Kayak Trailer Mods.

[jdmidwest]

I have been looking on the net for ideas, so I thought I would throw it out here.

Since the Cancer, my upper body strength has been weak.  Nerve damage to right arm and shoulder limits upper lift.  Scar tissue in neck causes problems looking up.  And my Sequoia is taller than I am, and the yaks used to ride up there on the racks.  Better half has lost use of most of her left arm since the stroke so I have no helper to load.

I was looking at loader assist racks from Thule and Malone, but they are a small fortune.  So I bought a trailer, 4x8 tilt utility, and am in process of modding it into a yak trailer.  Racks have to be removable, I am going to use the trailer to haul other things, like bee hives. 

I have some ideas.  Lets see what else is out there.

[tjm]

Kayaks can't just sit on the floor? I think I'd be looking at a roller for the end of the trailer and scoot the boats in that way.

[jdmidwest]

I want a removable rack system of some type. Plan on making use of some load bars and Thule yak carriers I have now.  I want to carry 4 boats and an inflatable along with gear. 

Trailer is a low flatbed with no sides and a tilt.

[moguy1973]

If I ever get a trailer for mine I am going to have some 1" square tube side rails welded onto the sides that way I can use my crossbars that we use on the luggage racks on top of my wife's Highlander.  Then I can strap the kayaks to the crossbars and have the trailer bed underneath able to carry gear or rods or whatever.  Could even make the rails removable by using bolts and wing nuts fore ease of removal.

Something like this except my rails would be thinner and my cross bars would be standard luggage rack crossbars for the top of a car.

https://compactcampingconcepts.com/blog/making-a-kayak-trailer-for-under-500/

[tjm]

Moguy, you could weld a larger size tube or channel to the side of the deck frame thus making standard loops and build the rack as a drop in. In fact that might work for you, JD; it would keep the bed flat and make fairly  easy on/off deal for any rack.