Kayak Trailer Modifications.

[Team_Dougherty]

Wanting to haul more that one Kayak at a time easily when I kayak fish with others I made updated my trailer to do the job.

I took by existing harbor freight trailer, some 1 1/4" EMT, 4 two hole EMT hanger, screws and kayak carriers.

I may shorten the pipes to pull the outside kayaks in a bit.







 

 

[Jim McC]

Very nice. I'm thinking of buying the HF 4' X 8' trailer and doing something similar. How much did the kayak cradles cost? I would be a little worried about the EMT being held only by screws.

[flyfisher]

Looks good. I would also be concerned about the emt being held by screws only and even the strength of the pipe itself. You should probably move those j racks in a little closer to the center too because it looks like it is already flexing.

Other than that looks nice. I have been debating on getting a trailer for my kayaks too but just haven't pulled the trigger....to many other things I want instead

[Team_Dougherty]

Very nice. I'm thinking of buying the HF 4' X 8' trailer and doing something similar. How much did the kayak cradles cost? I would be a little worried about the EMT being held only by screws.

 

The cradles were $65 total for all 4. The EMT is held to the trailer by straps.

I also put a screw through the top of the strap into the emt to make sure it doesn't slide.It is not going anywhere.

[Jim McC]

Where did you buy the cradles?

[Team_Dougherty]

Where did you buy the cradles?

 

eBay. $49.95 with $14.95 shipping.

[Jim McC]

eBay. $49.95 with $14.95 shipping.

 

Thanks. It seems to me that using J-cradles like you did is much easier than using steel and welding or bolting things together, correct?

 

Are those carpeted 2 X 4's under the center kayak?

[Team_Dougherty]

Thanks. It seems to me that using J-cradles like you did is much easier than using steel and welding or bolting things together, correct?

 

Are those carpeted 2 X 4's under the center kayak?

 

Oh, yea. The J cradles are much easier to use. Yes, they are carpeted 2x4s. they came with the trailer.

http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-capacity-boat-trailer-with-8-inch-wheels-and-tires-5002.html

 

I had the trailer for an old 12' boat i had. I got the blue kayak and got rid of the boat and kept the trailer for the kayak. Then another kayak for the wife. So I had to make modifications.

 

If I had the kayak and then needed a trailer I would go with this. http://www.harborfreight.com/1195-lb-capacity-48-inch-x-96-inch-heavy-duty-foldable-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html and bolt the J brackets right to the cross members.

 

 

If I started over

[pabassr]

Very nice, I really like your trailer. Been wanting to do this myself on my 12' boat trailer. You got my juices flowing. I`ll be converting trailer to kayak hauler very soon. Will post pictures when done. Just think no more lifting kayaks over my head and onto roof rack. My arms and shoulders thank you.

 I still have 12' boat,but will make trailer so I can remover bars when not hauling kayaks, to haul my boat.

[Jim McC]

Oh, yea. The J cradles are much easier to use. Yes, they are carpeted 2x4s. they came with the trailer.

http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-capacity-boat-trailer-with-8-inch-wheels-and-tires-5002.html

 

I had the trailer for an old 12' boat i had. I got the blue kayak and got rid of the boat and kept the trailer for the kayak. Then another kayak for the wife. So I had to make modifications.

 

If I had the kayak and then needed a trailer I would go with this. http://www.harborfreight.com/1195-lb-capacity-48-inch-x-96-inch-heavy-duty-foldable-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html and bolt the J brackets right to the cross members.

 

 

If I started over

 

That HF 4' X 8' trailer is the one I'm thinking of buying. I saw a couple of pics where they used that trailer with the J-brackets bolted to steel tubing, perpendicular to the frame members.

[Team_Dougherty]

I found these on Amazon.

 

http://www.amazon.com/TMS-KAYAK-RK-J-1BOX-Universal-Carrier/dp/B003V57NUQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1VVAF8GQHY0H2&coliid=I2HOXIY7TY818Q

[Jim McC]

Thanks. I saw those the other day. A  good price, even with the shipping. Are they designed to be mounted with U-bolts?  

[Team_Dougherty]

Thanks. I saw those the other day. A  good price, even with the shipping. Are they designed to be mounted with U-bolts?  

 

 

The ones I have clamp on the pipe, or roof rack, with two big plastic knobs holding a piece of metal.

 

[pabassr]

Thanks Team_Dougherty

I just bought a set of J-racks on Amazon,$21.00 plus shipping,great deal.

When the J-racks get delivered to my home,I`ll be putting them on trailer with the other set I have already. I`ll be using superstruts for frame, like on your trailer Thanks for the info and pictures.. Going to get the 15/8"x3/4" superstruts,using u-bolts to hold them to trailer frame. That way if I want to use my 12' boat it will be easy to remove the superstruts. I`ve looked all over internet at different trailer modifications, and found I like yours the best!

[Jim McC]

Thanks Team_Dougherty

I just bought a set of J-racks on Amazon,$21.00 plus shipping,great deal.

When the J-racks get delivered to my home,I`ll be putting them on trailer with the other set I have already. I`ll be using superstruts for frame, like on your trailer Thanks for the info and pictures.. Going to get the 15/8"x3/4" superstruts,using u-bolts to hold them to trailer frame. That way if I want to use my 12' boat it will be easy to remove the superstruts. I`ve looked all over internet at different trailer modifications, and found I like yours the best!

 

After you get them, can you post back here stating if they can be installed with bolts and nuts, instead of using the knobs? Thanks.

[Team_Dougherty]

After you get them, can you post back here stating if they can be installed with bolts and nuts, instead of using the knobs? Thanks.

 

Yes, you can replace the knobs, they have a nut inside, with a regular nut. It is a carriage bolt that comes through the bracket.

 

I may, at a later time, remove the rollers and bunks and get two more sets of J brackets and have the capacity to carry 4 kayaks.

[Jim McC]

OK thanks.

[Team_Dougherty]

I had the trailer out for a full load test today. Hauled two OK prowler big games and a small pelican apex 100 it perfomed well. basically what is in the picture and another kayak like the blue one.

[Team_Dougherty]

Thanks Team_Dougherty

I just bought a set of J-racks on Amazon,$21.00 plus shipping,great deal.

When the J-racks get delivered to my home,I`ll be putting them on trailer with the other set I have already. I`ll be using superstruts for frame, like on your trailer Thanks for the info and pictures.. Going to get the 15/8"x3/4" superstruts,using u-bolts to hold them to trailer frame. That way if I want to use my 12' boat it will be easy to remove the superstruts. I`ve looked all over internet at different trailer modifications, and found I like yours the best!

 

Is there an Update? I would like to see what you have done?

[pabassr]

Just got done with it. I will post pictures when ever it stops raining.

[Team_Dougherty]

Just got done with it. I will post pictures when ever it stops raining.

 

Great.

[pabassr]

Here are the pictures of my trailer I modified  for kayaks. But still can use as boat trailer as well.

[Jim McC]

Very nice. Are those the J-brackets on Amazon for $21 + shipping? Are you happy with the quality of the J-brackets?

[pabassr]

Yes they are the ones I got at Amazon for $21 dollars plus shipping. They are just as good as the ones I bought at Dicks Sporting Goods 2 years ago. Only difference is the ones from Amazon have to be assembled. Very easy to assemble. I`m glad I used unstruts on my trailer modification. I used the unistruts for the cross bars for kayaks, because of strength and stiffness with no flex. I mounted the unistruts to trailer using 1/2" dia. bolts thru the holes I drilled into trailer. Then I mounted 2"x4" treated lumber to unistruts also using 1/2" dia. bolts. Next I mounted the j-racks to the treated lumber and unistruts using 5/16" dia. bolts. The bolts that come with the j-racks are 8mm. and are too short for my build. So I 5/16" dia. bolts with washer, lock washer, and lock nuts to be more secure. I`m very pleased with the build, no more lifting kayaks onto roof racks that will save my arms and shoulders.

[Team_Dougherty]

Here are the pictures of my trailer I modified  for kayaks. But still can use as boat trailer as well.

 

Great Job!. Where did you get the u-bolts?