If you plan on taking a kayak with you, most end up throwing on top of their car roof. Taking it out to the water this way works, yet it’s not the most optimal decision. As you progress with your kayaks you’ll soon have many kayaks and even heavier loads. This makes throwing them onto the roof of your vehicle quite a burden. If you want to take your kayaks on the road, then using a kayak trailer may be a great option for you.
Here's a quick list of our top picks for the best kayak trailer:
Who Needs To Use A Kayak Trailer?
Anyone who plans on traveling with their kayak on the road could use a decent kayak trailer. These work great for their excellent level of convenience. Trailers can carry anything from kayaks, canoes, boards, SUP’s, bicycles, and cargo boxes. Many people also attach a cooler, or other gear onto the extra spaces. Anything you can put onto the roof of a car, you can outfit onto a trailer. This will make carrying all the gear you need much easier for your next trip in the outdoors.
Moreover, many kayak trailers feature galvanized steel metal for the frame and body. The wheels also have ratings for high speed, so you don’t have to worry if traveling on interstate roads. Additionally, trailers provide brackets for storing and mounting all your outdoor gear.
Below is a short YouTube video that explains kayak trailer use:
How Does A Kayak Trailer Work?
Kayak trailers work to provide a base for you to load your gear onto. The boat itself can load on in a prone position, like the top of a car. The kayak then secures via straps into J-hooks or adjustable crossbar mounts. Then the hitch of the trailer attaches to the back of a vehicle. It’s also important to keep in mind your vehicle needs to be compatible for towing a trailer.
Selecting your tow vehicle depends upon the load you plan on putting on your trailer. For most kayak trailers, they’ll be lighter loads. Also make sure your car of choice can handle the weight you plan on towing. Otherwise you’ll be stuck in a dangerous situation. Towing doesn’t have to be stressful. As long as you follow the guidelines and recommendations, you’ll be all set.
How Do I Choose A Kayak Trailer?
One of the most important parts of choosing a kayak trailer, is to pick one with your desired capacity. Higher capacity trailers give you more room for extra gear. Some allow you to carry up to even four kayaks. Additionally, you can throw in coolers or other gear onto the storage racks. Determine your trailer capacity based on how much gear you need to take with you.
Buy a kayak trailer with your preferred loading style. Each kind of trailer will have different ways for how it stores objects. If you want the simplest rack position for kayaks, go for one with j-hooks. Yet, most trailers come with crossbars for securing gear. All in all, make sure to secure your equipment with extra locking straps.
Choose a kayak trailer that is well made so it lasts. Your trailer will endure a lot of wear when using it over time, so it needs to be durable. Additionally, you want your trailer to survive any bumps and rough terrain on the road.
Below is a checklist of things to look for when choosing a kayak trailer:
- Ensure the trailer has your desired capacity.
- Buy a trailer with your ideal loading style.
- Choose a kayak trailer that is well made.
What Is The Best Kayak Trailer?
We’ve looked at a range of kayak trailers that work for all environments and have selected five trailers. The main things we’ve looked at are quality, price, and capacity. We’ve reviewed these five kayak trailers and listed some pros and cons for each trailer.
our #1 rated
Malone
Micro Sport Trailer
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Malone Micro Sport Trailer is available in one standard size and capacity. The trailer features the ability to transport 4 kayaks side by side in the included j-hooks. The trailer also has a 350 lb capacity, with a marine grade galvanized steel frame.
Customers who purchased this trailer found the level of quality impressive. People said that the trailer rides and tracks very well. Customers also said that it doesn’t bounce at all even when it’s empty. Additionally, others reported that the trailer handles highway speeds quite well.
A few customers who used this trailer found that 17-18 foot kayaks seem to be the longest you can carry. Some people also said that the rear storage rack can be hard to access without taking off a kayak. Other customers reported that the rear lighting coupler can be difficult to attach.
PROS
CONS
our #2 rated
ECOTRIC
Truck Bed Extender
Quality
Price
Our rating
The truck bed hitch extender rack made by ECOTRIC is available in one standard size. The truck bed extender allows for kayaks to store out the back of shorter beds. This low cost kayak trailer alternative makes for easier kayak transport. The rack offers a simple hitch adapter, to extend the truck bed. The extender can handle weights up to 750 lbs.
Customers who purchased this extension rack found that it secured their kayak well. Some customers also said that the rack worked great even at high speeds of 70 mph on interstate roads. Other customers commented that the rack was easier to use than a full length trailer.
Some people who purchased this rack said the paint on the bar starts to rub off from taking a kayak in and out. Others reported that the little pink flag included with the rack is kinda cheap and falls off. A few customers also said the upright pieces can rattle around a tad.
PROS
CONS
our #3 rated
Yakima
Rack and Roll Trailer
Quality
Price
Our rating
This rack and roll trailer made by Yakima comes in one standard adjustable size. The trailer features locking levers to prevent theft of wheels and tongue. The rack also has dual spring shock-absorbers for four inches of wheel travel. Additionally, the trailer comes with a carrying handle to turn it into a hand cart if needed.
Customers who purchased this trailer said that it works well for hauling more than one kayak. People also said that the trailer had easy assembly. Many customers found the level of quality in the rack impressive.
A few customers who purchased this trailer said that the instructions were tedious. Some customers said that they had a few issues with the lighting and wiring. Some people also said they would have liked the tongue length to have customization.
PROS
CONS
our #4 rated
RIGHT-ON
Multi-Rack Trailer
Quality
Price
Our rating
The RIGHT-ON multi-rack trailer is available in one standard size for all towing loads. The trailer features a 2nd tier rack for a unique multi-level storage system. The rack also has wide 64 inch crossbars to support all rack accessories and outdoor gear.
Customers who purchased this trailer said that it works well to haul many kayaks and canoes. Many people found the structure and build quality in the trailer quite impressive. Other customers commented that the assembly was very easy and only took a few hours.
Other people who used this trailer said that assembly was like IKEA, and can be tedious in some aspects. Some customers also said that the top rack can be tough to fit in when putting together. Other people reported that the harness wires seemed to be of lower quality.
PROS
CONS
our #5 rated
RIGHT-ON
Ruff-Sport Trailer
Quality
Price
Our rating
This Ruff-Sport Trailer made by RIGHT-ON is available in one standard size. The trailer features a galvanized steel frame with large wheels. The trailer can load kayaks, boards, SUP’s, bicycles, and cargo boxes. Additionally, the rack has soft springs and a sturdy frame to absorb road vibration.
People who purchased this trailer said that it felt very smooth when towing. Many couldn’t even feel it behind their car. One customers said that the trailer worked well to hold a 75 pound kayak. Other people also said that hauling the trailer was much better than throwing kayaks onto a car roof.
Some customers who used this trailer said that it takes quite a bit of tools to put together. A few customers said that the trailer took longer than expected to assemble. Some people also said that some metal pieces on the rack were not drilled well.
PROS
CONS
Our Choice
Each kayak trailer we’ve reviewed works for those looking to carry kayaks or other outdoor gear on the road. All the trailers have decent materials, wide racks, and a durable frame.
After comparing all the products the best kayak trailer is the Malone Micro Sport.
This trailer is both durable and long, making it perfect for those looking to carry a lot of gear. The trailer can work for any kind of sporting equipment. We also like the fact that the rack comes with adjustable j-hooks for mounting.