Just bought a 4’ x 8’ utility trailer that I’m going to rig up as a part-time kayak trailer. Does anyone who has done this same thing have any suggestions? Things to include, things to consider before coming up with a design, etc? Any help would be appreciated.
number 1 concern - keep it simple
I’ve done more than a handfull of trailers and it all comes down to this. You really don’t “have” to do anything to a trailer to transport yaks. There are features that I like to include
Removable cross bars - because sometimes you want to haul other stuff
Easy to use tide down points - can be drilled holes or eyebolts, just be sure it’s quick and easy to secure your boat
Lockable storage - A safe place to keep your goodies secured when you’re not with the vehicle
Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com
Give me a shout. I would be glad to help. I’m out of work due to this back surgery and just looking for something to do. I have built a good number of trailers in the past.
Like he said above, keep the trailer simple and versatile. You WILL want to use for other stuff too. It wont take much to haul kayaks.
Just shoot me an e-mail
mkball3@comcast.net
Thanks for the input Tommy and thanks for the offer Rigger. I want to see what you guys think of the design I came up with. I wanted to be able to carry up to 4 kayaks/canoes, as well as the rest of my gear.
Here is the trailer I bought.
And here is the design I came up with.
My plan is to put tie-downs on the angled boards to hold a boat on either side and do the same to the top. I’ll put rod racks under the angled boards but need some ideas on a way to keep my paddles under the top boards. In order to use the trailer for other things I will have to remove a few bolts to take off the back section and pop the drop in stiffener off the top. What do you think?
Cool, what program did you use to make the design? Have you thought about removable or flip down “arms” on the angled side for the yaks to rest on? Just a thought.
DFreedom, I use Solidworks at my job, so luckily I have it at home as well. Works out great when trying to lay out projects around the house. I think you are right about adding some “rests” at the bottom of the angled boards. I’m gonna wait until I have it assembled and then see what I can come up with.
Cool program, never heard of it but then we don’t do a lot of CAD stuff in LE. Let us know how it works out.
The stake pockects on the trailer can be used for some sort of a rack system that can be taken on and off.
One problem you will have with that is IF it is a stiff frame, it will be very hard to get in and out of the pockets. I have done similar stuff on trailers like that before, Not just for kayaks, and always ran into problems with getting the frames or sides to go back in the pockets with out a lot of beating.
So far, what I like doing with something like that is making two seperate frames, maybe something like a double T to hold more than one boat. You could still use the pockets on the trailer and secure them with tractor pins. You could still add some sort of brace across the top, again use pins to secure, to help tie it all together.
With something like that, you have endless possibilites for a design. And that nice little flat trailer is a great starting platform.
Try scrapping something together out of some junk wood and just sort of feel things out. I dont know how many times I have started a project thinking it would work great and only half way through it, scrapped it all because I did not like it.
And again, if you want to get together on it, even just for brain storming ideas, let me know. I still have a few more weeks of not working so somethinglike that would be a treat.
Good luck with the build.
Just wanted to update this thread with some photos of the semi-finished product.
Thanks for your comments, offers and suggestions.