Trailer for kayak?

[ThatFishingGuy]

I'm looking for a simple, fairly cheap solution for putting my kayak on a trailer. I will likely be going with the Harbor Freight 4x8 folding trailer, but I'm struggling to come up with a simple solution to mount the kayak to the trailer. Would adding something like the Malone Seawings, Thule Dock Glide, or any other similar contraption straight to the crossbars on the trailer work well enough? I'm currently paddling an Old Town Topwater 120, though have plans to eventually upgrade to a Sportsman PDL 120 (so similar hull shape), does anyone have experience putting these on a trailer with a similar setup? I'd love some advice!

 

Thanks!

[flyfisher]

those are fine but a waste of money to me and for storage you shouldn't really use them long term.  Your best bet is some 4" PVC runners.  It helps to support the weight more evenly and is easy to load and unload and is adjustable for width.

[casts_by_fly]

4" PVC is the way.  The sportsman hull is perfectly designed to fit a pair of 4" PVC runners down the center.  Its how almost everyone who runs a trailer does them.  I don't use a trailer, but I built a wheeled cart for my garage with PVC bunks to slide the boat into the bed of the truck and back out.

 

the harbor freight trailer is an option, but if you're backing it into the water just know that the trailer isn't built for that and the lights are not submergeable.  A few guys on the facebook group have used that trailer as a cheap option and they generally wear out quickly if you're backing them in.  The hubs/bearings are not submergeable either I don't think.  Also, they come with 8" tires which are only 55mph rated.  A used jet ski trailer for just a little more money is a good choice.  Around here you can find them for $300-$500 on marketplace.

[Bankc]

Yeah, I don't know why most commercially made kayak trailers use those car top mounts to hold a kayak when those PVC runners are cheaper and make so much more sense.  Why reinvent the wheel? 

[flyfisher]

Harbor freight trailers are garbage in my opinion.  Everytime you hear them talked about it is about how they had to modify them to work.  You have to upgrade the wheels and bearings to be able to use it at highway speeds and to hold a kayak.  I prefer the roof rack on wheel style and have been using one for over 6 years with zero issues and thousands of miles and only issue was i rewired the lights this past year.

 

My dad picked up a load rite trailer that he uses for his AP130 and backs it right into the water.

[volzfan59]

A lot of people get old boat trailers and modify them. I used to see them all the time a couple hundred bucks. Changing bearings is an easy job, be sure and wear latex gloves! A little sanding and paint, PVC pipe for bunks, tires and lights and your good to go 

 

I had a Harbor Freight trailer and it was great. I pulled all over east TN without issue. When I moved from east TN to south Arkansas, the trailer made the trip with no problem. The people that I sold it to have pulled around here and to Florida twice, no problem's. I never upgraded the bearings, but I did go up from the 8" tires to 12" tires. If you're not going long distances, the 8's would probably be fine. I added LED lights too.

[Jmilburn76]

The Malone wings are bolt on and go but if you decide to get them go with the mega wing as they are reinforced and have less flex. 

[casts_by_fly]

18 hours ago, Bankc said:

Yeah, I don't know why most commercially made kayak trailers use those car top mounts to hold a kayak when those PVC runners are cheaper and make so much more sense.  Why reinvent the wheel? 

because most kayaks have a rounded or curved bottom and won’t sit on bunks. 

[Ratherbefishing75]

I have a  16 foot boat trailer that I rigged up to trailer my canoe   I used 2 2by 4 s and it sits on there nicely 

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, Ratherbefishing75 said:

I have a  16 foot boat trailer that I rigged up to trailer my canoe   I used 2 2by 4 s and it sits on there nicely 

Ever tried it upside down? 

[Ratherbefishing75]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Ever tried it upside down? 

I do that for the winter when it’s time to store  it away  

[flyfisher]

On 2/4/2023 at 10:59 AM, casts_by_fly said:

because most kayaks have a rounded or curved bottom and won’t sit on bunks. 

Maybe 25 years ago but fishing kayaks have all kinds of various hull shapes and PVC pipe runners will work on all of them.  They are usually split type hulls that allow for greater stability and make them track better.

 

[VolFan]

I had two Nucanoes mounted on a harbor freight trailer. I never backed it into the water. It lasted for years and is still going as far as I know. Nothing wrong with them within their limits. If I were doing it now I would put bunks on it to fit the yak, just like a boat trailer. Easy on, easy off. Cart to the water if you can’t dump it close. If my kayak were so unwieldy that I needed to back the trailer in, I would get a boat. It’s really the same at that point.

[FryDog62]

Been eyeballing this one myself:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0824HSTSD/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_3?smid=AGLJA2W19Z5T3&psc=1

[Deleted account]

38 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Ever tried it upside down? 

Send me a video of the launch...

[flyfisher]

12 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Been eyeballing this one myself:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0824HSTSD/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_3?smid=AGLJA2W19Z5T3&psc=1

Malone makes a decent trailer for the money.  Only rated for 65mph though which would be a deal breaker for me.

[Ratherbefishing75]

4 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Send me a video of the launch...

I’ve never taken a video of launching it frome the trailer   When I launch it I use the boat ramp  I back it in just far enough so it slides right off into the water. Then when I’m loading it same thing in reverse I have a winch on the front of the trailer I can use to pull it up  the pic you see if it is just before i flipped it over for the winter it’s usually loaded Down with a motor and equipment  

1 minute ago, flyfisher said:

Malone makes a decent trailer for the money.  Only rated for 65mph though which would be a deal breaker for me.

I was looking at those before I found the one I have now. I scooped it up for 75$ off Craigslist a cupple years ago  input new tires  bearings and lights. And it’s been a really reliable set up.  I know it can handle 80mph on the highway 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Maybe 25 years ago but fishing kayaks have all kinds of various hull shapes and PVC pipe runners will work on all of them.  They are usually split type hulls that allow for greater stability and make them track better.

 

I agree with you about fishing kayaks. But most kayaks sold/in use aren’t fishing kayaks. That’s why most kayak holders aren’t designed for the tunnel/tri/catamaran hulls like you find on fishing kayaks. 

[flyfisher]

I would be interested to see the market share of kayaks with a price point above say 500.  I would venture a guess fishing is rapidly approaching recreational kayak purchases.

[casts_by_fly]

18 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

I would be interested to see the market share of kayaks with a price point above say 500.  I would venture a guess fishing is rapidly approaching recreational kayak purchases.

 

If you're talking about higher end and expensive then I'd agree.  'Fishing' kayaks don't start until the high end.  But consider how many kayaks under $500 are sold like your basic pelican from REI or an equivalent boat from Tractor supply, walmart, or any other retailer.

 

[Boomstick]

On 2/3/2023 at 5:02 PM, flyfisher said:

Harbor freight trailers are garbage in my opinion.  Everytime you hear them talked about it is about how they had to modify them to work.  You have to upgrade the wheels and bearings to be able to use it at highway speeds and to hold a kayak.  I prefer the roof rack on wheel style and have been using one for over 6 years with zero issues and thousands of miles and only issue was i rewired the lights this past year.

 

My dad picked up a load rite trailer that he uses for his AP130 and backs it right into the water.

They are. The wheel bearings last a season. But they're cheap, and modifying them is still fairly cheap. I was going to build one during the pandemic when I bought kayaks for myself and the kids, but you couldn't buy one. You could buy a similar trailer for 4 times the price, but at that price I went and bought a Yamima Rack & Roll. It doubles as a hand cart as it's light. There are other purpose trailers that are cheaper, primarily Malones but the bars cave with a single heavy kayak and I'm not about to try three.

[flyfisher]

1 minute ago, Boomstick said:

They are. The wheel bearings last a season. But they're cheap, and modifying them is still fairly cheap. I was going to build one during the pandemic when I bought kayaks for myself and the kids, but you couldn't buy one. You could buy a similar trailer for 4 times the price, but at that price I went and bought a Yamima Rack & Roll. It doubles as a hand cart as it's light. There are other purpose trailers that are cheaper, primarily Malones but the bars cave with a single heavy kayak and I'm not about to try three.

i went back and forth on my kayak trailer purchase and yakima was top with the sportsrig.  I opted for the sportsrig for a few reasons and am super happy with my decision.  Nothing like not having to worry about a piece of equipment even if you don't use it often.

[Darth-Baiter]

On 2/11/2023 at 6:44 PM, Boomstick said:

They are. The wheel bearings last a season. But they're cheap, and modifying them is still fairly cheap. I was going to build one during the pandemic when I bought kayaks for myself and the kids, but you couldn't buy one. You could buy a similar trailer for 4 times the price, but at that price I went and bought a Yamima Rack & Roll. It doubles as a hand cart as it's light. There are other purpose trailers that are cheaper, primarily Malones but the bars cave with a single heavy kayak and I'm not about to try three.

no problems moving along at approximate "highway speeds". ?  i always like that one, since you could pull it by hand if need be. 

[susQbassman]

Triton ltx kayak trailer all aluminum built like a tank

[airshot]

Back in my younger kayak days, I picked up an old small utility trailer with short sides.  Crafted a base in the trailer for my kayak to sit on upright.  Then I had a cover made at a local truck tarp place for 200 bucks. Once the kayak was in place and tied down, the cover would snap onto the sides of the trailer to keep rain and debris out of the kayak.  Also kept everything inside so I didnt have to load and unload the kayak at each outing.  Worked like a charm, just vack up to the waters edge,ceasy to pick up the front of the kayak to load on the trailer and it slid up the rest of the way. Tie down a couple straps and snap on my cover, road ready and nothing to unload when I got home, just unhook the trailer.  Had less than 500 in my custom made kayak trailer.   Unfortunately never thought to take pics of my creation, to busy using it I guess....