How to Make a Homemade Canoe Rack for a Utility Trailer

Building a homemade canoe rack on a utility trailer is a quick solution for carrying multiple canoes. The rack easily removes so you can still use the trailer for hauling things around. A stack of two by four boards and some carriage bolts are all the materials you need. Follow these steps to get a canoe rack created and usable in no time at all.

Things You'll Need

  • 14 boards, 2 by 4 by stud length
  • 2 pounds galvanized 3 inch screws
  • 8 carriage bolts, ½ inch by 3 ½ inch, with nuts and washers
  • Drill and bits
  • Tape measure
  • Circular saw
  • 6 Styrofoam swim "noodles" with center holes
  • Large sharp knife
  • Duct tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the inside of the utility trailer bed. Cut four two by fours to make a rectangle that fits inside the bed with the boards turned on their sides.. Screw it together with galvanized screws. Predrill the holes for the screws to prevent the wood splitting. Build a second rectangular frame the same size.

    • 2

      Mount four two by fours vertically at the four corners of the inside of the rectangular base frame. Drill half-inch holes through the bottom of the four vertical legs and the long side of the rectangular frame so that the vertical legs are snug against the corners at the base.

    • 3

      Bolt the top rectangular frame to the top of the four legs with the carriage bolts.

    • 4

      Measure and cut two more boards the width of the frame. Screw the two boards to the front and rear leg pairs halfway between the top of the frame and the top of the trailer bed sides. This provides a space for one or two canoes depending on the width of the trailer. Canoes can rest, not only on top of the frame, but also on top of "H" frame cross-member and on top of the sides of the trailer.

    • 5

      Slice Styrofoam swim noodles halfway through lengthwise into the center hole. Spread the cuts open and wrap the foam over the top of the 2 by 4 inch cross-members and the sides of the front and back of the trailers. Duct tape around them to hold the foam in place. The foam protects the gunwales of the canoes.

    • 6

      Lay the canoes on the foam on top of the cross-members. Tie them down to hooks and struts on the trailer with the ratchet tie-downs. The pressure of the tie-downs on the canoes holds the wooden frame securely inside the utility trailer bed.