I want to trailer my kayak. Done decision.
My choice is which trailer. SPORTS RIG or RACK AND ROLL or SUT 250. The sports rig and rack and roll is extremely expensive but a cool looking rig and could be stored in my apartment. The SUT 250 is half the price but stored outside and could be ripped off . My question is besides which one to get; what would prevent a un attentive (idiot) from driving and ramming the kayaks into the back of my car. Is there an attachment to connect to the brake lights for eye level visual, reflective tape, I know four feet out is red flag. Any ideas would be helpful. I have looked at modifing a trailer. Thanks again
Length of boat
You didn’t say, but the Trailex will certainly position the brake lights closer to the stern of the boat than the other two. They will also be a bit lower, though, so that could be a tradeoff as far as visibility of them goes.
I don’t think anything will prevent someone from ramming your boat into your car. It’s an ever-present danger I worry about but I don’t have too far to drive and I don’t have to drive through lots intersections.
Basically, I’m considering such an accident, should it ever occur, as an opportunity to get a different boat.
I’m curious how you can expect to get even the other trailers into your apartment. Seems like a lot of work to me, and a real deterrent to actually using them very often.
Mike
kayak trailer
– Last Updated: Jun-10-06 5:03 PM EST –
I agree the trailer unit sitting in my apartment is far fetched since my kayaks are sitting at a friends house and the trailer will be there as well. My point is it "stores well". At the web site http://www.rackandroll.com shows how it can be stored. I was wondering if the sportsrig does that as well. I'm waiting for their info. Its a slow boat to china waiting for them to ship one out form what I've read $1,900 for a trailer verse $1,000 for a trailex is the issue. Both are high but a strained back is priceless and I usually kayak alone. Thanks for the feedback.
Steve
I like trailers…
and I have experience with the Trailex and the Sports Rig.
The two really cannot be compared, in terms of both functionality and quality.
I used a Trailex for several years and certainly got my money’s worth from the little unit. I put it in scenarios the designers never intended for it… and I broke it a few times. In its intended environment the Trailex does fine. The small wheels like to bounce, ground clearance is limited, and the overall assembly is rather light duty.
The Sports Rig is a wonderful trailer that is easily configured for other outdoor pursuits as well. Excellent component quality and function is great. Pulls like a dream, doesn’t bounce, and the large wheels with no axle yield a lot of ground clearance.
A Sports Rig option is a small running light that plugs into the main harness on a long pigtail. You can attach this to the rear of your kayak to maintain legality and nighttime visibility. This is an easy mod for the Trailex also.
No amount of lampage is going to insure your safety against idiot drivers. Pulling a trailer will force you to become a better defencive driver.
Do not think you’re going to store any of these rigs indoors! The Sports Rig folds up nicely but this feature is diminished when fitted with the long extension necessary for sea kayak hauling.
For short distance civilised trailering, the Trailex units are a good value for the dollar. If you’re going to go offroad or long distances get the Sports Rig.
A good trailer is a big investment. If you have have additional questions, feel free to send them my way.
Pleasant waters to ya.
Holmes
I have a SnowBear Trailer
http://www.snowbear.com/html/8000.html
It will hold two kayaks as is. In the future I will get a slide-in rack built to hold more boats. This trailer gets used alot for other things all the time instead of just hauling kayaks. It was only about $600.00 when I got mine. Do not know how much they are now. They work great, would highly recomend them.
Canoe/Kayak Trailers
You may also wish to consider the Slick Rydr Trailer. I’ve had mine, a four place, for eight years and have hauled canoes and kayaks (15 - 18 feet in length) everywhere from Montana to New Brunswick and a lot of places in between with no equipment problems other than having to change the trailer lights. I was rear ended once near the Wisconsin/Michigan border and while the gelcoat was chipped the vehicle that hit me had considerable damage.
The device is your rear-view mirror
You do look in back BEFORE putting it in Reverse, right?
One advantage of trailers is that you can see the kayaks in your mirror any time. Use that mirror.
Now, withOUT a kayak on the trailer, you might not be able to see the trailer! If I’m backing a boatless trailer down a boat ramp to load up, I put my truck’s tailgate down so I can see the very low trailer. I’ve seen lots of other truck drivers do this, too.
Sportsrig
I share the prior impressions of both the Sportsrig’s quality and its size. While it’s a fantastic trailer, it’s hardly as compact as one might think.
I’ve added the second level on the trailer and have a cargo box and two bike rails. That alone makes it one of the most useful investments I’ve made since buying the boats. But the second level would prevent you from getting it through an apartment door.
And it’s perfect for hauling the boats, by the way. But as suggested, the additional trailer length needed for sea kayaks precludes easy storage even in my garage.
Without a garage, I’d vote for some type of roof mounted system - there’s so many good ones. Good luck with your search.
I got this trailer
Read about this trailer here and went up and bought one. Works perfectly, no complaints. If you are hauling really long kayaks, they will even build you a light extender to keep your unit legal.
http://www.mrtp.net/