Kayak Trailer Buying Guide 2023
Kayaking is an exciting and adventurous outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. However, transporting kayaks to and from the water can be a hassle, especially if you have more than one kayak or a large one. This is where a kayak trailer comes in handy. A kayak trailer can simplify the process of transporting kayaks, making it easier and more convenient for you to hit the water. In this buying guide, we will explore the key factors to consider when purchasing a kayak trailer, so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
- Rambo Electric Bikes Canoe/Kayak Trailer
- Malone EcoLight 2-Boat J-Rack Kayak Trailer
- Malone MicroSport 2-Boat Bunk Style Trailer Set
- Malone Auto Racks MicroSport 4 Kayak Trailer
- Malone Auto Racks MicroSport LowBed 2 Kayak Trailer
- Malone MicroSport Sports Trailer for Kayaks
- SylvanSport GO EASY Lightweight Kayak Trailer
- Yakima EasyRider Two-Level Multi-Sport Gear Trailer
- Malone Auto Racks Top Tier Utility Trailer Cross Bar System
Rambo Electric Bikes Canoe/Kayak Trailer
Features
- Weight: 28lbs
- Construction: Steel
- Dimensions: Shortest: 8′, Longest: 10′, Width: 3′
- For use with All Rambo Bikes
Haul your favorite Kayak right to your launching destination securely and safely. Padded contact points protect your kayak from scratches, while simple ratchet straps secure it tightly in place. Compatible with all Rambo Electric Bikes to make towing your kayak to the water even easier.
Malone EcoLight 2-Boat J-Rack Kayak Trailer Package
Features
- Marine grade galvanized frame
- Padded J-style carriers with mounting hardware and load straps
- DOT approved submersible incandescent lighting
- 8″ – five lug high-speed powder coated wheels
- Injection molded fenders
- 58″ coated steel load bars
- 2pc extended tongue
- Flat four wire harness
- Tongue skid plate
- Leaf spring suspension
- Galvanized heavy duty axle
- Five Year Limited Warranty
- Made in the USA
The EcoLight Sport Trailer, when bundled with a Malone carrier system, provides an excellent choice for safe and affordable kayak transport. The J-Racks Package is designed to carry two medium sized touring or recreational kayaks. Each trailer comes with two sets of J-style kayak carriers that work best with traditional V-style hulls. Each trailer provides safe travel at most posted speed limits while transporting loads up to 400 lbs. Features a reinforced extra-long tongue, 58″ wide steel load bars, molded fenders, 8″ high-speed tires and a 2″ receiver with lift handle. All parts and workmanship are guaranteed with a Five Year Limited Warranty. Assembles in 3-5 hours with common shop tools. Detailed assembly instructions included.
Malone MicroSport 2-Boat Bunk Style Trailer Set
Features
- Designed to carry and transport up to two 20’ long large boats
- Includes a base trailer with two (2) padded bunk kits and hardware for ease-of-use
- Includes 12” galvanized wheels with marine grade sealed bearings
- Includes a galvanized spare tire with locking attachment for convenience
- Features pre-assembled hubs for easy installation
- 11 gauge pre-galvanized steel construction for durability and longevity
- 8’ long standard extended tongue for easy boat transportation
- 78” heavy duty steel rectangular load bars fit most car rack accessories
- LED “Plug and Play” lights (DOT and Transport Canada Approved) for safety
- Includes a Manufacturer’s Five Year Warranty
- Made in the USA
The Malone MicroSport 2-Boat Bunk Style Trailer Set simplifies your kayak or canoe hauling process so you can enjoy your time out on the water while remaining worry free! With two padded bunk kits and hardware, this trailer set can carry and transport up to two of your favorite 20 ft. long boats. Its galvanized wheels with marine grade sealed bearings and heavy duty steel load bars offer the durability you need in order to safely transport your kayak or canoe to and from your intended destination.
Malone Auto Racks MicroSport 4 Kayak Trailer Package
Features
- FoldAway-J Kayak Carriers with straps & mounting hardware
- Galvanized spare tire with lockable attachment
- Pre-assembled hubs for a clean and simple installation
- 12″ galvanized wheels with marine grade sealed bearings
- Reinforced steel tongue can transport boats up to 20′ in length
- 78’’ steel, 1 ¼’’ square load bars featuring d-ring tie-downs
- 11 gauge pre-galvanized steel construction for years of service
- Five Year Limited Warranty
- Made in the USA
The Malone MicroSport 4-Boat Stacker Trailer package makes loading and unloading kayaks simpler and safer. The load bar support system extensively lowers the overall bar height to minimize your need to lift larger boats. This is the best value for easily transporting multiple recreational kayaks.
Malone Auto Racks MicroSport LowBed 2 Kayak Trailer Package
Features
- Pre-assembled hubs for a clean and simple installation
- 12″ galvanized wheels with marine grade sealed bearings
- Reinforced steel tongue can transport boats up to 20′ in length
- 78’’ steel, 1 ¼’’ square load bars featuring d-ring tie-downs
- 11 gauge pre-galvanized steel construction for years of service
- 800 lb. load rated
- Five Year Limited Warranty
- Made in the USA
Easily load and transport two large fishing kayaks. This package includes the MicroSport LowBed base trailer, two large kayak bunk kits and a 12″ spare tire with locking attachment. The 78″ cross bars provide plenty of room for both bunk kits and boats. With the load bars only 22” from the ground, loading and unloading a heavy kayak is simplified and made much safer. This galvanized marine grade trailer can be backed down a boat ramp in order to launch directly into the water. It features submersible LED lighting, high speed wheels and a Class II, 2″ coupler.
Malone MicroSport Sports Trailer for Kayaks
Features
- Marine grade galvanized frame
- DOT approved submersible incandescent lighting
- 8″ – five lug high-speed powder coated wheels
- Injection molded fenders
- 58″ coated steel load bars
- 2pc extended tongue
- Flat four wire harness
- Tongue skid plate
- Leaf spring suspension
- Galvanized heavy duty axle
- Five Year Limited Warranty
- Made in the USA
The Malone MicroSport Kayak Trailer is a reliable and affordable transportation solution made with quality materials in the USA. Carrying your kayaks, canoes, bikes and storage boxes is as easy as assembling the cross rail system and connecting your preferred Malone kayak carrier attachments (not included). Each kit comes with all the frame parts, cross rails and pre-fitted electrical and chassis components.
SylvanSport GO EASY Lightweight Kayak Trailer
Features
- Powder-coated steel frame
- Rotomolded fenders & tailgate
- Ergonomic coupler with safety cables
- Waterproof LED lighting system
- 79″ crossbars & towers
- Galvanized steel wheels
- 75″ tongue
- Molded polyethylene gear deck
- Removable mesh tailgate
- Integrated tie downs
- Aluminum wheel package upgrade
- Kickstand
The GO EASY is a watertight, lightweight kayak trailer that makes hauling your boats and bikes a breeze. There are countless ways to get outside, but there is only one way to GO EASY—the ultimate way to safely and conveniently transport all your essential adventure gear.
Yakima EasyRider Two-Level Multi-Sport Gear Trailer
Features
- Dimensions: 173 x 79.75 x 41.25 in.
- Weight: 175 lbs.
- Carrying Capacity: 500 lbs.
- Maximum crossbar spread is perfect for fishing kayaks and longer boats – up to 19 ft. long
- Strong, lightweight 78 in. wide Yakima HD Bars with integrated tie-down points on endcaps
- Organize a variety of gear with two levels of storage
- Lightweight aluminum construction is strong and corrosion-resistant
- Shock absorbers give gear an easy ride, even at highway speeds – 75 mph max
- Fold the tongue and stash the trailer flat
- The included kick stand and integrated handle easily converts the trailer into a handcart
- Quickly convert to a utility trailer for workdays
- T-slot attachments make adding gear mounts and accessories fast and simple
- 2 in. ball receiver
- Electrical connection – Flat 4
- Top of ball should be 16 in. off of ground
- Manufacturer’s one-year limited warranty
Go on an adventure and bring all the necessities with the Yakima EasyRider Two-Level Multi-Sport Gear Trailer. Built with two levels, the bottom level is perfect for your heaviest fishing kayak, while the top rack works great for holding two smaller kayaks or the rest of your fishing gear. This trailer doesn’t just haul kayaks; you can even pull your bikes, cargo boxes, or camping gear with this helpful guy.
Malone Auto Racks Top Tier Utility Trailer Cross Bar System
Features
- Galvanized steel construction
- 250 lb load capacity
- 53″ uprights
- 65″ cross bars
- Compatible with most utility trailers with raised side rails
- U-bolts included
- Five-year warranty
- Made in the USA
- Utility Trailer not included
The TopTier Load Bar Kit transforms a standard utility trailer into a high capacity transport system capable of carrying multiple canoes, kayaks and bikes while leaving the bed free for camping or hunting equipment. “Made in the USA” all steel racks are simple to install and rock solid in performance. Five Year Limited Warranty and ships in a single carton for easy handling.
Considerations When Choosing a Kayak Trailer
A trailer for kayak hauling presents some advantages and also some drawbacks for kayak anglers who want to get their paddle craft to the water. Kayak trailers are a much more complicated system with wheels, tires, axles, lights and other parts which can break or malfunction. Car top carriers are simple, easy to install and rarely present problems when in use.
Prices for kayak trailers vary greatly. A small, light weight short-range trailer for a single kayak might cost less than $500. A more substantial, better built and better material trailer could run into the thousands. It all depends on the needs of the specific kayak angler.
Kayak anglers can find a wide range of trailers suitable for their use by looking online for DIY trailers or by checking with local kayak shops for fully assembled ready to roll kayak trailers.
For kayak anglers who can’t or don’t want to use raw back power to lift a kayak to the top of a car, a trailer can provide safe transport of a kayak with minimal lifting and stress.
Trailer Materials
What a kayak trailer is made of is vital. This is no place for cheap, shoddy materials. Even though a kayak trailer will not be under the same weight requirements as a full-sized powerboat trailer, the effects of bad materials which break, warp, and simply give out is the same. Corrosion resistant metal, strong, well-constructed frames, and high quality axles, wheels, bearings, and tires are critical for kayak trailer construction. Kayak trailer lights are another point of potential weakness. Those lights and wiring need constant attention to make sure they work properly.
Handling
Most kayak trailers are almost unnoticeable to the driver when under way. Since these trailers are not carrying a heavy load, they can tend to get a bit “squirrely” at high speed, so drivers must keep an eye on the trailer behind when at speed. Light weight kayak trailers can be “bouncy” on rough dirt roads, so speed should be kept low when on rough, unimproved roadways.
Loading
It’s tempting to see that kayak trailer as a way to carry more load than can be taken in the tow vehicle. This is permissible- up to a point- but kayak users need to be aware of each trailer’s load capacity and not exceed this limit. A too heavily loaded kayak trailer will not tow correctly, and the too heavy load puts a real strain on tires, wheels, and wheel bearings.
Gear Storage Besides Kayak
Many kayak trailers have closed, secure storage built in as part of the trailer itself. This is really very nice, because paddles, PFDs, fishing gear, camping gear, and other necessary gear can be carried safely on the trailer. Again, care must be taken to ensure that the trailer’s weight limit is not exceeded.
Some really first-rate kayak hauling trailers have been built by owners with tools and skill who converted standard utility trailers with their much higher load limits and bigger, more roadworthy tires and wheel assemblies into kayak haulers and gear carrier trailers.
Number Of Kayaks That Can Be Carried
Depending on the trailer and how the support structure and how kayak bunks are set up, a kayak trailer can safely carry from a single to a double to even four or more kayaks for kayak anglers’ use. Of course, custom-made kayak carriers used by float trip purveyors and other high- use situations can carry up to a dozen or more kayaks.
It all depends on what the kayak angler needs.
Security
Most kayak trailers provide very secure “lockdown” points where kayaks under transport can be securely chained or strapped to the trailer for security. Most of the built-in storage boxes on kayak trailers are lockable, also.
Durability
This is a crucial consideration. A kayak trailer, like any other boat trailer, is only as strong as its materials and the construction of the trailer. Kayak trailers need to be made of steel or strong aluminum, and the fittings and attachment gear need to be corrosion resistant. Plain steel will rust and corrode in marine surroundings very soon, even if the trailer is never backed into the salt water. Trailer lights are another part of the trailer that can be problematic. Check those back ups and turn signals before each trip.
Also, many kayak trailers are sold as unassembled packages, and if the parts are not assembled correctly, the trailer may wear out and cause problems within a short period of time. Putting a trailer together that is going to transport a kayak or kayaks to the water is not a situation for shoddy work in assembly.
FAQs
Does a kayak trailer need to be registered?
This varies from state to state. A kayak angler must check the specific laws of the state of residence and register the trailer and license it if the state requires it for other trailers.
How much does a kayak trailer weigh?
This varies from brand to brand and model to model. Mostly, trailers built specifically for kayak use will weigh less than 500 pounds, so they are light enough in most cases for the owner to move and store by hand. Some kayak trailers are light enough that they fold up and can be stored on a wall hanging system to cut down on storage space of the trailer.
How to haul kayaks on a trailer?
It’s pretty simple. Make sure the kayak is ready to travel and safe, load the kayaks on the trailer, secure them properly with plenty of tie-downs and security straps, and hit the road. Most kayak haulers find it easier and more secure to load the kayaks only after the trailer is hitched to the tow vehicle.
Oh, yes, don’t forget the paddles
Can you pull a kayak trailer with a small car?
As long as the car has a hitch installed for the trailer attachment, even the smallest of cars can safely pull a kayak trailer when loaded.
Even bicycles can pull a kayak trailer if the trailer connection is built for such use.
Hauling a kayak trailer is not a heavy load for even the smallest of tow vehicles.
Conclusion
Kayak trailers are not for every kayak angler. They present considerably more complications than car-topping or simply loading the kayak in the bed of a pickup truck for a run to the water.
However, for longer-distance transport of more than a single kayak or for kayak anglers who can’t manage the lifting involved, a properly built, properly maintained trailer is a very effective and affordable way to get the kayak to the water.
Full Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. There’s no extra charge to our readers for using these.
