car rack or trailer??

[justanovice]

Looks like there are going to be some kayaks under the Christmas tree this year. Jeremy, we will see you real soon at OOO. However, we have been debating an issue for some time that needs resolving. We will be toting three kayaks to our destinations. It's myself (a 5''4" female), my teenage daughter, and an eight-year-old boy. I can either choose to rack them on top of my Honda Accord or purchase a trailer to pull behind our Ford SUV. So many issues...physical ability to load on car, storage of trailer, learning how to back a trailer, ability to lock kayaks when staying overnight at cabin... Help!! I need some advice from people who have been there. Which is easier? I'll deal with the price either way; I just need to know which is a better choice for a short, not extremely strong female.

[okieboater]

Racks are usually cheaper to buy up front and have all sorts of accessories to customize them. I am partial to yakima but thule are just as good. Yakima = round bar, Thule equal a kinda quare ish oval bar. That is the good part about rack systems, ie cost.

Depending on the load and setup, you can overload the rack system and do damage to the car. I rarely hear of this but it does happen.

Again, depending on the install and the person, loading can be a real issue on height and reach. On my truck I have a small step ladder to help reach the top.

There is an endless debate on straps versus ropes. Both work. The main thing is your attention to detail as you rope or strap down the load. I have been carrying loads on top of vehicles for decades and still have night mares of boats flying off at speed and hitting other vehicles and creating carnage. A boater can make friends if they have good quality extra rope or cam straps at hand to help load. I have a small fortune tied up in rope and cam straps and still run out on trips. I see some boats loaded with el cheapo plastic rope. Makes me a bit scared to think what might happen to thousands of dollars of gear secured by a few cents worth of off shore plastic rope with sun damage and strands unraveled up and down the rope.

Loading racks is partly engineering and a lot of art. Most of us follow the directions of the vehicle owner and do as they want it loaded.

You can take yakima and thule rack systems off the vehicle and help gas milage a bit.

Bottom line, most people use racks for canoes and kayaks.

Then comes the lure of multi day western rivers and luxury raft trips.

Enter the hi power gas eating / diesel tow vehicle and trailer.

I have a fairly expensive (at least for me) open utility trailer for raft trips. The good thing is all the load it can carry. I have had multiple rafts, kayaks gear out the yeng yang on mine. Another is they are easy to load. I really enjoy my open trailer for big trips. A issue is if you stay in a motel, there is always fear of theft. Some solve this by buying an enclosed trailer. These trailers are nice but heavier and more cost involved.

Trailers need to be stored. That is the main reason I do not have a enclosed trailer. I have to get my trailer down behind my house. I use my riding lawn mower (a big one) to get the trailer down and behind my house as trailer parking creates lots of problems in the drive way. My lawn mower is maxed out with the open bed trailer I have.

Next issue is keeping trailer bearings well lubed. Some might be able to do this themselves. I do not trust my skills on this and pay the bucks to have professionals grease the hubs every spring. Many horror stores of overloaded trailer hubs either failing or breaking down some where in Idaho can be found. Same for tires IE need constant air pressure checks and do not last that long. Finally lights. You will most likely have light issues. I did all the time and switched to heavy duty wiring and the new LED type bulb systems along with a heavy duty trailer tow accessory on my truck for hitch and lighting system.

Trailers with racks for canoes can be special made and are very nice. Owning one will make you many invites on canoe trips. Trailers are nice as you can dump all the wet smelly things in the trailer not in your vehicle.

Trailers come in all sizes and makes. I have seen and lusted after the hi dollar aluminum off road trailers. For small cars there are really neat lightweight trailers (tires look like bicycle wheels) that are works of art.

Lots of information here and there is more out there.

Bottom line you need racks and that is what most start with. Yakimas or Thules last for decades given reasonable care. Start off with a rack system is my suggestion. Learn from that.

sooner or later you will want a trailer. maybe more than one type. I like trailers and recommend them. Beware towing and backing trailers require a skill set few of us have. And then there is the tow vehicle. I started out with a smaller 6 cyl engine, soon got tired of shifting gears and went to a big time v8 with all the resulting gas costs. Have not looked back tho and really enjoy the ability to keep up with traffic.

There you have it. some feedback on racks and trailers for the boating fun seeker!

There is one thing only you can decide and that is how much you want to spend, deal with all the driving issues and do you have the space to store a trailer.

A enclosed trailer, my opinion, is the hi class easy way to go. I wish I had one but do not based on all the stuff above. If you can deal with the cost, storage and driving issues a enclosed trailer involves -- that is the ideal way to travel.

[Roger]

What Okie said about wheel bearings on a trailer. Got one story about mine going out just west OKC. Luckily, the stars aligned and 3 hours later and $300 lighter (new axle, parts, and labor), we were on the road.

That particular mechanic said every two years would be fine to protect them.

I have stored my canoes in a hotel room at times! :roll: :shock: It's one of them short ones!

[Chester]

Got both...

Car racks cheap, no trailer backing/storing/license/property tax/insurance to be concerned with. But, you still have to load everthing up high and pack all the gear somewhere inside/outside the little Accord. Maybe get a little plastic step or a folding step stool to help you get up there easier.

Trailer more expensive, but your boats and gear can all be loaded on it, and with a storage box attached, locked up dry. Backing a trailer is not a big deal to learn. Park it, throw a tarp over it all, and the next time you unload the boats could be at the water's edge again.

Pm me with an email address and I'll send you a few pictures of one in my backyard.

[Lupe]

Another thing with racks, is that they make a lot of accessories that can really help with the loading. These are extra $$$, but being confident that you can handle loading/off-loading without too much strain (or risk of injury) can really make a difference in how often you head out on the water.

Until recently I was able to load all my boats pretty easily on my Subaru wagon (not too tall like an SUV), but due to an injury, I had to rethink how to load my boats. I bought something called a "showboat" by Yakima to add to my rack, and it's letting me load even my heaviest canoes by myself even while I still have very limited strength. That contraption works for both canoes and kayaks, and there are also saddles and rollers specific for kayaks that make loading easier. There's even some systems that will let you load your boat at the side of the car and then the rack lifts the boat on top of the car for you. I suggest you visit both the Thule and Yakima websites as well as Malone which has a side loading system and for some ideas of options out there. Kari-Tek is another one, although not sure if they sell them in the US. It will be an investment to get your rack system, but then at least other than the base feet/towers, you can always move your racks to other vehicles if you upgrade.

To see my review and pics of the showboat, go here:
http://forums.arkansascanoeclub.com/vie ... =3&t=17038" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck - happy shopping!

[okieboater]

http://www.pacmuletrailers.com/pacmule.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

this is the unit I would like to have!!!!!!

[okieboater]

http://www.yakima.com/shop/water/lift-assist/boatloader" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

forgot the above. I have yakima racks on my pickup truck's fiberglass camper shell.

Like Lupe, my shoulder joints have problems big time on getting loads up over my head. Getting my Blue Hole Sunburst on top of my camper shell is might near impossible for me till I got the little extensions that fit into the front yakima cross bar. I just put one end of the Blue Hole on the extended bar, lift the other end up on the rear cross bar then move the front end from the extension to the cross bar. put the extension bar back into the cross bar and the deal is done. do the reverse to take the canoe off. Yup, for the record I started off canoe boating when the Grumman shoe keel was the hot WW boat. Still love to canoe, just do not have the strength or flexibility to get on anything over class 2 in a canoe. Still admire those who can.

I highly recommend this accessory for anyone having trouble getting their boat up on the cross bars.

I should have mentioned that I use the racks most of the time unless I am lucky enough to get invited on some ones western river permit. That is when the raft, dutch ovens and all the luxury river camping gear gets loaded up.

[GN YAKN]

Get a pick up truck and just toss those yaks in the back!

If not a choice, I would vote for the racks for three yaks. Much cheaper and easier to maintain than a trailer. You can buy a little step ladder to put in your trunk if you have to.

What kind of Ford SUV? Sounds like racks on the SUV would be my choice if you can't get your hands on a pick up.

[Cowper]

Others have already done a great job of covering the reasons why, if I mentioned the big points I'd only be repeating what has already been said. Take special note of Lupe's comments on accessories that help ease the loading process; but also know that if you are in good health with no injuries, then it's more about balance and figuring out how to do it, especially for a vehicle no taller than an Accord.

RACKS for SURE for what you're wanting to do!

I say put racks on BOTH your Accord and your SUV. Day trips use the Accord; trips with camping gear involved take the SUV.

Save the trailer for the motorboat, the rafts, or when you get MORE than six or seven kayaks, or maybe want to carry 4 canoes at the same time. When you get to one of those situations, the trailer becomes well worth the extra trouble.



(trailer - three canoes, one motorboat, probably a couple of kayaks in the truck, too)

[okieboater]

Yup, If I could afford two personal vehicles. One would be the Tundra v8 for the big jobs with rafts and trailers out west but my every day go to vehicle would be a Corolla with roof racks for most of my kayak trips either to my much loved Arkansas creeks or back east or where ever.. Those little Ford Fiesta's are looking real good for a rack setup and kayak trips.

[RomanLA]

Here's a nice little write up with lots of pictures...
http://www.dagger.com/education_portal/ ... ur_vehicle

[n2outdrs]

I agree with Dave, for my Jeep, the Pacmule was the way to go. I can put boats on top or inside.

I wanted a light off road trailer that I could pull behind my Jeep and carry boats and by contacting a local dog box trailer manufacturer the Pac Mule was created.

Mike tweeked the design several times using his own wrangler to pull the initial designs camping etc and in my opinion he just keeps getting better in the design.

My trailer can be modified for what I need it for, the roof can come off for carrying a 4 wheeler or motorcycle, and you can haul a 4 wheeler on top of the lid as well. The tail gate is removable if needed.

I added the tool box option on each side, a gear box with vents that can open on the front to put stinky gear in, a propane/water jug carrier, a gas can holder, a wireless trailer brake for use with the Wrangler. The front can mount different types of hitches, ours includes a bull dog ball mount and a 180 degree off road hitch. The bottom has a skid plate for protecting the axle.

I bought an 8ft version so I could use it later for carrying a raft and gear; the inside is deep enough to hold large 7 day coolers. Also the 8 foot gave me extra room to throw in my paco pad and sleep in the trailer.

Give Mike a call at 918-344-8940 and he will work with you as far as options, etc. and please tell them Judy sent you.


I have attached a picture of mine before I added Yakima racks to it and a 6 ft version he made last summer.

Judy Fichtl

[computer monkey]

Racks or trailers, both have there advantages and disadvantages.

A trailer has the advantage of: hauling lots of kayaks/canoes, hauling gear (leaving the tow vehicle free for hauling people/snacks), easier to load, low to the ground. Trailers can be outfitted with many options to attach accessories.
Disadvantage: cost, storage

As far as learning to back a trailer this can be quickly over come by going to a large empty parking lot. Start by placing you hand at the bottom of the steering wheel, move your hand in the direction you want to go ie if you want the trailer to turn to the right while backing move your hand to the right.

Rack advantage: a lot lower cost, haul lots of kayaks/canoes (depending on bars size), no storage
Disadvantage: depending on vehicle, higher off the ground compared to a trailer, a step stool or ladder can help with this.

When it come right down to it your know best.

couple of before and after pictures with the trailer on our trip to the Mulberry