Kayaking is a popular activity with outdoor enthusiasts and is a great way to experience nature while you’re RVing. RV kayak racks can get pretty expensive, so knowing how to build a kayak rack for an RV is a great way to save money and get a customized kayak transporting solution for your rig.
We’ll walk through some different DIY RV kayak rack plans in today’s guide.
How To Build A Kayak Rack For An RV
There are different options you have when choosing how to build your RV kayak racks, and fortunately most of them are extremely affordable and don’t require much expertise.
You’ll need to decide whether you want a vertical RV kayak rack versus a horizontal RV kayak rack.
You’ll also need to decide whether you’ll be storing your kayaks on your RV roof or placing your kayak mount for RV behind the vehicle.
Take notice of what else you are carrying and where it’s placed on the exterior of your RV when choosing your DIY RV kayak rack plan below.
DIY Vertical RV Kayak Rack
The first and probably easiest DIY RV kayak rack plan is to use a pre-made cargo carrier or RV cargo rack that hooks into your tow hitch.
Here’s an example of a popular RV cargo rack you can use as the base of your RV kayak carrier:
- FOLDABLE LUGGAGE RACK FOR CAR STORAGE: Transport your stuff with ease using our car trailer cargo basket , built to handle up to 500 lbs. Made for tough tasks, this weatherproof steel cargo carrier hitch mount delivers durability with a sleek look. The trailer hitch rack cargo carrier measures 60"x20"x6", offering generous space for luggage, camping gear, or construction materials. And, thanks to a rust-resistant design, these vehicle cargo baskets stand up to the elements for lasting use.
- ALL-WEATHER CAR CARRIER BAG : Our luggage carrier cargo racks for trailer hitch come with a truck bed waterproof storage bag, measuring 58"x24"x20" with 16 cubic ft. of trailer hitch storage capacity. Built from abrasion-resistant vinyl with waterproof zippers, the Mockins Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier Bag handles harsh weather conditions. Reinforced seams, a 2" protective flap, & 5.5" Velcro strips enhance moisture resistance, making this folding cargo hitch carrier with bag set road-trip ready.
- VEHICLE CARGO CARRIERS W/ LICENSE PLATE BRACKET & MORE: Travel seamlessly with the Mockins Tow Hitch Cargo Carrier , featuring a 2" raise for improved ground clearance. The 2" receiver hitch cargo carrier offers a great fit for various vehicles. Our trailer hitch basket cargo carrier is designed with a license plate holder for security & reflectors for visibility, while the car rack stabilizer set minimizes sway. Experience a smoother ride with this reliable folding trailer hitch cargo rack .
- ALL-IN-ONE SET: The heavy-duty cargo trailer hitch storage rack supports up to 500 lbs. & comes with a stabilizer & a hitch lock. The hitch hauler bundle also has a 16 cu.ft. hitch cargo carrier bag with combo lock & carry bag. Secure your cargo to the car rack cargo carrier using the included buckle & ratchet straps, as well as a 36"x20" cargo net equipped with plastic hooks that stretches up to 75"x40". Keep your gear locked down with the Mockins Folding Hitch Cargo Carrier & Accessories.
- CUSTOMER COMES FIRST: At Mockins, we back the quality of our Hitch Cargo Rack Carrier with Hitch Cargo Bag combo & prioritize customer satisfaction. We offer a 10-year limited warranty on the hitch platform set. This hitch mounted cargo carrier bundle comes with accessories like straps, stabilizer, hitch lock with keys, bungee net & a unique license plate holder—an industry first. Questions? We're here to help! Transport cargo confidently with the Mockins Cargo Basket for SUV , Truck & Car.
Here’s how to build a DIY vertical RV kayak rack:
- Assemble the RV cargo rack per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Install the RV cargo rack on your RV’s trailer hitch.
- Line the bottom of the cargo rack with padding such as foam or something soft to protect the end of your kayak.
- Stand the kayak up vertically in the kayak rack.
- Secure the kayak by bungee cords, ratchet straps, or rope to your RV’s ladder.
- You can store up to two kayaks using this DIY vertical RV kayak rack plan.
DIY RV Kayak Roof Rack
If you’d rather transport your kayaks on your roof, you can build a DIY RV kayak roof rack.
Building a rooftop RV kayak carrier is extremely simple- just line your RV’s existing roof rack rails with pool noodles and line the roof with as many pool noodles as you can get your hands on.
These foam noodles will protect your RV’s roof and your kayaks from damage during transport.
- 6 Pack of everyone's favorite flexible fun-in-the-sun toy. Set of 6 all-round foam tubes
- standard length
- approximately 2-1/2-inch diameter with 1-inch hollow core.
- Oodles of noodles are made from a proprietary foam compound that's more dense than others for improved buoyancy and stiffness
- Designed for the beach
Cut the foam noodles to size if needed, depending on if you are aligning them parallel or perpendicular to your roof or the kayaks.
Once done, set the kayaks on top and use ratchet straps to secure the kayaks to the roof of your RV.
DIY Vertical RV Kayak Rack Under $200 (Option 2)
You can use a little creativity and cheap parts to make a very sturdy vertical RV kayak rack using supplies found at your local hardware store.
This vertical RV kayak rack plan uses a truck bed extender, a heavy duty luggage rack for a hitch mount, and a double decker receiver.
Cut square holes approximately 10” in size in the rack that your kayaks will sit in, then you can cut some pool noodles for each side and secure them to the rack with zip ties.
How To Build A Camper Kayak Rack
You can use the plans we outlined above when learning how to build a camper kayak rack.
Just make sure your camper has a tow hitch available or that you can install one so that your DIY camper kayak rack will work using the suggested materials.
Weld Your Own Custom DIY RV Kayak Rack
If you have some welding skills, you can really make a very nice and customized option.
Check out this video for someone who made a customized kayak and bike rack that mounts on to their trailer hitch for a fraction of the cost of a pre-made RV kayak rack:
How To Build A Kayak Rack For An RV: Wrapping Things Up
We hope this guide helped you learn more on how to build a kayak rack for your RV and saved you some money versus buying a premade RV kayak rack.
What plan did you go with, how did the process go, and were there any additional modifications you made?
Please share with us in the comments below!
While you’re here, check out our other great guides on RV mods:
- How to build DIY RV slide out storage trays
- Installing an RV bike rack over propane tanks
- The best RV outdoor kitchen mods
- RV gate ideas