that wont fly out when driving) in the boat, such as coolers, motors, etc...

Check these out. I saw one this summer when I stopped in Pateros for gas. It looks like a pretty good system to me. After you set up camp you can hook up the boat trailer and tow it like normal.

http://www.trailersystems.com/

On I-5 I saw a diesel pusher motorhome pulling a full size Chevy truck with an 18' Alumaweld on it's trailer in the bed of the Chevy. I couldn't believe my eyes!

That is a pretty good invention until you get in a big crash and ruin your truck your trailer and your boat man that would suck.

When I first saw that picture I thought the guy had forgotten he had the boat boat hooked up while trying to hook up to the camper. That actually looks like an ingenious product. I wonder how well it holds up?

iPodrodder wrote:At first I thought this was a joke. Would that make your truck top heavy? And how would you get the trailer and boat into the bed?

I'd be terrified to use it in my truck... its already pretty close to top-heavy with its lift and large tires.

EastsideRedneck wrote:

iPodrodder wrote:At first I thought this was a joke. Would that make your truck top heavy? And how would you get the trailer and boat into the bed?

I'd be terrified to use it in my truck... its already pretty close to top-heavy with its lift and large tires.

Make it a monster truck. No problems with top heavy anymore.....

:safe: out.

dilbert wrote:Check these out. I saw one this summer when I stopped in Pateros for gas. It looks like a pretty good system to me. After you set up camp you can hook up the boat trailer and tow it like normal.

http://www.trailersystems.com/

My first thought is "How would I stop all that stuff in an emergency situation?":pale:

It may be interesting towing that across the river at Vantage with a 35mph cross wind

NO WAY will I put the trailered boat into the bed of my truck. You know why? My wife said No. And that's final.

Still looking at the lift idea, though. Really need to see some first hand. As for the trailer, I'll probably end up with that, too. My old boss will get it for me at cost +5%.

If you have the motorized rack or see one ask how it works, ok? Who installs those?

I just saw this on craigslist...

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/467030407.html

I'm not sure if you are still looking for one of these. This has been posted off and on for quite a few months. I'd see if they would take less.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/480637439.html

all those people with boats ON there truck are nutts!!!!
id stick with a ezload trailer and tow it.