kayak carts

Anyone ever hear of or use kayak carrier with the rover wheels? I think outdoor play sells them I'm thinking about getting them I'm on a real tight budget and need a carrier

This isn't about the wheels...

Had an old set of wheels...big rear wheels off a lawn mower
Bought 2 10' sections of 1" pvc, 6 elbows, 2 T's, a couple caps a rod and nuts/washers...primer and cement
I'm not even into it $20...
Didn't even touch 1 section of pipe...
Took about three cups of coffee to sketch and re-sketch, and about 1 hour to build (even with a slight modification)

Any pictures

MCDC...
Here's the pics of my quickie-cart...

Originally, it was going to be just a rectangular box frame...axle on the bottom
I failed to take into consideration the width of the kayak, and the lack of length of the rod I bought
So, I added the dog-legs to the frame to get within the length of my axle, and it also allowed for a little bit more height
I used 1" PVC, as this kayak is 13 1/2' long and weighs 77 lbs dry...with the cart at the rear, I wanted strength
I wasn't sure if 3/4" would hold up to being jostled around...
I didn't want to go with a scupper-hole design, as it seems that anything put through the scuppers (especially if prying against the scupper side walls) can lead to damage and failure...

Like I said...I'm out about 3 cups of coffee, a little less than an hour, and around $15-20 in supplies...

I see the carts all the time on craigslist and going for half the cost of new ones. Expensive part of the DIY approach is the wheels and materials. I cannot see spending $40 and my gas driving to the hardware store(s) to save $20 over something on Craigslist that is being recycled.

Every time this topic comes up the same suggestion is offered .... Save your pennies and buy a wheelies cart once and be done with it! Get the big one with the big tires. You will use and love it. With the boat strapped down you can get over just about anything!

Every time this topic comes up the same suggestion is offered .... Save your pennies and buy a wheelies cart once and be done with it! Get the big one with the big tires. You will use and love it. With the boat strapped down you can get over just about anything!

Yup, what he said.

Every time this topic comes up the same suggestion is offered .... Save your pennies and buy a wheelies cart once and be done with it! Get the big one with the big tires. You will use and love it. With the boat strapped down you can get over just about anything!

You're not kidding when you say " Save your pennies"...
I looked them up...You're talking in the $250 range for the big cart...

So, while saving, a guy still needs to get a kayak back and forth...

So, while saving, a guy still needs to get a kayak back and forth...

This point is lost on a lot of people. To the original poster: It looks like those carts are in the $100+ range. At that point you may want to consider just going for the best thing and then not have to think about it, as suggested. Or build something dirt-cheap for now and then upgrade when you can.

Also, I recently got my wheelez-equipped Hobie Trax 2-30. I like the cart overall, but the retainer mechanism on the Wheelez wheels is either not designed well or not manufactured well. After a few minutes in the garage I got the retaining clips to actually, you know, retain, but as-shipped the wheels would/did fall off pretty easily with almost no provocation, even with the clips fully engaged. I'm just mentioning this as an FYI to check it out when you receive it.

Other than that and the bouyancy of the inflatable wheels being difficult to work with at times when trying to put the cart on the kayak in the water, I really like the cart. I got the 2-30 because I'm using it (for now) primarily on my tandem, and that thing is heavy when loaded. I've already dragged it across all sorts of nasty rocks and stuff and it's doing great.

Thanks for all the input. I really want the wheelez but 250 bucks is my only hang up . I considered building a cart but the wheels are my main concern I dont want to struggle on sand so if anyone has wheels other than the balloon ones any input would be helpful I just don't want to be able to make it across the parking lot hit the beach and be screwed the rest of the way to the water

You may want to ask yourself how often you are going to be pulling across soft sand before you buy the balloon tires. The less expensive Tuff-Tires might work as well or better for you.

I have one cart with the foam filled Tuff-Tires and one with the beach tires, and I greatly prefer the Tuff-Tires. I have yet to do a launch where I needed sand tires - every sandy beach I've launched from has firm sand - and the foam tires are superior on firm surfaces. (I haven't noticed any real difference in mud - my footing is a bigger concern in mud.) I often launch my yak with the wheels attached and pull them out from underneath, and insert them the same way when landing. The foam tires are much easier to submerge, although they still float. They also have much less rolling resistance. You probably launch from gravelly beaches more often than I do, but the few gravel beaches I've rolled down have been pretty firm too.

I have two carts because my son & I both have kayaks and often fish together. We fight for the foam tires every time. I thought I might have need for sand tires sometimes, but that has just not turned out to be the case (for me).

You may want to ask yourself how often you are going to be pulling across soft sand before you buy the balloon tires. The less expensive Tuff-Tires might work as well or better for you.

I have one cart with the foam filled Tuff-Tires and one with the beach tires, and I greatly prefer the Tuff-Tires. I have yet to do a launch where I needed sand tires - every sandy beach I've launched from has firm sand - and the foam tires are superior on firm surfaces. (I haven't noticed any real difference in mud - my footing is a bigger concern in mud.) I often launch my yak with the wheels attached and pull them out from underneath, and insert them the same way when landing. The foam tires are much easier to submerge, although they still float. They also have much less rolling resistance. You probably launch from gravelly beaches more often than I do, but the few gravel beaches I've rolled down have been pretty firm too.

I have two carts because my son & I both have kayaks and often fish together. We fight for the foam tires every time. I thought I might have need for sand tires sometimes, but that has just not turned out to be the case (for me).

That's a great point. I have rarely benefited from the balloon tires.

You may want to ask yourself how often you are going to be pulling across soft sand before you buy the balloon tires. The less expensive Tuff-Tires might work as well or better for you.

I have one cart with the foam filled Tuff-Tires and one with the beach tires, and I greatly prefer the Tuff-Tires. I have yet to do a launch where I needed sand tires - every sandy beach I've launched from has firm sand - and the foam tires are superior on firm surfaces. (I haven't noticed any real difference in mud - my footing is a bigger concern in mud.) I often launch my yak with the wheels attached and pull them out from underneath, and insert them the same way when landing. The foam tires are much easier to submerge, although they still float. They also have much less rolling resistance. You probably launch from gravelly beaches more often than I do, but the few gravel beaches I've rolled down have been pretty firm too.

I have two carts because my son & I both have kayaks and often fish together. We fight for the foam tires every time. I thought I might have need for sand tires sometimes, but that has just not turned out to be the case (for me).

+1. For me balloon tires haven't provided a significant benefit (other than a more strenuous work out going up the George Rogers ramp), and like Sherminator said, we will try and snag the Tuff-Tire cart before the balloon tire cart.