Hello all. Getting ready to pull the trigger on a couple of kayaks here pretty shortly for us. Now I'm starting to plan the transportation part of the purchases. I really prefer the idea of going with a trailer. I have a Ford Ranger with a 6 foot bed, but I have a tool box in the bed that takes up roughly a foot of space. If you put the tailgate down, you basically gain that foot back. But since we're looking at 12 foot kayaks, I really feel like a trailer is the best choice at this point. Would 2/3's of the kayaks supported between the bed and a bed extender be enough to be comfortable or is that pushing it?

I was looking at the Harbor Freight Trailers as a good cheap option that seem to be real popular to turn into kayak trailers. They show 2 (3 really) different trailers, and I was curious about the difference. Mostly I am looking at the 4 x 8 foot trailer rated at 1,195 lbs (item # 62648), or the 4 x 8 foot trailer rated at 1,720 lbs (item # 62647).

I was curious if anyone knew what exactly what was different about these two trailers? The only differences I noticed from the website was the 1,720 lb trailer has a coupler for a 2" ball and 5.3 in x 12 in tires, where as the 1,195 lb trailer has a coupler for a 1-7/8" ball and 4.8 in x 12 in tires. Are these literally the only differences between the two, or are there other things that I'm either overlooking or perhaps that aren't listed? If those are the only differences, it sounds like the 1,195 lb is the clear winner for the price point. But perhaps there are more differences for the money that make the 1,720 lb worth the upgrade? Which one do most people use?

Thank you.

Bed extender would work and is easier to store, look around and you will see a lot of DIY stackers for those as well. Careful with the HF trailers some are only rated to 45 mph, read the manual.

Bed extender should work. You'll want a red flag on the back of your kayak. You would need lights on it for night driving if you have 4' of overhang (at least in my state, you do).

I've read mixed reviews of Harbor Freight trailers. They are cheap pieces of sh**, bolt holes don't line up, they rust quickly, etc. I've also read blogs of people who love their Harbor Freight trailers. They are highly adaptable, you might want a longer tongue.

I have the 1,195 lb version and have no complaints. If you can find one for sale around $350 to $400 I would say jump on it. They are no fun to build. I didn�t have any problems with holes lining up but it still a pain to put together.

I used the 1195 version for a couple of years without any problems.

A bed extender will work well. No tire issues, no bearing issues, no brake light issues, no storage issues & no registration.

If you do get a Harbor Freight trailer, buy some Loctite and use it. The Harbor Freight trailers tend to rattle apart. I helped my brother build one. He didn�t really need the help, he just tricked me into being there when it showed up. After several of the bolts rattled loose, he went back over the entire trailer with Loctite to keep the bolts secure.

I was thinking the harbor freight trailers came more highly recommended than that, I might just end up going to buy the bed extender today while I'm off instead. Not sure if I need to create another thread about the bed extender, but to try not to clutter up the forums for now, I have a few questions about the bed extender. If I need to create a new topic about it, I will.

I have an 07 Ford Ranger with a 6 ft bed, toolbox that takes up about a foot of bed, but a tailgate that adds back that foot. I'm sitting right at 6 ft of useable bed space, and not enough between the fenderwells to lay both kayaks next to each other. I ended up with a Wilderness Ride 115x, and the other kayak will be a Tarpon 120. If i stack one on top of each other, do I just need to put some pool noodles between them to keep them from touching each other? Just noodles or do I need to run some pvc through the middle of the noodles to give them some rigidity? And then what's the best way to strap them down? I hear ratchets aren't good cause you don't want to crank them down too tight and damage the yaks. What anchor points should I be looking at and where should i strap each yak?

Before I got my trailer, I could carry 2 Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5s in my bed extender. One was carried upright and one tilted on its side with a pair of pool noodles between them for cushioning. One rope around the front handles and around the truck toolbox. One rope across the back of the truck bed. A pair of NRS tie-down straps around the sterns and bed extender. A lot of people use bungees but I don't trust them. Get a red flag. You'll need lights at the back if out after dark or before sunup.

I could widen the back of my bed extender, this is showing just a single kayak in place.

jcrash, I will be buying a harbor freight folding trailer. From youtube etc, I've been warned the ground for the lights needs upgrading and that the fenders break off due to metal fatigue. Have you had any of these problems? I will also be folding mine for storage. I've got some ideas for a rack that will fit into the stake pockets. My rack will have to be removable so I can fold the trailer for storage. Any advice? Pics? Any help is appreciated....thanks!

I�ve had it since Feb 2016 and haven�t had any issues. I don�t fold it up and did replace the pins that allow the coupler to swing with bolts. I wired per the instructions and haven�t had any issues other than replacing a couple of bulbs.

The material I decked it with is too light and I�m planning to replace it with a piece of 3/4� plywood this winter. As it is now I can�t leave anything in my kayak. With the added weight it shouldn�t be so bouncy.

I use it as if my kayak was a boat and can launch or load very fast. I can take pics so let me know what you want to see.

I don't remember where I saw this...probably youtube... a guy chose to place 2 70lb bags of sand over the axle of his trailer to keep it from bouncing while empty. Glad to hear about the wiring/lights. My questions are based upon comments made on youtube about these trailers. Feedback has been mostly positive. No need for pics, I've figured out what I need to build a rack for my yaks. Thanks.

We have a "modified" HF trailer....it is wider and longer than originally sold. We rewired the lights, replaced the wheels and tires and replaced the deck. It is one of the most rigid trailers I've ever seen. A tongue extension is a nice addition also.

Overall works great

Here are photos of my HF Rig:


I have had it for about a year and a half. Put 4-5k miles on it so far. I run about 25psi rather than the recommended 45psi in the tires which helps with the bounce.