Anyone use a kayak cart?

[buzzed bait]

I've never felt the need for one as most places i load and unload are right at the water.  However, there's one place on the river where it's a pretty solid haul from the takeout to the truck.  It's more or less impossible for me to do solo with my ride 135.  So i've thought about constructing a PVC cart as a cheap alternative to get from point A to B.  curious if any on here have or use one?  If so, is yours the kind where it goes through the scupper holes or just sits on top of said cart and gets strapped down somehow?  If you do have the scupper kind, how do you line it up to get the rods through the scupper holes while the kayak is sitting on the ground?

Thanks for any input!

[YakPirate]

im in the same boat (heyooooo) ... i'm new to the kayak game and looking for something kind of cart solution for a lake that is tough to access. i've been looking on the interwebs for an answer about lining up scupper holes. i came across this parts list for a pvc cart with some photos. thinking about trying it ..hope this helps 

http://www.instructables.com/id/PKC-PVC-Kayak-Cart/

 

[Turtle135]

I use a modified version of this basic design:

http://palmettokayakfishing.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-bulletproof-kayak-cart-build.html

I opted to go with heavier PVC and Marathon Flat Free Tires. I have rolled mine 4 miles up a path alongside a river a few times before to self shuttle and a flat tire would be a real hassle.

 

 

 

[A-Jay]

I use this one for a 120 lb canoe ~ http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-KAYAK-CANOE-CART/1947990.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D734095080%26CQ_search%3Dkayak%2Bcart%2B%26CQ_st%3Db

No flat tires and been going strong since 2007

It's on sale too -

A-Jay

[flyfisher]

I haven't used a cart but i am thinking of getting one for the same reasons.  I do know i am not getting a scupper cart as i know it puts added stress on an area of the kayak that is already a weak spot.  

I do like that one @A-Jay and I might give it a whirl.....hopefully the local cabelas has it in stock or I can do a ship to store.  Do you have the aluminum or steel model?  The aluminum one is actually cheaper which is what i would want anyways.

[curtis9]

Academy has a kayak cart for around $30. You probably can't build anything for much less than that. 

[buzzed bait]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

I do know i am not getting a scupper cart as i know it puts added stress on an area of the kayak that is already a weak spot.  

that's a good point man, didn't really think about that!

[Darren.]

2 hours ago, buzzed bait said:

I've never felt the need for one as most places i load and unload are right at the water.  However, there's one place on the river where it's a pretty solid haul from the takeout to the truck.  It's more or less impossible for me to do solo with my ride 135.  So i've thought about constructing a PVC cart as a cheap alternative to get from point A to B.  curious if any on here have or use one?  If so, is yours the kind where it goes through the scupper holes or just sits on top of said cart and gets strapped down somehow?  If you do have the scupper kind, how do you line it up to get the rods through the scupper holes while the kayak is sitting on the ground?

Thanks for any input!

You want to be careful using scuppers unless they
were meant for (reinforced) for a cart, like Hobie's.

That said, you can build a sweet one with some 
reinforced hose from Home Depot, 12" wheels from
Northern Tool, and a few other parts.

Or buy the best out there:

http://paddlelogic.com/trailtreker-kayak-carts.html

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I haven't used a cart but i am thinking of getting one for the same reasons.  I do know i am not getting a scupper cart as i know it puts added stress on an area of the kayak that is already a weak spot.  

I do like that one @A-Jay and I might give it a whirl.....hopefully the local cabelas has it in stock or I can do a ship to store.  Do you have the aluminum or steel model?  The aluminum one is actually cheaper which is what i would want anyways.

Steel - the other model has wide wheels / tires making it suitable for soft terrain like sand. 

I needed it do just about everything else except sand - so I went that way.  Works perfectly. 

Also 9 years ago when I got mine, it came with air-ed up tires. 

Didn't want to deal with a flat so I replaced them with no-flats.  NOW - the cart is sold with them - very cool. 

A-Jay

 

[flyfisher]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Steel - the other model has wide wheels / tires making it suitable for soft terrain like sand. 

I needed it do just about everything else except sand - so I went that way.  Works perfectly. 

Also 9 years ago when I got mine, it came with air-ed up tires. 

Didn't want to deal with a flat so I replaced them with no-flats.  NOW - the cart is sold with them - very cool. 

A-Jay

 

I just took a look and i didn't even notice that the aluminum cart is a completely different style...i like the steel version much better.  Good thing i didn't checkout yet  

[MattMurr]

I use one like this: http://www.cabelas.com/product/malone-clipper-trade-universal-canoe-kayak-cart/1750213.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dkayak%2Bcart%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%3BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=kayak+cart

I got it when I purchased my first used kayak. No major issues with it, sucks on the beach sand though due to smaller wheels. Stores easily in the back tankwell area of my yak when needed.

If I were to buy a new one I'd get something nice like the c-tug or a scupper one.. but I have to use it almost every time I take the kayak out.

[J Francho]

C-tug is the very best I've used.

https://www.c-tug.com/

[clayton86]

The c tug is sweet but they are so expensive 

[Tracker22]

On July 22, 2016 at 9:04 AM, J Francho said:

C-tug is the very best I've used.

https://www.c-tug.com/

I've got a c-tug and I don't like it. The kick stand is always falling over, the straps slip off. I think it is best to find the cart that best fits your yak. Unfortunately you don't get to try out different models like you do with yaks. It may be trial and error. As with me I made an expensive error. Seek out owners of your type of yak and see what works for them.

[jt2929]

I have the Boonedox Landing Gear and I love it. It's expensive, but well worth the price for me since I get a lot of use out of it.

[Choporoz]

I've got two of these:https://www.amazon.com/TMS-CART-CANOE-KAYAK-KY001-Carrier-Trolley/dp/B0082365AQ

.  No doubt there's better ones out there...but I doubt there's better $40 carts out there.    I don't take it on the water with me, however. 

-The wheels stink....not just a little

-Like the complaint above, the 'stand' part can fold in if it hits something while rolling it

-Can be a challenge to strap on, depending on what you've got going on topside

But, it is only $40 -

-Rolls well over any terrain

-Two years in shows no signs of wear, rust, flat tires, etc; and I leave them outside with the yaks resting on them. 

I'm a fan....and the price is right

[J Francho]

I have that cart, too.  It's probably the worst thing I've used.

[clayton86]

Yeah I had that cart also it kept collapsing on me all the time when under a load.