Kayak Trailer

Advice
#30

Tail lights/Turn Signals
DOT requires tail lights and turn signals to be no more that 18" from the rear of the tow. This means if the kayak is hanging 2’ over the rear of the trailer, it is not in compliance.



Envision being rear-ended and having a couple boats destroyed, and then be judged “at fault” because the trailer lights were not in compliance.



Then your insurance can deny your claim too.



I think a trailer is a great idea, but one has to look at all the angles.

#31

Hmmm

– Last Updated: Apr-30-06 5:44 PM EST –

You know how to ruin a day...So, what kind of trailer would be good for kayaks up to 18'?

Just called mrtp.net and they say the trailer they use is for a 17 foot boat, so I guess you could go up to 20 feet and be good with theirs.

#32

Rufus
who is Rufus.



regarding the tail light, isn’t there a unit out there that attaches to the end of whatever you are carrying? seems like a simple solution to me anyway.



Paul

#33

Rufus is just another kayaking
enthusiast that has a trailer he built for sale in the Classifed Ads.

#34

Where did you read that?
I thought most states allowed four feet, and that’s what the CastleCraft site says too.



Mike

#35

It’s four feet in my state
Never heard of an 18" requirement.



Troll?

#36

Yep, it’s the law
I have the Harbor Fright trailer for my kayaks and I checked with the local LEOs about the overhang. They said 18" max. I went to a local truckstop and got an LED stop/taillight, mounted it to an aluminum tube, and bolted it to the trailer with U-bolts. This allows me to extend the tube when the boats are on the trailer and then retract the light when I’m hauling over stuff or empty.



I’m still trying to work out the spring rates but I’ll get it figured out eventually.

#37

Google Search

– Last Updated: May-02-06 8:18 AM EST –

Did a google on "trailer overhang limit" and got this for Texas: http://www.dot.state.tx.us/MCD/onestop/size&weight.htm 3' in front and 4' in back.

Here it is for Virginia: http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/citizen/hauling.asp same requirement as Texas. I got this by adding "Virginia" to my search at the end.

#38

I was searching as well
found a few US DOT documents that had the 4-foot rear, 3-foot front spec and said no state was allowed to set the limits any less than that. It was written in the usual government language so I wasn’t completely sure if that’s what it meant, though it seemed like it. Found nothing in any NY State documents about it.



As a practical consideration, I do worry about the overhang, which in my case is about 2.5 feet. I hang a flag on the stern of the boat for whatever it’s worth. And I do worry about being rear ended, and having the boat spear into my car (I hope it shatters and crumples before it gets too far inside). If I had to drive through a lot of urban or suburban sprawl to get where I was going I probably wouldn’t be doing it this way. Fortunately I don’t have to deal with that.



Mike

#39

Thanks
I think this last post with what I found puts the legal requirement to rest. I really liked the suggestion that if you exceed that just create an extendable mounting that has additional lights on them. That should solve anyone’s concerns if they want to be 100% legal, like me, as I am an attorney …

#40

Hmmmm
I tried to find where I read 18" and couldn’t come up with it, so I guess I am just full of it.



Sometime we retain bad information- sorry to create any false concerns.

#41

Trailex SUT200
Has anyone modified a Trailex SUT200 for two kayaks? The SUT specs limit the weight to two hundred pounds. But two sea kayaks would be substantially less than 200lbs. I’m thinking about modifying mine to carry two boats.



Thanks

#42

Wiggles

– Last Updated: May-04-06 1:02 PM EST –

The weight isn't so much the problem, but the flexy aluminum trailer construction still requires some consideration. I hauled a 70-lb Folbot double on mine for a couple years and got a good bit of whiggling around that could be felt from the car (granted I'm towing with a rather small car). Partly from road irregularities, partly from air buffeting. It wasn't unsafe, just a bit annoying.

By wiggling I don't mean trailer tracking problems, rather I mean the boat oscilating up and down and sideways and rotating about the trailer's long axis. That main trailer tube is quite flexible, and minimally damped.

There's still some with my current 50-lb hardshell single, though not nearly as much. But with two on there it could become more of an issue.

If you take a look at the Trailex 2-boat model you can see supporting framework out towards the wheels on either side, making leaf springs probably a necessity. Attaching framework to the SUT-200 out to the sides like that would provide an extremely rough-riding platform.

Mike

#43

SUT-250M for two yaks
Just found this to answer your question:



http://www.castlecraft.com/kayak_dual.htm



Thanks so very much to everyone who contributed to this message thread. I have learned alot, and plan on getting the SUT 200 model. If I do end up carrying more than one yak (rare) then I always have a spare set of Malone Gullwings to attach to my OEM Escape rack.



Thanks again!!



Scott

#44

Perfect Answer
I have been corresponding with mrtp.net and they sent me a drawing on how they could create extended lights from the back of the trailer to be used when carrying longer loads. The extensions will be designed to be of variable length. Seems they may now be able to produce a fully legal kayak trailer for those who are sensitive to that. I am sure if it works well for me they will consider it as an option for others. Will let you know more after I call them to be sure.

#45

Little trailers for little cars
Trailers come in all sizes.


#46

Getting trailer
I am ordering the trailer with the custom work to extend the lights if I exceed the legal limit of 4 feet behind the trailer. Next…what kayak am I going to buy. Really leaning towards the NC 17.

#47

Take a look at this site.
http://www.mrtp.net/

These guys are located in Raymond NH. The trailers I saw at their facility looked sturdy, the price seems reasonable and they are purpose built. I don’t own one but will be buying one when I have to start carrying multiple boats on a regular basis. Hope this helps.



Ed

#48

That is the company
I placed my order with… I am hopeful that I will pick it up at the end of the month.

#49

Kayak trailer pic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30865209@N04/5541308383/



http://flic.kr/p/9rHBVy

http://flic.kr/p/9rHPV5

http://flic.kr/p/9rERGM



The links are posted to a couple of photos.

I used a 4x6 utility trailer as the base, used 4 uprights(channel tubing-square) bolted to the trailer and ENT 1" tubing secured w/ u-bolts as the crossbars. I got the metal for $10. Boxes are bolted to the trailer using metal brackets underneath the metal grating and inside the box as a brace.



Trailer $450

Scrap Metal $10

ENT tubing $12

$2 foam tubing(Noodles)