a quality home made kayak trailer?
May 21, 2020 17:12:29 #
gene so
Loc: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Hello,
I went fishing on a lake with a boulder shoreline and an angle to the water that left the gate of my 4x4 five feet above the ground. I realized in removing the "yak, that getting it back up into the trucks' box would be a major problem. I am 77 and need shoulder replacement surgery.
Well, things got worse in that the lake went from "glass" to a major storm that blew me off the lake in less than 1 1/2 hours. Single bright spot of the day= a 22 inch rainbow.
Landing in the storm, getting the kayak into the pickup bed was difficult.
I have come home and looked at kayak trailers and the prices gag me. I have built trailers before and realize this could be a challenge to create a trailer that would be very light, have large wheels for dealing with boulder strewn beaches, and create something that would display some ingenuity and craftsmanship. Many decades ago I passed certified welding tests in 3 states, so structural integrity would not be a problem, but does anybody have some ideas for creating a really special single "yak trailer that behind a 4x4 could get into some really tough areas?
Thanks in advance,
Gene So
I went fishing on a lake with a boulder shoreline and an angle to the water that left the gate of my 4x4 five feet above the ground. I realized in removing the "yak, that getting it back up into the trucks' box would be a major problem. I am 77 and need shoulder replacement surgery.
Well, things got worse in that the lake went from "glass" to a major storm that blew me off the lake in less than 1 1/2 hours. Single bright spot of the day= a 22 inch rainbow.
Landing in the storm, getting the kayak into the pickup bed was difficult.
I have come home and looked at kayak trailers and the prices gag me. I have built trailers before and realize this could be a challenge to create a trailer that would be very light, have large wheels for dealing with boulder strewn beaches, and create something that would display some ingenuity and craftsmanship. Many decades ago I passed certified welding tests in 3 states, so structural integrity would not be a problem, but does anybody have some ideas for creating a really special single "yak trailer that behind a 4x4 could get into some really tough areas?
Thanks in advance,
Gene So
May 21, 2020 17:40:31 #
Congrats on the 22" bow. Could it be that you caught him because you were fishing just before a storm front was moving in?????? That happens many times. Make a note of it. Personally, I would buy a trailer that would fit your needs. Just chalk it up as the cost of doing business. Those guys know more about building a trailer than you do. Life is short!. At your age, you don't have any time to waste messing around trying to build a trailer. There are trout to be caught! (MHO)
May 21, 2020 18:06:56 #
Craigslist. Yard Sales. Harbor Freight has trailers ( a few different sizes that can be modified to suit your needs). Maybe there is a local newspaper you can put a wanted ad in. I think you could buy one all set up for what you need or modify something. Get a hold of Plumbob. Plumbob has exactly what your looking for and can probably lead you in the right direction.
May 21, 2020 18:13:57 #
Jeremy wrote:
Craigslist. Yard Sales. Harbor Freight has trailers ( a few different sizes that can be modified to suit your needs). Maybe there is a local newspaper you can put a wanted ad in. I think you could buy one all set up for what you need or modify something. Get a hold of Plumbob. Plumbob has exactly what your looking for and can probably lead you in the right direction.
May 21, 2020 18:14:56 #
I just googled Kayak Trailer. There is a good deal. Tires might not be as big as you want them but that is why it is 120 bucks
May 21, 2020 18:17:10 #
May 21, 2020 19:28:54 #
Jeremy wrote:
Craigslist. Yard Sales. Harbor Freight has trailers ( a few different sizes that can be modified to suit your needs). Maybe there is a local newspaper you can put a wanted ad in. I think you could buy one all set up for what you need or modify something. Get a hold of Plumbob. Plumbob has exactly what your looking for and can probably lead you in the right direction.
Thanks for the reference Jeremy, but I do the in the pickup transporting. You may be thinking of Hacksaw. He has a nice set up for his yak hauling.
May 21, 2020 19:31:15 #
May 21, 2020 19:39:32 #
Jeremy wrote:
K. Sorry. I thought it was PB. So get a hold of Hacksaw.
No worries Jer, glad I could help in some respect.
May 21, 2020 21:27:37 #
gene so
Loc: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Hi Flyguy,
Thanks with regard to the fish. Linda and I love walleyes, being from Minnesota, but this fish we have eaten in two evenings, and it tastes better every time. I plan to go back to Charette lake Tuesday and float the middle of the lake, which virtually does not get fished. I obtained a Stage modular paddle and set the length today at 136" and did a direct comparison to my Carlisle that is 91 3/4" . In covering the same length of water today the Carlisle took 122 strokes and the Stage took just 76! Guess which one I will be using from now on?
With regard to the trailer. Quite frankly, taking some trailer and converting I to fit exactly the kayak I am using is really "in my wheelhouse". This will be a winter project. Before I retired and saw my last patient I was a structural Ironworker and I find working with my hands to be extremely rewarding. Steel, wood, leather, plastic. concrete; and I have a greenhouse and am a Master Gardener.
I have built trailers, and an ongoing project is a miniature travel trailer. I can see, in the future taking the kayak and camper and going to these dams NE and SE of me and adapting to fishing for walleyes here. I have been told that there are not a dozen serious walleye fishermen in the state of New Mexico. In time, I want to become one of them.
So, the time spent building a trailer making the launching of the kayak more efficient is , to me, a very special project. I can see the conversion of an existing trailer as a very special challenge.
By the way, what do you charge to make a custom fishing pole anyway? Even if I can't afford it, I would just like to know.
Stay Safe,
Gene So
Thanks with regard to the fish. Linda and I love walleyes, being from Minnesota, but this fish we have eaten in two evenings, and it tastes better every time. I plan to go back to Charette lake Tuesday and float the middle of the lake, which virtually does not get fished. I obtained a Stage modular paddle and set the length today at 136" and did a direct comparison to my Carlisle that is 91 3/4" . In covering the same length of water today the Carlisle took 122 strokes and the Stage took just 76! Guess which one I will be using from now on?
With regard to the trailer. Quite frankly, taking some trailer and converting I to fit exactly the kayak I am using is really "in my wheelhouse". This will be a winter project. Before I retired and saw my last patient I was a structural Ironworker and I find working with my hands to be extremely rewarding. Steel, wood, leather, plastic. concrete; and I have a greenhouse and am a Master Gardener.
I have built trailers, and an ongoing project is a miniature travel trailer. I can see, in the future taking the kayak and camper and going to these dams NE and SE of me and adapting to fishing for walleyes here. I have been told that there are not a dozen serious walleye fishermen in the state of New Mexico. In time, I want to become one of them.
So, the time spent building a trailer making the launching of the kayak more efficient is , to me, a very special project. I can see the conversion of an existing trailer as a very special challenge.
By the way, what do you charge to make a custom fishing pole anyway? Even if I can't afford it, I would just like to know.
Stay Safe,
Gene So
May 22, 2020 11:49:14 #
JRK227
Loc: Cedarburg, WI
Buy a used boat trailer and paint it, if needed. Install carpeted bunks to fit your kayak. You're good to go.
May 22, 2020 13:38:23 #
gene so wrote:
Hello, br I went fishing on a lake with a boulder ... (show quote)
Consider a davit and electric winch.
May 23, 2020 22:29:51 #
gene so
Loc: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Hello,
An idea from a neighbor opens up a possibility and I could use some insight. Most "yak trailers are converted Harbor Freight units and that certainly is a viable option.
However, I want to be able to launch this "yak into these mountain lakes and our shores here are largely irregular stone. Therefore, larger wheels are almost mandated. I was thinking of motorcycle wheels and tires and a dropped axle so the framework for the carrier portion of this trailer would be lower, therefore easier to launch. Before attending college I was a certified "stick" welder in three different states, so modifying an existing design is reasonable to me.
So, as far as large dimeter wheels go, could you actually use a set of bicycle forks, or motorcycle forks without entering a gross weight problem? This trailer will be used for only one kayak, and fishing equipment.
Gene So
An idea from a neighbor opens up a possibility and I could use some insight. Most "yak trailers are converted Harbor Freight units and that certainly is a viable option.
However, I want to be able to launch this "yak into these mountain lakes and our shores here are largely irregular stone. Therefore, larger wheels are almost mandated. I was thinking of motorcycle wheels and tires and a dropped axle so the framework for the carrier portion of this trailer would be lower, therefore easier to launch. Before attending college I was a certified "stick" welder in three different states, so modifying an existing design is reasonable to me.
So, as far as large dimeter wheels go, could you actually use a set of bicycle forks, or motorcycle forks without entering a gross weight problem? This trailer will be used for only one kayak, and fishing equipment.
Gene So
May 23, 2020 22:59:57 #
gene so wrote:
Hello, br br An idea from a neighbor opens up a p... (show quote)
Gene, there is no need for a fork to use a motorcycle wheel. Motorcycle axles are just bolts, and the wheelbearings are not tapered roller bearings like car or trailer bearings.They are just sealed ball bearings,with a spacer between them. All you need is a spacer on each side to put the pressure (torque) from the nut,on the inner race of the bearing.If you make a drop axle with sufficient bracing and support it should work fine. Now I don't know anything about the DMV out there, so you may have an issue registering a modified trailer. That would be up to you to figure out. I hope that this helps you out. Fred
May 24, 2020 09:15:45 #
gene so
Loc: Las Vegas, New Mexico
Fredfish wrote:
Gene, there is no need for a fork to use a motorcy... (show quote)
Fred, I have not forgotten your offer of help with the depth finder and will be contacting you in this regard within two weeks.
This news of easier to mount motorcycle tires is very good to read. I have also learned of another trailer option with larger tires to be available this fall, as an alternative to the Harbor Freight models. They are called Motoalliance. Obviously, I would have to extend the tongue, but it's an appealing design.
Stay safe,
Gene So
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