I have a friend that wanted to borrow my canoe this week but only has a pickup truck to haul it with. Has anyone here hauled a canoe without a topper or fancy-pants rack on a pickup. Does it work OK? How do you do it? Am I overthinking this? The canoe is royalex, so I want to make sure it doesn't flex the canoe out of shape in the process.

Please. Someone. HELP?!

When I used to haul my canoe with my pick-up I found a simple solution was to build an A-frame out of 2x4s that came to the same height as the cab, sort of like a saw horse only sturdier. I used that method for years without a problem.

I've done it. One end on the roof, the other on the tailgate with foam blocks. Then ratchet straps and bungees and it's good to go. It's not ideal but OK for occasional use.

I've done a similar setup as Journeyman, but used four 2x4s. I simply made a rectangular frame to fit the back of the box. Standing upright, the top of the frame was at the same height as the cab. I used rope to secure the 2x4 frame to the back gate to keep it from flopping forward. Then used two slotted foam blocks to rest one end of the canoe on the cab, the other end rested on the 2x4 frame. Used rope to tie the canoe down snuggly front, back and one across the middle and was good to go.

i used to have yak racks on my topper. worked as well as on a car.

I have an extended cab full-size truck and I can use four foam blocks under the canoe, tie it at the front and back and throw one rachet strap over from the tie downs at the front of the bed. Works great, even long trips and high speed.

Here's a pic.

If anyone is interested - I make a unit that bolts onto the trucks bumper (through the hole for the ball) and it basically a big "T". The top cross-piece is level with the top of the cab of the truck. The top piece also can swivel 360 degrees which allows you to load the canoe with one person. They aren't available commercially (yet) but if anyone is interested I would be happy to make you one!!

I've got a Chevy S10 extended cab. The year I rented, VNO was able to get a Bell Magic on the roof like Traveler does with just the foam blocks. I wouldn't want to take this setup down an interstate highway though with a roof the size of mine. Since I built my stripper I got a rack from Cabellas that fits in the trailer hitch for the back of the canoe. The front sits on the roof with foam blocks. I found the Cabellas rack to be a bit wobbly so I use a couple of additional straps from the frame hooks in the bed. Here's a picture, do a search for canoe rack at www.cabelas.com.

i use 4 foam blocks on the cab roof and cam strap it front and back on my extended cab ranger. have done it 50+ times with no problems. one almost catastrophe but that's only cuz it was wet and REALLY windy on 35 as it passes Black Bear Casino.
tg

Depends upon what type of pickup your friend has. I have a full-size 3/4 ton with a long (8') bed that is set up to pull our gooseneck horse trailer. With the gooseneck setup, there are two safety hooks that extend from the bed on either side of the ball hitch. I use those safety hooks to attach a ratchet strap through the center thwart and around the canoe, and then I just use the standard top box rail tiedowns to secure the canoe from any other movement. I attach a piece of red plastic or cloth through the lining hole on the end of the canoe that's sticking out of the back of the pickup box, and that's it. The canoe is locked in tight and doesn't move one inch, even at Interstate highway speeds.

Most newer pickups have tiedown points in the bottom of the bed--if your friend's pickup has them, you should be able to do something similar.