Good Friday evening. I hope that everyone survived their work week!
My first kayak is a folder and I hope to purchase kayak number 2 in the next few weeks.
Transporting the folder is dead simple - I drive a hybrid and it all goes in the trunk. The rear seat doesn’t fold down but it all fits anyway.
The next kayak won’t be a folder so I’ll have to figure out how to transport it. I was deeply into cycling years ago and have had various cartop racks and never had an issue with them. I’m comfortable with the concept.
The Honda’s mileage will suffer greatly but that’s not really a huge concern. My impression is that the kayak being up top keeps it protected reasonably well.
Trailers interest me also… something lightweight but with suspension like those advertised here - the rackandroll ($$$$) and the sportsrig ($$) look like they’re nicely built and something that even a hybrid can pull. I worry about the kayak picking up nicks from rocks but I’m not sure that’s well-founded.
Our other car is a Camry so it’ll handle either choice.
Opinions and thoughts are greatly appreciated.
The only real difference is the weight
of the boat and the effort it takes to get it on and off each method of carrying. People and boats are injured from cartop removal because it is such an awkward load. BUT, you have 2 low profile vehicles, so load/unload s/b easy.
I continue to debate a trailer with myself. Do I really want that extra 20’ behind the car? Where do you put it when you aren’t using it which is most of the time?
parking
A friend has a trailer, and one issue is finding parking (and having to pay more for parking). In the San Francisco Bay Area, many of the launch points have limited parking, so finding spots for a car and trailer can be hard. Also, some launch ramps are free for hand launch from the dock, but charge for use of the ramp - and they way they differentiate is that if you have a trailer, you need to pay.
On the other hand, a trailer is much easier to load, and if you want to carry more than 2 boats, a trailer becomes much easier to use (so would allow less cars, which is better for the environment).
IMHO
I’d stay with the car tops until (and I DO mean until) you have more than two kayaks that you have to haul at the same time.
We have a trailer because we often have to transport several and our little trailer can handle 8.
As we aged, we did go to a roller-type saddle on our car.
On top…
I’d definitely suggest sticking with your roof rack - especially since you’re comfortable with it already and you have such an easy height to load. I use a Yakima Kayak Stacker on top of my 4Runner to carry both my kayaks in the middle of my roof and MTN bikes on the outside ends. Parking is no issue and everything is safely locked in place up top and out of the way…
My 2 cents…
- AA
Hybrid as tow rig?
Make sure it really can tow, even a lightweight trailer. I’ve heard some stuff about CVT (type of transmission) being unsuitable for towing, and this may be what your hybrid uses. Check it out as part of your research. Also make sure there would be a suitable attachment point for the trailer. That used to be a problem with the Prius; I don’t know if it still is.
I love having a trailer to haul the kayak(s). But they’re pricey, so make absolutely sure your vehicle can pull it without violating any warranty or safety concerns.
Don’t know where you live
But in Maryland the cost of registering a trailer is significant [just paid $70 for a pop-up for two years.] In addition often you will pay nothing to launch a car topped boat and $10-15 for a trailered boat.
Thanks!
Thanks guys - I appreciate the advice. I’ll try and address each point or question:
“Do I really want that extra 20’ behind the car? Where do you put it when you aren’t using it which is most of the time?”
One of my earliest driving lessons was heading to the river at 15 w/ my father. I’m used to trailers and I’m lucky. I have a gate that it’ll fit behind. Our dog won’t like it though.
“A friend has a trailer, and one issue is finding parking (and having to pay more for parking).”
We’re lucky. I go to a couple of local lakes and there’s plenty of room to park. I don’t think I’ll have an issue…luckily.
“I’d stay with the car tops until (and I DO mean until) you have more than two kayaks that you have to haul at the same time.
We have a trailer because we often have to transport several and our little trailer can handle 8.
As we aged, we did go to a roller-type saddle on our car.”
I’ll be 50 next week. Good advice though. 
“My 2 cents…”
Thanks AA - much appreciated advice.
“Make sure it really can tow, even a lightweight trailer. I’ve heard some stuff about CVT (type of transmission) being unsuitable for towing, and this may be what your hybrid uses. Check it out as part of your research. Also make sure there would be a suitable attachment point for the trailer. That used to be a problem with the Prius; I don’t know if it still is.”
I have the CVH version and I know of one vendor that makes the hitch for it. I’ll call Honda and ask them - I’m sure I know the answer but… which is worse? A trailer or the added wind-resistence from the kayaks on top? I would think the top-load would be more detrimental.
I could use the Camry instead if I go with the trailer.
“But in Maryland the cost of registering a trailer is significant [just paid $70 for a pop-up for two years.] In addition often you will pay nothing to launch a car topped boat and $10-15 for a trailered boat.”
I’m in AZ - I don’t think it’s significant but I do need to check on insurance. I suspect the cost is next to nothing though.
Ramp launching is free here - no charge - at least where I kayak. Might be a different answer as I venture out though - good points.
Need to investigate a few things before I make up my mind - I do appreciate the advice.
"I’ll be 50 next week. "
Ah, still a youngster…
Darn right…
…gramps.
MPG difference
The roof-topped kayaks definitely reduce mpg more than the trailer does. In my case, the reduction is 10 to 15% rooftopped vs. none for trailering.
yep
In another thread, one contributor mentioned that his Honda hybrid dropped from the low 50’s to 35. Common sense, of which I’m lacking at times, says that the added drag would be more detrimental than pulling a small lightweight trailer.
I don’t mind calling Honda - it’ll be a standard call center script.
You mean…
granny!
So sorry…
… no disrespect meant! Nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you, too!
And no offense taken, of course.
me too!
I am turning 50 May 5 ha ha Happy Birthday!!
coming to closure… fwiw
Well, I decided that if I did purchase a lightweight trailer, I use it with the Camry instead of the hybrid.
I didn't see the logic in trying to use the undersized engine of the hybrid for this purpose. Plus, MrsK7 usually insists that I drive the Camry on trips anyway so that I'm more comfortable. You know, those of us nearing or over 50 need creature comforts.
Good thing - just got off the phone with Honda and while I'm not convinced that the call center person gave me the correct answer or the easy answer, I was told that it void the warranty.
Friday afternoon, I put my beloved KTM 950 up for sale on advrider.com. Saturday morning, I sold it - and I had three others interested. Anther sign of old age - selling the bike.
The buyer paypal'd a nonrefundable deposit and will send the balance via cashier's check.
Once the check clears, I'll order a new kayak, finalize the rack v. trailer decision (leaning trailer) and send him the title so he can get insurance, plates and a new title.
I'll likely do those steps in that order too. ;-)
Thanks again for all of the advice - much appreciated!
hybrids and towing
Hi, Just saw your post and it intrigued me, since there is a guy around here towing a small lawnmower trailer with his prius. It appears it's possible:
http://www.hybridcars.com/faq.html#tow
Like you, I'm considering a trailer. I have a flotilla and while I have no problem cartopping them, it gets old after a few days of long paddles. And in my area, we have plenty of space in which to park trailers, and I'm used to using one.
So I'm set on modifying a small utility trailer I have, leaf springs, to fit a three-place kayak/canoe trailer. It can't weigh more then three hundred pounds or so. It'll keep 'em out of the wind, lower CG, and much easier to handle. But I'll keep the roof rack.
Obviously one has to consider location and trailer towing aptitude but after that it sure sounds like an easier way to load and unload the boats.
I will get in on this
I have a Prius and was wondering about towing. I think it would handle a Rack & Roll and two kayaks just fine. I wouldn’t think the CVT (best thing since round wheels) would have an issue with roughly carrying 300 lbs behind it (basically just like carrying two adults in the back seat).
BTW, the SportsRig, while it looks like the Rack and Roll is made of steel (vs the aluminum R&R). I live at the coast and have had steel trailers before. I got tired of sanding and painting to hide the rust.
We currently haul on a roof rack (Ford Escape) without any kind of saddles. It is always nerve wracking. But by the time you get the saddles with the fancy rollers and all, you’ve got a big chunk of change that would go towards the best trailer available (Rack & Roll). So we are leaning to buying a few less beers and pizza and saving up for the Rack & Roll.
The Escape will be replaced by a hybrid soon so we will need to be able to haul a trailer. Again, an R&R is about 150 lbs (if that) plus 90 lbs of kayaks and 3 lbs of straps. Not much of a load which is why you want the best available suspension on your trailer (R&R) to keep the wheels on the pavement.
Bill
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Salt water a concern
If you live on the coast the salt water dripping on your car’s finish after a paddle might be a concern. My Tarilex single kayak trailer pulls easy, doesn’t affect gas milage, is easy to load, and a handy platform for washing/working on my kayaks. It’s aluminum and marine grade stainless, so it doesn’t rust.
I hate roof racks on my car during my every day commute.
Storage is an issue, and the Trailex doen’t have the suspension that sme of the better trailers do, (Rack and Roll), or that your car would. It probably wouldn’t be best for long tows down rough roads.