Kayak/Gear Hauler

So, we picked up a used trailer on Craigslist. It's nothing like an INSAYN original, no pop up tent, diamond plate or bells & whistles. (just kidding Craig).


My wife and I along with my cousin and his SLF like camping at Hobuck and we figured it was time to get a trailer to haul the kayaks and camping gear. Especially with the gas prices, it made more sense than driving 2 vehicles.

Also, we wanted to have a hauler to carry the 6 kayaks and gear for the upcoming HOW events. (Stay tuned).

Started mocking things up at the man cave after installing a used tow hitch we picked up at a local yard.

For now, we just want a solid rack for 4 sets of Yakima J racks. The other 2 kayaks will just rest on foam pads on the front and rear rails of the trailer.




Not much to look at now, but we'll have the rack mounted this weekend and more pics to follow.

Future mods: mount a BBQ pit, removable/telescoping tongue (for easier storage), portable picnic table to attach to the side of the trailer, maybe slide out bed to access gear without having to offload the kayaks (I've got one in my truck and I love it) but I might have to build a new lower rack for the bottom kayaks...uh oh rambling

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I look at all those aluminum erector sets at work and just drewl over all the things I'd like to build with that stuff.  And you have full access to it.   

Looks like a great start Dino.  I can't wait to see the picnic table, that will be awesome. 
Do you plan to make any kind of awning off of it?

I still need to add a bottle opener to mine.  Just haven't looked hard enough for one, yet.   

Hadn't thought about an awning. We have a 20'x16' tarp that we put up with some poles usually. But that's good idea and thanks for reminding me about the bottle opener. Wife hates it when I use my teeth.

Also need a spare tire mount. Gotta hit the Pick A Part.

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I still need to add a bottle opener to mine.  Just haven't looked hard enough for one, yet.   

Found this one for our hauler.

And this one for the man cave.


Now I just need to find one for the kayak.
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I too need to hit the U-Pull it yards. I'm thinking of getting a tire winch from a Japanese truck and add this under the trailer just in front of the axle.  With it, I can crank the tire right up to the frame and not have to add a bunch of brackets and such, just the winch and a few smooth landing pads for the tire to rest against.

Here's an idea for you to work with for your awning if you desire.  It worked really well with a 7' x8' tarp.  I ran a bar front to back from the passenger side verticals, and attached a tarp to this.  Then stretched it over my campsite and attached to my trucks racks (conveniently the same width).  Or, I attached to a heavy picnic table.  If I would have parked the trailer a bit closer to the table I could have stretched the tarp over the able and been able to use one side of it under the table.  This kind of attachment is nearly wind proof, and no guy wires to trip over. 

Nice! Thanks for the input n pics. Now, I can't concentrate at work. I'm thinking of how to mod it up.

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Nice score, islandson.  I just finished getting my 4'x8' Harbor Freight utility trailer finished for landscape work. Basic flatbed with cedar sides. Not pic worthy at this point, since its just set up to haul equipment around for now, but I plan to build some alternate berths, boxes and racks for hauling yaks and my mini-drifter.  I hope to steal some more of your ideas, anyway. (I borrowed the syringe and tubing trick for refilling the transducer puck with water, since I already had the tubing and water syringe. ).

Nice score, islandson.  I just finished getting my 4'x8' Harbor Freight utility trailer finished for landscape work. Basic flatbed with cedar sides. Not pic worthy at this point, since its just set up to haul equipment around for now, but I plan to build some alternate berths, boxes and racks for hauling yaks and my mini-drifter.  I hope to steal some more of your ideas, anyway. (I borrowed the syringe and tubing trick for refilling the transducer puck with water, since I already had the tubing and water syringe. ).

Cool...have it, I do it all the time. Back when I was an Art Director, I would always tell my designers "Good Artists Copy, But GREAT ARTISTS STEAL"

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UPDATE
So we started installing the rack that I made.
We decided to load the kayaks and check stability. Found that there is some side sway and the round tubes are flexing in the middle with all the kayaks loaded. So, we will make a middle support that we can remove easily if we aren't hauling 4 kayaks on top. As for the side sway, I will have to make some diagonal supports running from the verticals to the front and rear. Tomorrow we'll change out and rewire the lights with LEDs.,

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I love it.  It looks like you could squeeze a couple more on top the truck.

I love it.  It looks like you could squeeze a couple more on top the truck.

Thanks Craig! Yeah I used to carry my kayaks on there with the yellow foam we're using for the bottom kayaks on the trailer. But, we got a trailer hitch for the Honda Odyssey. Way better gas mileage!

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I love it.  It looks like you could squeeze a couple more on top the truck.

Thanks Craig! Yeah I used to carry my kayaks on there with the yellow foam we're using for the bottom kayaks on the trailer. But, we got a trailer hitch for the Honda Odyssey. Way better gas mileage!

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I have a very similar trailer I use to haul my yaks with our Honda Odyssey.  I think it is a Snow Bear Utility trailer. 

Very sharp looking and I like how it won't take much to take it back to just a utility trailer for multiple uses.    I can't tell from the photo,  is the tube hollow with end caps?   If so, could you run stock through the center to stiffen and reduce the flex issue?

My trailer project is going to start soon and I was also thinking of an extendable tongue with quick release ball coupler.    If left at a remote location,  I would fear the trailer could walk off while I am away.   Every trailer hitch security device I have seen looks to easily be foiled via some basic cordless power tools.   If the coupler is completely removed and stowed in the vehicle out of sight,  I figure they have no way of hooking up and pulling away. 

Very sharp looking and I like how it won't take much to take it back to just a utility trailer for multiple uses.    I can't tell from the photo,  is the tube hollow with end caps?   If so, could you run stock through the center to stiffen and reduce the flex issue?

My trailer project is going to start soon and I was also thinking of an extendable tongue with quick release ball coupler.    If left at a remote location,  I would fear the trailer could walk off while I am away.   Every trailer hitch security device I have seen looks to easily be foiled via some basic cordless power tools.   If the coupler is completely removed and stowed in the vehicle out of sight,  I figure they have no way of hooking up and pulling away.

It's not completely hollow, it has a crosses hatch pattern running through. I'll post a pick later. I think we have a solution, but I won't be able to work on it until later in the week.

I am making a removable tongue/hitch for the trailer too. Im picking up some 1.5"x2.5" box tube but will have to weld in some 1/8" flat bar on all 4 sides to make it 1.75"x2.75" so we can insert it into the existing tongue. Then we'll drill holes and pin it in place. This will also make it adjustable length and removable. This will make it easier to store in the man cave.

Started mocking up some ideas for a detachable side mounted table.
Also looking at mounting a folding fish cleaning table on the back. I have some big chopping board material (polyethylene/right and Seaboard/left). Something like this for the brackets.

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Insayn-- we're still toying with the awning design. Probably make it come completely across the trailer to use the trailer as a counter weight and help keep things dry in the trailer if bins are open.

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