2005 AWD Subaru Legacy hauling an 8ft trailer I bought from a trailer builder in Copeville. The Subaru gets about 27mpg hauling the trailer+kayak. The Subaru and trailer are two of the best things I've ever purchased--lots of miles on both.

I had a boat trailer I had put PVC runners on. I ended up not really using the trailer.

I sold that and now carry the PA and outback on a bed extender in the back of a Ford F150.

I'd love to get better fuel economy but get a lot of use out of the truck.

Just bought a 2000 Trooper just for beach fishing.
Looking at a Thull rack for the top.
Have been using my 3/4 ton Dodge diesel 4x4 and a converted 8" trailer.

03' F-150 super crew.

throw the ride 115 in the bed and I'm off.


shaun, I like that trailer....where did you get it?

For most transports, it's with a beat up Volkwagen Jetta of the 2003 vintage. I still get 34mpg WITH the boat on the top.

The car is ugly as sin, sounds like an RC car, and impedes my desire to get a truck (I can't justify the truck if the car won't die, and VW's don't die quickly). However, its one saving grace... the 34 mpg WITH the yak on top.

For the cross-country trips, I put the yak on our Ford Explorer (2008). I only get 22-25mpg with that when the yak is on. I've been thinking heavily about investing in a light trailier for next year's pilgrimage. The only think giving me pause is that I worry that not all the places we go (I'm gone for a month hopping across various states) will be "trailer friendly." Have y'all had a lot of experience with that?

1500hd crew cab 4x4. I don't pass many gas stations but its comfortable and I like it. I used to have several vehicles but decided that with insurance, maintenance and making sure to keep them driven enough not to run bad was a PITA and a bigger money pit than one gas guzzler! It has a low profile tool box and a wide area at the top of the tailgate. I put the kayak up high on the tailgate and toolbox and most couldn't hit it. The downside is that if somebody does hit it, it'll come right through the back window!

Nice trailer Shaun!

I use this. The real plus of the truck is there is an elevated sleeping platform in the back so I can store stuff underneath and still have room on top to sleep. Can stop anywhere and take a nap (important at my age ) or stay the night if needed. The wife and I camp out of it......last trip was 2 weeks in New Mexico dry camped next to a trout stream. Beats a tent especially in colder or bad weather and we can still get the truck off road some without worrying about pulling something as large as a travel trailer. The kayak trailer is a Shorelander single PWC trailer.

Since this pic, I have added a Yakima 8' Rocketbox to store rods in that mounts to the rack on the shell.



On the subject of trailers, my plan is to modify this trailer or get another and modify it to hold either a pair of CT90's or my XR650L on the bottom, 2 yaks on top and some accessories like a storage box and propane setup for cooking and hot showers.

Has anyone found a deal on the Yakima trailer? I like them a lot, but I don't know that I like them $2K worth. For now, it's car topping for me.

CT90s! Originals or knock-offs? Man, you are a renaissance man! Nice setup...

The same issues with any trailer - you need extra parking space, you can't get off-road as easily as if you didn't have it, it's an extra "thing" to go wrong - flats, etc. As far as places "not taking" a trailer, I've never had that problem.....parking is usually the only hassle. While I love my trailer for the ease of keeping my yak on it and it's a quick launch/load, if I had a vehicle I could easily cartop on and was only carrying one, I prob would. Especially if I was driving a day or more for each yak unload/load event. For me however, it is too difficult to load to my truck and esp since I eventually want to carry 2 yaks and additional stuff like a motorcycle(s) on longer trips, I will stick with a trailer. YMMV.

Ha! Originals. I have one currently - a 1970 Model - pretty nice and runs good. I'm always on the lookout for another. The 650 does a nice job of two-upping even on mountain trails and the wife is a good passenger - it prob makes more sense although the CT's would be fun around campgrounds/go fishing/etc.

Wham!

I haul all mine on a TrailEx trailer, up to four at one time.
The guy I purchased mine from added two tool boxes.



http://www.trailex.com/SUT-250-M2.cfm

Rev, do you have any close-ups of the upper support?