Ultimate kayak trailer ideas

I did a lot of thinking when I was putting my trailer together:  What I wanted and got..

1) I wanted locking water/tweaker proof storage for all gear.  
2) I wanted to be able to haul 4 yaks upright, its a great way to get out and fish with friends and splitting the costs of travel is a win win. I also wanted them upright as they can be loaded with gear once on the rack to maximize storage potential. It also speeds heading home at the end of a long day of fishing.  I just toss the yak on the rack, strap it down and worry about taking every little thing out of the hull once I'm home.
3)  I wanted flexible space to strap down coolers or other gear
4)  I wanted a safe place to store rigged rods
5)  Place to fillet fish or cook lunch on
6)  Corrosion resistant frame/no wood/led lights/spare tire
7)  light weight enough to tow behind a small car

What I wanted or thought was a good idea and didn't get

1) to haul yaks in rack and still be able to access gear in the boxes??  I tried but couldn't make it work. I thought about side loading doors but I don't like the way they store stuff, I like looking down into the box and seeing everything
2) On board "wash down" system, decided it was more trouble and weight then it was worth,  I carry a roll up hose and a connector that allows me to hook up to any faucet.  I would rather take 20 minutes to sniff around for an unattended hose bib then drag a couple hundred extra pounds of water around.

If you have the mad skills like Insyan then build your own, otherwise with a little patience and some serious craigslist sniffing you can get some decent bare bones to tweak as you see fit.  I am currently waiting for the next diamond in the rough trailer to present itself.  

Well, I'm not into rough offroad trailering and I don't think you need that if you stick to the mainlines in Baja or AK.  So aluminum is fine for me.  Lighter, right?  In that vein a freshwater washdown would get little use from me, at least in terms of a permanent fixture.

I don't plan on using saddles.  I just don't like them.  I can never use them without a hull oil canning to some extent (never really permanent but it annoys me).  Perhaps I'll consider J-racks.  Could probably rely on 2 J-racks on the inside and would still be able to access side boxes from the top like Pelagic Pal says and even access the kayak to store stuff it in.  If I do take 4, it would be ok to store the other 2 kayaks on their side over the storage access (preventing accessing it).  Or build up like Insayn does and leave a gap between the top and the box.  Any issues with that being top heavy?

I do like the idea of longer locking boxes, but I keep thinking of the general utilitarian nature of trailers.  Perhaps removable locking boxes in a more conventional trailer bed with 3 walls and a tailgate.

Are we back to a generic 4x8 with a rack over it?  Or perhaps similar to what crazyhammer already has with a box/tailgate put in and a bit wider to be able to handle 2 yaks side-by-side or 4 on end on the upper rack?  Would love the rear crossbar to be removable for when accessing like a utility trailer, kind of like the rear crossbar is removable on a rackit truck rack.

Also like the tongue storage option, like to strap a large cooler there.

-Allen

The trailer I am building now is laid out at 5' wide x 9' long, it is a steel frame with fixed tongue.  The trees are 6' apart with with the typical cross bars, and are built in two sections each.  That way I will be able to carry 4 yaks flat or get rid of the top sections when not in use(I would rarely cary more than two).  Trees will unbolt from the frame and will resemble a normal utility trailer.  The 9' length is what I think is important for me at this point.  It will let me have two full length boxes, and I will be able to store and lock rods in the trailer. Boxes are set for 16"x16"x9' and will have top opening lids that can be accessed with the yaks on the trailer.  I have never liked an extendable tongue.  Build it to the proper length and you will never bang into anything.  That is just my opinion.  I also like a longer wheel base than alot of people might for a small trailer.  They just tow better, but I am not crowded for room at the house though, but I completely understand why some people want a more compact frame and tongue.  I am building my own mounts this go round, I just cant see wasteing the money.  I have been dissapointed with the yakima saddles everytime i have used them.  Man I really like the wash down tank on my other trailer though.  I will admit it I am lazy when it comes to cleaning up after being on the salt.  I want to load up and go home, the wash down tank lets me rinse off fast while the gear is still wet and I can get the salt off easy.  Cooler storage on the front is a must have as well.  I will post some pics when it starts to look like more than random bits.

Crazyhammer.....I absolutely agree with you on building the tongue one length provided you have the space to park it in, as is it cuts down a lot on materials and unnecessary weight. 

The extendable tongue on my trailer was built by necessity, and worked out to be a very functional outcome in the end for me.  I wanted the ability to pre-pack several days/weeks in advance of a trip and be able to store the trailer inside my garage while doing so.  I have to push the tongue all the way in to the shortest length (4' from the box) to make it fit in my given garage space.  I also tow this behind a 8.5' wide truck camper, and just one extra foot makes a huge difference in backing into a corner, as well as puts the trailer back far enough to see both wheels in the side mirrors while towing.  The biggest upside to the tongue is that I can completely remove the center tongue section and make it much harder for some one to steal the trailer.

I was considering building removable trees down the center, but came up with a different route that allows me to haul an ATV in the trailer bed under the kayaks.  Turns out the vertical tubes have height adjustability to allow for more or less space between yaks and the trailer itself.  I have found that during towing, I like to drop them all the way down to about 1.5' above the trailer.  Once setup at camp, I push the rack up to the highest setting, so it makes walking around the trailer safe for the noggin, and more available space inside the trailer.

Yeah this was designed to be multifunctional as a heavy duty off road capable camp trailer, ATV trailer, kayak trailer, and a yard debris/bark dusk hauler.
And I still have plans to put a roof top tent on it somehow.

Something like this one.


Using something like this.
http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Kamp-Rite-Double-TentCot-p-16140.html

Found this link for simple DIY kayak trailer plans.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Home-Built-Canoe-or-Kayak-Trailer

Here's what I'm wanting to go for when I can afford it:

Tentrax Trailers (local company in Eugene, OR)
http://www.tentrax.com/trailers.html

That's awesome!  Those yaks in the picture are pretty short though.  
Ya may need a longer tongue.  

Here's a good place to start if you want to customize one.
http://www.tentrax.com/build_yours.html

Yep, that's only an OK Frenzy in the picture but one of the reasons I like it is because of its smaller size.  It has a trailer hitch spot on the back that I was thinking could hold one of those "field goal" type hitch extender posts.  I've seen these in person and they are pretty slick and much more affordable than an Adventure Trailer which runs nearly twice as much ($9k-$17K) once you start adding amenities.

Whichever trailer I do end up with I want to ensure that I can use the same wheels/tires as my truck has... I'm vain like that I guess.

It's only money and a little creativity, right? 

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/for/1977199732.html
Feeling handy? Could be a fun project...

I saw this in the bellingham craiglist and though someone here might be interested:
http://bellingham.craigslist.org/boa/1975317915.html

I think this is a nice looking trailer.

I like it.  I would make the boxes longer so paddles and rods could fit full length (maybe they are and I just can't tell from the pic).  I prefer yaks upright in saddles and less of a "lift height"  After a long day of yaking the less distance I have to hoist a yak up onto the rack the better.  Maybe drop the yak rack down until the doors can just clear.  I'd also move the spare tire to the back as IMO its in the way where it is. 

Pelagic- ABS tubes in 8' or 9' with caps work great for this.  If so inclined, you can easily drill the cap for a lock.

Pelagic- ABS tubes in 8' or 9' with caps work great for this.  If so inclined, you can easily drill the cap for a lock.

I'm still looking for a local source for 6" tubing so I can put rigged rods in them. 4" are too small.