Ultimate kayak trailer ideas

I would love to build one for you PolePole.  Tell me what you want and I will get to work on it.

Something like Pelagic Paddlers with the kayak tree and under tree storage, maybe a little more storage than he has (deeper).  Or perhaps storage that can be accessed with the kayaks still on the trailer, need to think about that one a bit.  Not sure if I need 2-high, but I need to be able to do side-by-side at least, for 2 kayaks.  If I take 4, I'll stack on their sides.  I tell you what, let's let NWKA weigh in.  If you build it, I will buy it (well, within reason, we can talk prices offline   ).  Something that can do the road trip to AK or Baja.   So come on guys ... tell me what this trailer should be.  NWKA special kayak trailer ... LET'S DO IT!!!

-Allen

P.S. Stripper pole optional.  Or at least removable.  

Pole, he**----why not a trapeze??

Pole, he**----why not a trapeze??

Because you really don't want to see me in my flying trapeze outfit.

-Allen

16 inch minimum wheels with off road capable tires. [ thinking soft sand here]

extended tongue, you dont want to short corner the thing and have a yak nose in the back glass

independent suspension so it floats over rough ground.

LED marker, brake and turn indicators.

heavy duty honey comb or mesh deck

lockable metal rod tubes for storing assembled combos.

solar panel recharging station

ok.. outta ideas..

a

Im all into it.  nothing better than a build for someone who is really into what they want.  keep the ideas comeing

I think PPedalers is just about perfect. The only thing I'd want is to be able to access gear when the yaks are on. Not sure how to do that though. Maybe room for two yaks on their side on one side and storage on the other? The cooler and storage on the tongue are bomber PPedaler. I just love that trailer.  

Z

1st I don't know that I would suggest using an aluminum frame for extended off road use, as  I picture fatigue cracks at all the high stress points. 
All of this can be secured with lots of triangulation, but could look like a jungle gym in the end, and weigh as much as a steel framed trailer. 


Onward!

I'd suggest the stack of yaks be down the middle with the lockers on each side. This keeps the lockers completely accessible at any time. 
Maybe even have removable saddles that can be attached to the locker tops to support one more yak on each side. 
This would come in handy if locker access isn't needed for 1000's of miles, but more yak carrying ability is the primary need.

The center stack could be built something like this:

4 vertical posts, 2 near the front, 2 near the rear.
Separate the front and rear posts 'bout 6-7 feet (going along the length of the trailer down the center).
Separate the front posts as well as the rear posts width wise about 3.5 feet to allow for yaks like the Cobra F&D, or Hobie Pro Angler.

Have several 1" holes drilled up each post to allow a 1" tube to pass through and be locked into place creating a set of ladder rungs to support upside down kayaks.
Pad the bars as necessary. 

Add a wash down tank over the axle. 
Box the frame, and run all wiring through the frame to avoid future offroad damage to the wiring. 
All LED tail lighting.
White LED lights mounted 1 foot down on each of the 4 posts to shine light down on the the locker area.
Awning bracket mounted on left and right sides of the yak rack to facilitate shade in Mexico. 

I got more ideas, but gotta run.

Hey welder guys, how much do you think a trailer like this would end up costing? What's the most expensive parts and how could the costs be minimized? Thanks!

Z

i would guess around 5-600 to build. those tires and wheel are going to be the biggest setback. you can get a 2000lb axle kit from northern tool for around $200. labor?

i would downgrade on the tires and wheels and ditch the diamond plate for painted galvanized. as for the cost of steel, its all over place.

i say the best bet if your trying to save is find a used trailer that could modified and use your imagination

I would guess that modifying an existing trailer may be the cheapest option, if you can find something that meets most of your requirements.

For access to storage, I can think of a coupler of ideas-

• Use sideboxes under the kayaks that have side doors, instead of top openings.
• Use a trailer with a tilt-bed and a box on the tongue, so that the bed (with the yak rack) can tilt up, exposing the top of the box.

So far, I've just made do with the cheap 4X8 trailer that I have. Not the ultimate yak trailer, but it's multi purpose (like hauling manure for the garden  ) which is my real need.

Zee,
I have something like $1200 total into this trailer not counting welding supplies, grinding wheels, paint, the front box, nor my time invested.
That box came with my truck when I bought back in 2003 and it just sat in my back yard.
The box new, runs upwards of $750.

The axle is a 3500#, and I think I paid something like $280 (can't find the receipt on it). 
This included springs and hangers. 

The wheels and tires for my trailer are just plain new trailer wheels and tires and they set me back $260.













I would say that if you can get someone to build that trailer you posted above for under $1000 you're doing good. 
You still need racks and lock boxes to be yak worthy. 
I don't think the one you have pictured would be long enough for an Adventure to be poking off both ends.
My trailer racks are 6'9" apart and the tongue is extendable up to 3' longer in 1' increments depending on what I am hauling.   
Don't want any corners crunched while backing it.

Zee $490.00 in materials, not includeing the wheels and tires.  With labor your still looking at $1000.00

Those that are leaning towards buying a trailer and tweaking it your way...
Yes this is a valid option, and will work in the end, but I doubt it would save they person much money in the long run.
It's really a crap shoot purchasing a used or prebuilt trailer and then tailoring it to be kayak friendly with lockable storage, or just having one built from scratch your way the first time. 

I was really on the fence with this issue until late last year when I just said "screw it!"  I have the tools, and the space to build it, I'm going to just fab mine from the ground up, incorporating as many ideas as I could, yet still give me options for future additions/changes.  It still needs steps added behind the fenders, entirely primed and painted, and diamond plate added to the sides walls (covering the plywood).  I wanted to use it in the raw this summer to get a feeling for what else I may want to do with it before wrapping it in paint.  So far it has performed flawlessly, tows great, and I feel it is certainly Baja ready, other than the tires themselves.  I would run no less than BFG AT K/O's for off road in Mexico.  And I set the fenders high enough to accommodate future 31" tires. 

Thanks for the tips guys. Yeah, I imagined the box area to be lengthened a little, longer tongue, no diamond plate, and some more generic wheels and tires. Overall I like the height a lot. Being a bit taller short trailers are hard on my back. I'll do some planning and get back.

Z