I'm in the market for a kayak trailer. Harbor Freight has one #62668. Has good reviews by kayak owners online. Several reviewers said that they changed out the small wheels for larger ones. I'm assuming that was to enable them to go faster than 45 mph. The price is good ($399). Only available online. Really don't like making a purchase without seeing one first. Any thoughts by any of you?

Shipping charge?

Bill, I built it several years ago, sold it a few months ago not needing it any longer.

Yes, those 8" wheels really spin fast but it'd handle more than 45. I tried to stay at 55 mph or less, though.

For longer hauls, 12" wheels would be better.

And, Harbor Freight sells a larger brake light kit and they are better than the stock ones.

I added some eye bolts to the frame to strap down my canoe and/or kayak, also a winch and wheel at the front. Too, I got rid of the two tiny little boat bunks and just put some long 2X6s there with boat carpet on them. If I were doing one today, I'd just use PVC pipe as many others are doing. Properly space, your canoe or kayak will slide easily up and down the PVC.

And, finally, Harbor Freight runs sales on these from time-to-time and mine was around $235 as I recall. If you are in a rush, it is still a nice little trailer.

Hope this helps! Pic below.

Brad

I see used high speed trailers for under $300 often. this one took approx 2 min. to find on CL.
https://easttexas.craigslist.org/bpo/6158118410.html

Harbor Freight has their 1200 pound folding trailer, with 12" wheels on sale right now for $259.00. It would make a nice kayak trailer. Their boat trailer will probably require some mods to hold one or two kayaks, anyway. The sale trailer, item 62666/90154/62648 is in the DISPOSAL NOTICE sale flyer, with YELLOW TAG sale items. The fine print says it's good thru 6/30/17. FYI.

Island Jim

And, it's still going strong Brad. No problems with the small wheels. The bearings never have gotten hot.

Need a trailer for my summer fishing travels, so I have ordered the Harbor Freight boat trailer. I have a Chevy Express 2500 van that is fixed up for camping and since buying the kayaks, it is difficult to camp for more than a couple of days with the kayak in the van. For extended trips, the Propel kayak can travel on top of the Jeep as I tow the Jeep. The question of the size of the ball receiver hitch on the Harbor Freight trailer remains a mystery.

You really have it spiffed up, Jerry!

Same here . . . I'd just leave the 8 inchers on and if at some point you needed to change them out, then maybe move to larger wheels.

Got the boathouse built down on Lake Athens. Let me know if you drag a kayak down here any time soon!

Brad

I have owned a 14 foot flatbottom since 1969. The trailer has 8 inch tires. I have towed the boat from east Texas to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana as well as all over East Texas. I have always towed it at highway speeds of 60-70 mph with no problems. I keep the bearings packed and have worn out 3 sets of tires over the years. So, I don't think you'll have any problems carrying a kayak or two on a trailer with 8 inch tires.-p-

I just bought and modified an Acadamy galvanized McClain trailer. Turned out great. I went ahead and got the one with 12 inch tires and put a Fulton folding tongue kit on it along with led lights, and a trailer jack.All said and done I spent about $900 but with everything I could think to add to it for that total I think I got out reasonably cheap considering what I believe is a trailer that will last many years.

I would be very cautious about that one. Something smells fishy
It's a ski trailer and he has a Jon boat. Before I bought my McClain I looked for two months for a pwc trailer and one that nice cost twice what he paid.
No tag.
He is willing to sell for a loss? He could make money on that one.
I would insist I speak to the previous owner.

My 2 cents

Regarding speed, I used my trailer, the one I sold to Jerry, almost exclusively to pull my little kayak or a similar weight canoe down to Wheeler Branch from Fort Worth, so about 65 miles each way, about once a week. And, I always left in the dark AM hours, no traffic and used the Chisholm Trail Toll Road going down. I loved it . . . me and nobody else on the road most of the way down, a cup of coffee. This toll road often narrows down to just one lane on each side but has those passing sections and I'd let any cars go around me. It was a bit tougher coming back up the toll road with more traffic mid-afternoon but I'd get up to 65 mph at times until I could move over in those passing sections. So, 65 mph was fine for sprints and it pulled great at 55 to 60, my preferred speed.

One thing to consider is, and this was especially so pulling around a 60 lbs. Propel 10, is there is almost no weight on the tires at all. It has little to do with "loading factors" that many trailers have to consider. I wasn't even aware of it being back there; it had no effect on my auto at all.

The little 8 inch wheels obviously spin faster than 12 inchers at the same speed. We all know the operative math there. The trick is to keep them greased well. And, if you don't need to back all the way down into the water on the ramp to unload, that is one more thing that you've eliminated from the maintenance routine.

Brad

Another thing to think about is tire inflation. You can research and find tire pressure recommendations for your load. My trailer is rated for 900 pounds at 80 psi. Because my load is only about 300 ponds including trailer I lowered it to 55 psi and it cut down on the bouncing and trailers great.

I've pulled a trailer for years with those small tires with no problems and that was with a 14' aluminum boat loaded with gear and gas and a small outboard motor, so it was a lot heavier than a kayak, so all you have to do is check the tire pressure and make sure the bearings are maintained.
As mentioned either install bearing buddies, or just don't back the trailer down into the water.

I bought the Harbor Freight boat trailer two years ago and haven't had any problems with the 10" wheels. If I had a heavier rig than a kayak I'd get the 12" wheels. I run about 60-65 on I-45 and have never had the wheels or bearings get even warm. BUT, if I had it to do over again, I'd go with the 4X8 trailer. I went fishing Friday with two friends and we stacked all three yaks on his 4X8 trailer. We put two moving pads on each Yak before strapping them down. It worked like a charm. The trailer also folds up for storage. The only drawback to the 4X8 trailer is the 1-7/8" receiver. I like a the 2" better.