Towing a kayak trailer behind my bike…

This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 4 months ago by Justin Antos.

Creator

Topic
March 15, 2012 at 1:51 am #911080

MCL1981
Participant

Has anyone done anything like this?? I keep my 16ft kayak at Jack’s Boat House in Georgetown under the key bridge. But there are times when I might want to take it up to fletcher’s cove or other places along the C&O. Or, even take it down to Gravely Point. I think this would be a great way to get it around and not have to drive through Georgetown on a summer weekend. That sells for about $800 shipped, which is pricey. I might consider making one myself. A few things come to mind…

1) Now I can put trailer lights on my lighting system!
2) This will really piss off the jerks who like to zig-zag pass people with no calls at high speed.
3) I wonder how much harder it will be to pedal up the CCT with this behind me??
Creator

Topic

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

Author

Replies
March 15, 2012 at 1:16 pm #937707

CCrew
Participant

I’ve seen flatbed trailers getting towed around downtown by some of the bike messengers that appear to be 8 foot or so long and look perfect for a kayak.

Didn’t look to be too complicated, I’m sure with a little ingenuity and perhaps a kid trailer for parts?

March 15, 2012 at 1:28 pm #937712

pfunkallstar
Participant

I would just build my own, you could probably do a decent job for under $300 or so, depending on what material/wheels you went with. In my limited experience with trailers, the hierarchy of quality goes mounting clamp, weight, wheel diameter, and then tire diameter.

March 15, 2012 at 2:53 pm #937733

MCL1981
Participant

Sounds like a trip to Home Depot and the bike shop (wheels) is in order soon. Maybe I can rig up trailer brakes?

March 16, 2012 at 3:37 pm #937850

WillStewart
Participant

[URL=” http://www.bikesatwork.com/”%5DBikes At Work [/URL]has a nice set of heavy duty general purpose bike trailers, here’s a picture of one carrying a 24′ ladder, though might run over $500;

[ATTACH=CONFIG]832[/ATTACH]

Wike has a trailer specifically for kayaks for only $179, which might be preferred if you don’t have other bike cargo needs.

http://www.wike.ca/kayak_bicycle_trailer.php

[ATTACH=CONFIG]833[/ATTACH]

16′ is still a bit long to be maneuvering on any winding trails (I’m not familiar with the CCT). Like learning how to drive a tractor-trailer, keeping a dynamic physical model of the current and projected positioning of the trailer in one’s mind is important when moving along trails and roads.

March 16, 2012 at 5:24 pm #937860

Terpfan
Participant

You could also put the bike onto the kayak or so a few folks did in pictures.

March 16, 2012 at 7:27 pm #937872

MCL1981
Participant

@WillStewart 16596 wrote:

Wike has a trailer specifically for kayaks for only $179, which might be preferred if you don’t have other bike cargo needs.

http://www.wike.ca/kayak_bicycle_trailer.php

16′ is still a bit long to be maneuvering on any winding trails (I’m not familiar with the CCT). Like learning how to drive a tractor-trailer, keeping a dynamic physical model of the current and projected positioning of the trailer in one’s mind is important when moving along trails and roads.

That is exactly what I was thinking of building. Basically a portage cart, and then someone to hitch the front of the kayak to the back of the bike. I don’t like the wheels on that trailer they sell. I want stronger real bike wheels.

I drove fire trucks for the last 10 years, and a few boat trailers here and there. This should be easy! Most of the places I’m thinking of going do not have any sharp turns. Going down hills should be fun.

@Terpfan 16607 wrote:

You could also put the bike onto the kayak or so a few folks did in pictures.

I saw that. I don’t have fishing outriggers for the kayak, but that is pretty cool.

March 18, 2012 at 5:02 pm #937922

MCL1981
Participant

Ah ha!

http://www.rei.com/product/815324/seattle-sports-atc-boat-cart

$140 and it can fold up so I can lock it to the rack at the boat yard. So all I need to do is make something to hitch the kayak to the bike.

March 30, 2012 at 9:23 pm #938569

Justin Antos
Participant

This looks like perhaps a similar model?
Author

Replies

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.