Investing In A Kayak Trailer

If you are a kayak or canoe enthusiast, chances are that you already have your kayak. One item, which while not essential, is extremely handy to have is a kayak trailer.  Kayaks can be transported on a roof rack, or they can be pulled behind a vehicle on a trailer. They are not cheap to buy and some people prefer to design a homemade kayak trailer or buy a used kayak trailer instead.

Trailer Versus Roof Rack

In some respects a roof rack is very convenient for transporting kayaks as you do not have anything towing along behind your vehicle. However, many people find that an actual trailer is much more convenient because of the ease with which they can load and unload the kayaks. This is especially important if you are traveling in an RV or another high roofed vehicle as trying to load kayaks on and off an RV is an almost impossible task, especially if you are on your own.  You can also store your kayaks on the trailer when they are not in use, whereas if you transport them on top of your vehicle you will have to invest in an alternative storage rack.

The obvious advantage of a roof rack over a trailer is that it is much less expensive to buy. You also do not have the added drag on your vehicle or the loss of maneuverability that you can sometimes experience when pulling a heavily laden trailer behind your vehicle.

Best Kayak Trailers

There are several moderately priced brands of new kayak trailers available. Both Malone and Trailex are well known brands, as is Yakima and Sportsrig. There are also many generic trailers sold at usually somewhat cheaper prices.

Malone trailers are easy to assemble and they come with complete instructions on how to do so; including what things to watch out for when assembling them. Another plus is that Malone have great customer support and they are more than willing to offer any advice or assistance needed if you have questions about their product. Their trailers are well made and lightweight. There are mixed reviews for the Trailex models. In general it seems these are better for using on good roads, however the suspension is not suitable if you are planning on driving your trailer over rugged grounds. The Yakima “Rack and Roll” trailers are both lightweight and sturdy. They pull along behind a vehicle well, and are lightweight enough to detach from your vehicle and roll to the waterfront. Sportsrig produce fine trailers, though their customer service is not always the most efficient. They are also better for fresh water kayaking, as many of their models do have a tendency to rust over time.

Cost of Kayak Trailers

Prices will depend in part on how many kayaks or canoes you intend to transport, with sizes ranging from those that will pull two kayaks to those designed to carry eight to twelve at one time. A Trailex UT-1200 designed to carry up to 16 kayaks costs around $3,600 new. A Malone 3-Kayak trailer costs quite a bit less; $1,600 brand new.  However, prices also depends on other features as well. Generally, for a new aluminum kayak trailer, you should expect to pay anywhere from around $900 for a single kayak carrier up to $3,500 or more.   Purchasing a dual canoe kayak trailer will often add a little to the price.

Build Your Own

If you are looking for something cheaper you may want to consider either making your own trailer or buying a secondhand one. If you want to build your own kayak trailer you will find there are several websites that have great kayak trailer plans available for free. It may require your adapting a regular trailer by adding an A, T or H frame to the back of it. If you are somewhat familiar with DIY projects, however, that is a fairly cost effective way to obtain a Kayak trailer.

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