Homemade Kayak Trailer

If you do much kayaking, before long you'll probably find yourself with a collection of boats that you just had to have and no way to haul them. Here's a simple three-kayak trailer design that you can cobble together on an old motorboat frame with basic hand tools.

  1. Base

    • First you'll need to find a used motorboat trailer, which can often be found in lake communities and in marinas. Some can be had relatively cheap. Try to find one with a nice wide wheelbase and good tires. Wash it up, check the lights, wiring and reflectors, and make sure the tires don't have dry rot. Remove any boat cradles or rollers that will get in the way of the frame for the kayak rack.

    Fore and Aft

    • Find two points on the outside of the frame where you can drill a hole and bolt a 2x4 at a slant toward the center of the trailer, which will create two triangles at the front and rear of the trailer frame. Bolt two of the 8-foot 2x4s with a single carriage bolt through the frame at the base of the 2x4s. All lumber used in this project should be pressure treated. Bring the tops of the 2x4 legs together and overlap them, then drill a single hole through both. Do the same thing at the front of the trailer frame. You may have to cut the base of the 2x4s creatively to make them fit and slope together at the top. When you are done you, will have two isosceles triangles bolted across the front and back of the trailer frame.

    Ridge

    • Cut a 2x4 ridge that connects the apexes of the two triangular frames. Screw lag bolts through the two legs at each end and into the ends of the ridge board. This will stiffen the framework.

    Brace

    • Drill a hole in the trailer's winch support and bolt a 2x4 from the winch running to the apex of the front triangular legs of the frame. You will need to cut the 2x4 at an angle and brace it against the peak of the apex. Use galvanized wood screws to attach the brace to the top of the frame to further stiffen the framework.

    Cross Members

    • Bolt two 8-foot pressure treated 2x4s across the base of the legs about 6 or 8 inches above the trailer frame. Use a single carriage bolt at each of the two points where the cross member crosses the legs of the triangles. This creates an A shape with arms extending beyond the outside of the legs of the “A.”

    Tie-Downs

    • Screw 3/8-inch eyelets into the ends of the cross members and the peak of the triangular legs of the frame. This provides a handy tie-down point for bungees or ratchet tie-downs. Attach eyelets to the legs just below where the cross members cross to provide tie-down points for the boats in the center.

    Padding and Painting

    • Pick a nice color to paint the trailer and wooden frame. Use an enamel or epoxy based paint to ensure a durable coating and protection from water and the elements.

    Loading the Kayaks

    • The two kayaks on the outside of the A-frame will be tied on their sides between the cross arms. The kayak in the center is pushed through the opening in the A-frame at the rear and rests between the legs of the A. The design provides a secure attachment for kayaks traveling in rough country or on long trips. You can build a handy gear box for the rig and bolt it flat above the trailer frame. Hinge the top and put a padlock on it to store your life jackets and paddles.