How Do You Tie a Canoe in a Truck Bed?

Whether you’re heading out for a solo kayak trip or a family canoeing adventure, transporting your canoe or kayak to the launch site is an important part of the process. Securing your canoe or kayak in the bed of your truck is one of the most reliable and secure ways to transport them. But if you’ve never done it before, you may be wondering how to properly tie a canoe or kayak in a truck bed.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that your truck has tie-down points. These are usually located in the walls of the bed, as well as on each side of the tailgate. If your truck does not have tie-down points, then you can purchase straps with carabiners that will attach to looped hooks in your truck bed.

Once you have secured the tie-downs, it’s time to get started! Begin by placing padding along the bottom and sides of your canoe or kayak so that it doesn’t get scratched up as it is being transported. Then place the boat in the center of the bed and make sure that it is centered and level.

Next, take two ratchet straps and run them over either side of your boat and connect them to two tie-downs on either side of your truck (if possible).

Make sure that they are tight but not too tight – they should be snug but not over-tightened.

Now take two more ratchet straps and run them over the top of your boat and connect them to two tie-downs at either end (if possible). Again, make sure that they are tight but not overly tight.

Finally, check all points. Make sure all ties are secure and tightly fastened so that nothing comes loose while driving. Once everything looks good, you are ready to hit the road!

Conclusion:
Tying a canoe or kayak into a truck bed can seem intimidating at first but with a few simple steps it can be done quickly and easily. Start by making sure that there are adequate tie-down points available on either side of the bed, then place padding along the bottom and sides before placing your canoe or kayak in the center and securing it with ratchet straps connected to both sides and ends if possible. Once everything looks secure then check all points one last time before hitting the road!

Photo of author

Stephen Dunn