Kayaking is fun for enthusiasts and even beginners. It is an adventure in itself, but you also need a fair amount of gear and planning to make it go smoothly. While I cannot account for planning, what I can do is helping with your gear recommendations and you should start with the best kayak trailer.
Kayak trailers are almost a must if you have some heavy kayaks which you need to move around, or if you want to explore different locations, rivers, ponds and so on. A trailer for kayaks should have enough capacity and be long enough to accommodate your boat of choice and even more of them. It should be durable, resistant to rust and corrosion that can occur after exposing it to seawater and easy to use and maneuver around. Sounds like a dream? Let’s get this dream started then!
Table of Contents
Comparison of 7 Best Kayak Trailers in 2020
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ironton Personal Boat Trailer Kit |
| Check Price |
 | Malone MicroSport Kayaks Trailer |
| Check Price |
 | Rambo Bikes Kayak Trailer |
| Check Price |
 | BRIS Boat Launching Wheels Hand Dolly |
| Check Price |
 | Ultra-Tow Utility Trailer Kit |
| Check Price |
 | YAKIMA BigCatch Kayak Fishing Boat |
| Check Price |
 | BRIS Boat Launching Dolly |
| Check Price |
Top 7 Best Kayak Trailer Reviews in 2020
So, if you’re having troubles transporting a heavy kayak on the roof of your car, then maybe you should consider acquiring some additional saddles that make the job easier or even purchase a full size trailer for kayaks.
If all your family members are great fans of this sport, then you should consider a top rated kayak trailer which can fit more than one boat at a time. There are many options around and, in the following, we will help you navigate them with ease.
1. Ironton Personal Watercraft and Boat Trailer Kit
This Ironton trailer is a top pickas far as personal watercrafts and boats are included. It is quite versatile, you can carry your boat, kayak or even jet ski on it. Also it is a little over 77 inches long and has a width of about 40 inches.
It can carry up to 610 pounds, so you can fit a heavy watercraft on it and it will manage the job. Moreover, it is quite lightweight itself, so it won’t add much to the weight of the boat. In fact, this Ironton product might very well be the best lightweight kayak trailer on the market right now.
Moreover, it’s got 100% approved DOT lighting for driving safely on the road with it. In matters of design, it is rather simple, but the load capacity is quite impressive for its actual size. It can handle surfboards or other personal watercrafts without a problem. The frame is made of steel coated into a kind of smooth finish. The coating makes it more durable than regular paint and that’s a plus.
As part of the package, you’ll also get a hardware kit, a safety chain and some protective fenders. If you are concerned about the brand, you should know that Ironton has been making trailers for several years now and they have got plenty of options on the market at the moment.
They’re not the most famed, but they’re pretty good as a company. This very Ironton Personal Watercraft and boat trailer might be a very good example. You should also know that the trailer comes with 12” tires as standard, and it doesn’t have cross bars. This might be about everything notable about this best kayak trailer. So, let’s wrap it up.
- Pretty impressive weight capacity
- The frame is powder-coated for extra durability
- It is quite easy to set up
- The 12-inch tires look pretty tough and like they could handle rough terrain without a problem
- It might not be too good for kayaks longer than 13 feet, as they’ll hang at the back and maybe make the trailer a little bit unstable
2. Malone MicroSport Sports Trailer for Kayaks
If you’re looking for a basic, but reliable trailer that can hold your fishing kayak and maybe your neighbours’ as well, then you should start with this Malone MicroSport. It might very well be the best trailer for fishing kayak on the market and the fact that it can hold four at a time is pretty impressive.
The trailer package comes with clear instructions which makes it easy to assemble. The steel frame is galvanized and resistant to corrosion. Still, this puts it on the heavy side of things.
The trailer can hold up to 800 lbs. of weight and can carry 20-foot long vessels. This is the standard length for most kayaks and canoes. The trailer is versatile and you can fit even your bikes, surfboards, or other types of cargo on it.
The crossbars are 22 inches wide and can support all kinds of car rack accessories or gear carriers. It comes with 12-inch wheels as standard. Moreover, they’re galvanized and reinforced with marine grade bearings. They sound like some tough nice “guys” who won’t let you down in times of need.
The trailer does not come with lights, but you’ve got a pre-wired electrical circuit for you to mount them. If you don’t like towing a heavy trailer, then this Malone MicroSport might not be for you. However, it boats a 54-inch axle and some sealed hubs which make you feel like you’ve got a pretty sturdy and reliable best kayak trailer on your hands, and who wouldn’t like that?
- Easy to use
- Durable and quite stable on the road
- Resistant to corrosion
- It can carry a lot of weight and multiple kayaks
- It could use a storage space where you could also put some other things since it’s got this incredible weight capacity and you’d want to make use of that. I would.
3. Rambo Bikes Canoe Trailer and Kayak Trailer
Another good top rated kayak trailer on our list is this Rambo Bikes trailer which is pretty nimble and light weight and it can fit on the back of your bike rather than your car. Yes, you can carry your kayak with your bike and that looks already like an adventure to me.
Unfortunately, this is not plug and play, and you’ll also have to purchase another brand component in order to be able to install this trailer on your bike.
As for main features, this Rambo Bikes Canoe and Kayak Trailer, it can carry about 300 lbs as hand cart and around 70 lbs when attached to a bike. It cannot fit kayaks longer than 10 ft. and the trailer in itself weights around 29 lbs according to the manufacturer.
It comes equipped with some padded points to protect your kayak and canoe from various scratches that might occur while being carried. All in all, what we’ve got here is a pretty affordable best kayak trailer, which can be attached to your bike for a little extra touch of adventure and which can work wonders if you do not have to travel long distances with your kayak while on the ground.
- Easy to assemble and use
- Adjust ability
- Decent capacity for its actual size and weight
- Can’t attach multiple kayaks to it and it does not work well with cars, so you’ll basically use this as a backup trailer.
4. BRIS Boat Launching Wheels Hand Dolly
As far as a folding kayak trailer is concerned, this product from BRIS is a “cute” and handy one. It can carry about 100 kgs and boats of up to 11 ft long. It comes with a set of two 16’’ pneumatic tires, and a stainless steel frame.
This is not actually a trailer, it’s more of a dolly and the manufacturer strongly advises against towing it behind a vehicle. So, you might wonder why we’re featuring it here. Well, the reason is simple. This product is mainly good for launching your inflatable boat to the water and making your life easier in that aspect. It is not a trailer that will help you move your kayak over dozens of kilo meters, but rather an easy and practical way of moving your boat alone on short distances and from your cabin to the lake and so on.
- Nimble and easy to manoeuvre back and forth
- Lightweight
- Good for getting a big inflatable boat from the car to the water
- The wheel bearings are made of cheap plastic
5. Ultra-Tow Folding Aluminum Utility Trailer Kit
If you’re looking for the best cheap kayak trailer on the market right now, then you should consider this Ultra-Tow 4ft. x 8ft. folding aluminum utility trailer. Indeed, utility is the name of the game here, because this product right here is made to carry almost everything around, well, almost…
It’s got an aluminum frame that is rustproof and can fold for convenient storage. The main bed is 4ft. x 8ft. and the payload capacity is 1,170 lbs. It comes with 12’’ tires, a hardware kit and LED light kit with flat 4-wire harness and connector. You can also add your own decking for a more customized heavy duty experience.
The product ships in three boxes and you’ll need to assembly it yourself. Decking is not included in the package.
- It’s got aluminum wheel fenders for preventing damage to the cargo
- It’s got rustproof aluminum frame
- It can fold for convenient storage
- It comes with a light kit
- The rear light protection is flimsy
6. YAKIMA BigCatch Kayak Fishing Boat
Ok, this is not one of your usual best kayak trailers, but rather a different kind of build. It consists of a couple of saddles for roof racks and trailers, specially designed to support some extra weight of fishing or sit-on-top kayaks.
The set comes with an over sized cradle which protects the boat, while conforming to its hull shape. It can support 150 lbs. capacity, so it can fit even the heaviest kayaks. It can be installed and removed quite easily, thanks to its heavy-duty straps and bow and stern tie-towns.
Important note. If you buy it for a T-slot crossbars car, then you should also purchase the Yakima SmarT-Slot kit 4 which they sell separately.
- Very easy to install and remove
- They look like they will hold your fishing kayak in place, without much moving or bouncing around
- High-quality build and stability
- The wide straps will vibrate around in the wind and it can get on your nerves at times
7. BRIS Boat Launching Dolly
Now, the last product on our list has got some of the best kayak trailer reviews and it deserves to be mentioned. It is another dolly for launching your boat to the water, and for an easy carrying experience from the boat to the lake.
The recommended max. weight it can carry is somewhere around 160Kgs. It can fit boats up to 14ft in length. The frame and hardware is made of stainless steel. As with launching dollies in general, you are advised not to haul them to cars.
Now, purchasing this dolly will not save you from purchasing another kayak trailer to attach to the car, unless you have a nice cabin by the lake somewhere and all your boats are placed there. To wrap it up, here’s what we liked and didn’t like about this product:
- Easy and fast assembly and disassembly, and when disassembled it looks like it will take a small amount of your storage space
- It works well for putting your inflatable kayak to and out of the water
- Simple design which permits modifications; for example, you can convert it so that you can pull it with your car, but none of this is covered by the warranty and you have to really know what you’re doing
- TWe’re not sure it is corrosion-resistant and the wheels look rather flimsy
Frequently Asked Questions About Kayak Trailers
What Materials Are Best for Kayak Trailers?
Most kayak trailers are made of aluminum, or steel. An aluminum trailer will be lightweight, won’t rust and prove great durability. Furthermore, they might have high load capacities. However, if you’re looking for the best cheap kayak trailer, you won’t find an aluminum one on the list.
A mid-range kayak trailer will be made of steel that is galvanized and thus more resistant to corrosion and rust. The most inexpensive trailers will be made just of steel, non-galvanized.
Does My Kayak Trailer Need to Match the Length of My Kayak?
Well, if your trailer is too short compared to your kayak, then chances are it won’t do the job properly. As a rule of thumb, you need to get a trailer that is close in length to your kayak.
Should I Buy a Kayak Trailer Without Built-in Racks?
It’s up to you, really. If the price is ok and you’ve already got some spare racks or can purchase ones pretty easily, yes, you should. There’s one thing you should keep in mind, though, and that is the max. load capacity. You should take into consideration the weight of the additional racks in this case.
It’s Not Difficult Choosing the Best Kayak Trailer
Once you figure out what you want from a kayak trailer, and if you want to be able to carry more kayaks, if you use it often, or just want a dolly to put the boat to water and take it from water, making the purchasing is rather easy. We hope our little round-up of the best trailers for kayaks has also helped you. Happy kayaking with your best kayak trailer!
