Never installed one. How hard ? What's involved and any cheapish but good recommendations ? Thx

only had 1 roof rack in my life and that was on a vehicle my wife had when we married. It was a dealer install when brand new and leaked and loose. After a few years of trying all kind of sealants and lock-tite and such, we sold it and never had one since. my recommendation is figure a way to do without. that's why i have a trailer for each truck here.

I don't recommend a roof rack that puts weight on the roof... I was trying to push snow off & felt it give... it would be easy to oil can the roof & not easy to fix. If you need a rack, it needs to transfer the weight to the bed.

only had 1 roof rack in my life and that was on a vehicle my wife had when we married. It was a dealer install when brand new and leaked and loose. After a few years of trying all kind of sealants and lock-tite and such, we sold it and never had one since. my recommendation is figure a way to do without. that's why i have a trailer for each truck here.

Thx guys Worked out I can put it in my truck bed for now. Later might go with a self installable bed racj - but its like $600. Its for my new toy - Tarpon 140 Kayak

1st pics

I agree with the guys, Don't install a roof rack. (the factory ones on the suburbans work great and don't leak, but I have heard the guys that installed them off of other trucks and NEVER eliminating all the leaks....)What I am thinking of doing, to carry my canoes is to build a "headache rack". (you can also buy these) This will fit in the front "stake holes". If the angle looks wrong (catches air etc), will build a rear rack to bring the canoe up. (for both front and rear, search for "ladder racks".)GL HTHHag

The front stake holes are several inches back. The foot of the headache rack will need to extend to it.

Not going to use the stake holes as I have rail cappings on that I like too much to part with Going to stick with having it strapped to bed for now thx guys

John,You might want to take advantage of the two lower hooks then. I don't see why you could not build a rack that "hangs" (not really hanging, but getting longitudinal support) on the front of the bed between the cab, and tension it by using J-hooks to connect to the front hook places in the bed.You are not carrying weight, you just need to keep from scratching the roof.Hag

How about these to hold canoe on truck roof http://www.amazon.com/Malone-Standard-Block-Universal-Carrier/dp/B000SXN90C then make or buy one of these for your hitch http://www.amazon.com/Thule-997-Hitch-Adapter-Carriers/dp/B0001HACGE/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1348197397&sr=1-2&keywords=canoe+receiver+hitch

Those look good but just going to stick with it in my bed for now - if it gets too scratched up then that looks ok thanks