How to Build Kayak Trailers

Kayak enthusiasts have a tendency to accumulate boats over time. Kayaking trips usually involve multiple boats and plenty of equipment. When you have more than a couple of boats, carrying them all on top of your truck or car becomes problematic. It's time to build a trailer. This simple design is built on an old used boat trailer of the sort you can find for sale around lakeside communities. You will need basic welding skills or take the project to a welding shop.

Things You'll Need

  • Used boat trailer and replacement wiring if needed
  • Sander and sandpaper for metal surfaces
  • Tape Measure
  • Marker
  • 4 angle iron uprights, 2 inches by 2 inches by 6 feet long
  • 1 tube steel cross-member, 2 inches by 2 inches by 6 feet
  • 1 angle iron center brace, 2 inches by 2 inches cut to fit between the front and rear uprights
  • 1 angle iron angle brace, 2 inches by 2 inches by 6 feet
  • Metal cutting saw or cutting torch
  • 2 angle iron cross-members, 2 inches by 2 inches by 5 feet long
  • 8 eye bolts, 1/2 inch by 2 inches long
  • 2 angle iron cross members, 2 inches by 2 inches by 30 inches long
  • 7 styrofoam swim noodles with hollow cores
  • 21 zip ties
  • Heavy sharp knife
  • Bungee cords or ratcheting tie-down straps
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Clean and sand the old trailer. Sand the paint off the places where you will weld the uprights to the frame. Rewire the brakes and running lights to meet your state's requirements. See your state highway patrol or department of public safety for information.

    • 2

      Weld the 2 by 2 inch by 2 inch tube steel cross member cross ways across the boat frame parallel to the rear cross member and 4 to 6 feet in front of it.

    • 3

      Weld the ends of two of the 6-foot uprights to the ends of the tube steel cross member with their other ends together at the top. Weld the uprights to form a triangle with the apex pointed upward.

    • 4

      Weld the ends of the second pair of uprights to the outside ends of the rear cross-member of the boat frame the same way as the front pair. Weld the uprights together at the apex at the top in a triangle.

    • 5

      Measure the distance between the apexes of the triangles formed by the uprights. Cut the center brace to fit and weld in place. Weld the ends of the 6-foot angle brace from the apex of the rear uprights forward to the center brace of the trailer frame to stiffen the framework.

    • 6

      Weld the two angle iron cross-members to the legs of the upright, parallel to the ground, 18 inches above the boat frame. The ends of the cross-members will extend beyond the uprights and between the legs. Weld eye bolts to the front side of the ends of the cross-members to provide a tie-down point for bungee cords.

    • 7

      Weld two 30-inch angle iron cross-members horizontally at the apex of the upright pairs.

    • 8

      Cut the Styrofoam noodles to the appropriate lengths of the spaces on the cross-members inside the uprights and outside, to the width of the top cross-members and to the length of the uprights between the lower cross-members and to the apex cross-members to pad the boats when they are strapped on. Slice the noodles halfway through to expose the hollow core, wrap them around the cross-members with the splits away from the boats. Secure the noodles with zip ties at the ends and in the center of each noodle section.

    • 9

      Test fit the boats to the frame work. The trailer will carry four boats -- one atop the apex cross-members, one in the center section and two on the outside of the uprights lying on their sides. Use bungee cords or ratcheting tie-down straps to secure the boats for travel.