After dropping my Outback several times trying to car-top the yak on my wife’s Odyssey minivan, I finally decided to buy a truck (Honda Ridgeline) specifically to haul my yak. I previously used the minivan for nine years.
I’m over 60 yrs and not a big guy, so lifting the 88-pound yak is much easier placing it on the bed extender (BooneDox T-bone) and sliding it onto the 5-ft bed.
After buying the truck two and a half years ago, I finally figured out the strapping, tail lighting, locking, etc. I took the truck/yak out on its first trip last week, after not fishing for nearly 10 months.
Bottom line: I can’t say the truck is better.
The truck bed is low, so I don’t have to lift the front yak high. But it takes longer to load up. I have to install the extender (& add locks), add tail-lights & flag, and add more straps/bungees. I don’t have to install taillights and flag on the minivan.
The truck is not as roomy and convenient as the minivan. I can easily load up the minivan with my rods, crate, yak accessories, etc. I don’t have to stack things too, so everything is pretty much readily available in the minivan. The truck has a trunk, and that’s been useful.
The truck does not handle as well on the interstate. With the low CG and longer wheelbase, the minivan is noticeably more responsive, smoother, quiet, and assured.
One big benefit that I have yet to experience is the ability to quickly load the yak on the truck and move to another fishing location without having to remove and reinstall many fishing accessories.
I miss the minivan already, but maybe time will tell. The value of not lifting the yak high (and having potential drops) may outweigh the negatives of the truck.
I’m over 60 yrs and not a big guy, so lifting the 88-pound yak is much easier placing it on the bed extender (BooneDox T-bone) and sliding it onto the 5-ft bed.
After buying the truck two and a half years ago, I finally figured out the strapping, tail lighting, locking, etc. I took the truck/yak out on its first trip last week, after not fishing for nearly 10 months.
Bottom line: I can’t say the truck is better.
The truck bed is low, so I don’t have to lift the front yak high. But it takes longer to load up. I have to install the extender (& add locks), add tail-lights & flag, and add more straps/bungees. I don’t have to install taillights and flag on the minivan.
The truck is not as roomy and convenient as the minivan. I can easily load up the minivan with my rods, crate, yak accessories, etc. I don’t have to stack things too, so everything is pretty much readily available in the minivan. The truck has a trunk, and that’s been useful.
The truck does not handle as well on the interstate. With the low CG and longer wheelbase, the minivan is noticeably more responsive, smoother, quiet, and assured.
One big benefit that I have yet to experience is the ability to quickly load the yak on the truck and move to another fishing location without having to remove and reinstall many fishing accessories.
I miss the minivan already, but maybe time will tell. The value of not lifting the yak high (and having potential drops) may outweigh the negatives of the truck.
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