Anyone Have Experience with the Malone Microsport XT Kayak Trailer?

[JJ_love_fishing]

Hey folks,
I’m pretty new to kayak fishing and recently plan to pick up an Old Town Autopilot 136. Looking for a trailer and saw that the Malone Microsport XT is available at my local store. Not looking to buy used or modify anything – just hoping for a simple, stable solution that works well out of the box, even if it costs a bit more.

I’ve got a few questions for anyone who’s used this trailer before:

1. I know the Malone EcoLight is rated for 65 mph, but I couldn’t find any info for the Microsport XT. Anyone know if it has a similar speed limit?
2. The crossbars are 30'' high – do you think loading/unloading at the boat ramp will be easy with my SUV? Trying to avoid getting my vehicle too deep into the water to get the kayak floating. Would I be better off with the low bed option?
3.  Is this a must-have for a kayak trailer, or is the stock setup good enough?
4.  I’ve heard some models have a short power cord that doesn’t reach well – does that apply to the XT as well?

Appreciate any insights you guys can share! Thanks in advance!

[JJ_love_fishing]

Clarification: For my question #3, I meant to ask about the Bearing Buddy.

 

[Koz]

I have the Malone Ecolight with the bunks for my Autopilot 120. One of my best purchases was adding a winch to that trailer. 

 

Buy a winch for your AP. Don’t think twice about it. It makes it quick and easy to load up and get off the ramp.

 

It looks like the Microsport is rated to 65 mph as well:

 

https://www.etrailer.com/question-281778.html?srsltid=AfmBOooT5fji4uM1RR0SD-aMetfbJSiV9cgQsO03StpIPefrKXjFc7GE

[JJ_love_fishing]

7 hours ago, Koz said:

I have the Malone Ecolight with the bunks for my Autopilot 120. One of my best purchases was adding a winch to that trailer. 

 

Buy a winch for your AP. Don’t think twice about it. It makes it quick and easy to load up and get off the ramp.

 

It looks like the Microsport is rated to 65 mph as well:

 

https://www.etrailer.com/question-281778.html?srsltid=AfmBOooT5fji4uM1RR0SD-aMetfbJSiV9cgQsO03StpIPefrKXjFc7GE

Thank you, Koz. It looks like I'll need to get better tires for the trailer to ensure it runs safely at higher speeds on the highway!

I'm not too familiar with winches. Do you mind elaborating on how they work and which model you bought?

 

[Koz]

Before I bought my winch and post assembly I would pull my kayak onto my trailer with a dock line. That was a chore because my fully loaded AP is hundreds of pounds and it wasn’t easy pulling it up over the bunks.

 

Now I just attach the winch line, crank the handle and quickly and easily pull it up onto my trailer. That gets me away from the ramp much quicker so I’m not blocking other boaters AND I’m not worn out wrestling my kayak.

 

Tomorrow I will post a picture of my winch assembly. I bought the winch and post combo in the link below, but I did use different u-bolts that I picked up for a few bucks at Lowe’s.

 

If you buy one, just make sure you get the correct tongue size.

 

One more thing - backing up a short trailer is not as easy as backing up a longer trailer. To combat that I bought a tongue extender. 

 

https://www.boattrailerpartsplace.com/shop-trailer-parts/winch-post-winches/winch-post-assemblies/winch-post-assembly-2x2/

 

 

 

[Koz]

I will add one thing. Now that I started traveling to fish tournaments I wish I had invested in a trailer with locking storage boxes and rod boxes. 

 

I also wish I had purchased a dual trailer so I could also bring my pedal kayak as a backup. It would also be an alternative option for river tournaments if there was no suitable water for my AP.

 

For now I’ll stick with the Malone, but I’m investing another $1200 in a Yakima rooftop rod box.

 

[Fishingmickey]

Hi JJ,

     I have a Malone XT also, I've had it over a year now and have put probably five or six thousand miles on it. I seldom run under 65. I have buddy bearings. I tow with a SUV and I have no problems launching. Retrieving can be tricky depending on the steepness of the ramp. A shallow ramp I have to get out the water shoes and "help" the Kayak onto the trailer.

 

Koz,  I have a question for you. Where did you get your tongue extender? Same link for the winch?

I think adding a couple of feet to the tongue would greatly decrease the backing and loading challenges. 

Fishingmickey

[JJ_love_fishing]

10 hours ago, Koz said:

I will add one thing. Now that I started traveling to fish tournaments I wish I had invested in a trailer with locking storage boxes and rod boxes. 

 

I also wish I had purchased a dual trailer so I could also bring my pedal kayak as a backup. It would also be an alternative option for river tournaments if there was no suitable water for my AP.

 

For now I’ll stick with the Malone, but I’m investing another $1200 in a Yakima rooftop rod box.

 

Thanks, Koz! The winch sounds like a great solution for saving energy and avoiding potential injury after a day of fishing. I’ll definitely want something like that on a trailer to make life easier. I also like how it can be attached to the trailer without needing it as a separate tool! As for the tongue extender, that makes sense—I imagine the longer the trailer, the deeper the kayak goes without having to submerge my SUV in the water. That should help the kayak get enough buoyancy to float. I’ll definitely consider one

 

Same question as Fishingmickey, do you mind sharing the link of the extender so we can look into getting one?thanks

[Koz]

10 hours ago, JJ_love_fishing said:

Thanks, Koz! The winch sounds like a great solution for saving energy and avoiding potential injury after a day of fishing. I’ll definitely want something like that on a trailer to make life easier. I also like how it can be attached to the trailer without needing it as a separate tool! As for the tongue extender, that makes sense—I imagine the longer the trailer, the deeper the kayak goes without having to submerge my SUV in the water. That should help the kayak get enough buoyancy to float. I’ll definitely consider one

 

Same question as Fishingmickey, do you mind sharing the link of the extender so we can look into getting one?thanks

This is the tongue extender that I purchased: 

 

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-45796-Receiver-Tube-Extender/

 

I also bought locking pins for my extender and hitch so no one steals them.

 

In fact, I purchased a number of other devices to deter people from trying to steal my kayak when I travel overnight.

 

For example, a trailer ball hitch lock, wheel locks, and a heavy steel cable to lock my kayak to my trailer frame.

[Koz]

Here’s a picture of my assembled winch and post:

 

 

[FryDog62]

I considered the Malone for my Autopilot, but because of the 65 mph rating I went with the Right-On Ruff Trailer which is rated to interstate speeds 70+ mph. No regrets…

[Koz]

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

I considered the Malone for my Autopilot, but because of the 65 mph rating I went with the Right-On Ruff Trailer which is rated to interstate speeds 70+ mph. No regrets…

That initially worried me as well but so far, so good with cruise control at 70 mph.

 

But I have also just ordered a spare tire since I have some long trips coming up.

 

I liked the Right On trailer as well. I can’t remember why I chose the Malone over that one. If I remember correctly, Right On is only a few hours from me and ai could have picked it up.

[FryDog62]

3 hours ago, Koz said:

That initially worried me as well but so far, so good with cruise control at 70 mph.

 

But I have also just ordered a spare tire since I have some long trips coming up.

 

I liked the Right On trailer as well. I can’t remember why I chose the Malone over that one. If I remember correctly, Right On is only a few hours from me and ai could have picked it up.

Yeah, I was driving from Minneapolis to SW Florida and just swung through Atlanta to pick up that trailer. I think I saved a couple hundred bucks instead of them mailing it to me, and they did the entire assembly - I said sign me up for that!