I have a small trailer I have been considering converting into a canoe trailer/vacation trailer. It's around 34 inches wide, 8 foot long and stands around 30 inches high. Completely boxed in with a plywood lid than bungees down. Will hold all my camping gear including gear needed for canoeing etc. On top is where the canoe would sit obviously.

I loaned out the trailer once and the borrowers broke the tongue. So I would have that replaced with a longer one so I could haul a canoe on it.

I'm just getting sick of renting canoes every year and look forward to owning my own. I think this would make a great alternative for hauling all the gear considering my jeep can't hold that much stuff.

Does anyone else use a trailer? Or should I give up my jeeping ways and buy a truck?

welcome to the most addictive fourm I've joined. I have a trailer that I bought and rebuilt for our trip to WCPP in 2012, enclosed wodden lockable boxes, long box on one side for paddles and it's set up with padded racks that will haul 8 canoes, I had to extend the tounge so the canoes were'nt over 4 feet hangong out the back otherwise in Mn you need a light on them at night. I've used it twice but the license is cheap and you never know when I might need it again, I don't know yuor tripping style but you never know when you or some else might need a trailer. I pulled it to WCpp with the pickup but have also pulled it with the Mustang. Gotta admit a pickup is a lot handier to have around than a Jeep. FRED

I say if you have a trailer already and storing it is not a problem just retro fit it to your use. I'm taking my spacetrailer in today to get a longer tongue, bigger wheels, and 80 inch bars. We have used the trailer a lot for camping, keeping gear and such inside, locking down food and cook gear in national parks out west. Right now we can only really put my solo canoe on it. Changed vehicles this spring and want to be able to haul our tandem canoes with it. Bars can also hold bikes, extra topper-box, lumber, ladders, etc..
Keep the Jeep mod the trailer!

A Jeep can be fitted with a rack. Talk to Chuck at Spring Creek. Trailers are one more thing to worry about, (tires, lights, parking,etc). But it's a good option since you already have it. Usually the trailer option is good for multiple canoes, but sounds like yours would be a single. If it stowed your gear that might be beneficial with a Jeep with limited space. Just some pro's and con's.

I have been considering building a canoe trailer also. I own a heavy box trailer, an old boat trailer, and a small box trailer.

I currently have Thule racks for both of our vehicles and I have three sets of load bars: 50", 64", and 78" so I can haul two canoes on my car or SUV if needed.

I really like the idea of a trailer for hauling and storing canoes. I have space in my garage to park it, and it would be light enough to roll it out or move around. I have looked at the Space trailers and they look really nice, so I may model my trailer after theirs. In fact, they will sell the plastic top for $250 (I called) if a guy wanted to build out the rest.

A few issues with trailers:
- Extra equipment like Fred said, tires, lights, bearings
- They bounce around on rough roads, and I am not sure if I want my canoes and equipment bouncing around that much. Especially if you are heading north on gravel roads like up to Wabakimi, which can be 80 miles of washboard gravel. Ask Fred
- Dust and dirt. Here again, driving gravel roads, anything on or in the trailer will get really dirty, and the fine dust get everywhere

Right now, I am looking for an alternative suspension system for a small trailer that will ride much smoother. My neighbor built a trailer that has coil springs and shocks. Maybe something like that?

If and when I decide to build one, I will post the results if it's worth posting.

bwcamjh, which Space trailer do you have? Do you have a picture. They are really nice.

I think the space trailer is a nice setup. Todd has also worked with Spring Creek to equip with racks in the past.

WE have 4 trailers in my group of 30. All have been customized for canoe hauling and gear hauling. All have a 1200lb limit, so they can haul gear and canoes for groups of 8 or so.

They all start as 4 x 8 trailers, and then get built up with better wood decking, better wheels, extended and sometimes removeable tongue.
They also all get new wiring and LED lights. And the wiring is enclosed in a wire chase, so it is sealed and SECURE from whatever may cut or pull it loose.

Most have 24-36 inch wood slotted sides and canoe racks for 2 or 4 canoes.

Every year, when a group is going, one of the trailers is put in the queue. There are various owners of the trailers, and they take care of most of the maintenance, but we have a trailer fee for every person on every trip, and that generally is enough to pay for whatever is necessary for the repairs. Now, if the trailers get used quite a bit for other non - BWCA type trips, it is up to those groups to take care of repairs.

Any breakdowns on the road are the responsibility of the group hauling the trailer. We once had to completely rebuild the axle and spring system a few years ago due to a breakdown. That was the responsibility of the 6 that were on the trip.

"bwcamjh, which Space trailer do you have? Do you have a picture. They are really nice."

We bought our space trailer some time ago...when they used 12 inch tires, short tongue, two crossbar choices. We hauled gear all over MT, ID, WY a few years ago, great trip, great trailer! We have also camped in MN with it and of course countless trips to grandma's cabin. So nice to bring the garbage home in the trailer rather than the back of the vehicle. Pulled it with a Subaru Forester and Toyota Highlander. Just dropped the trailer off with Todd today. Upgrades to include 13 inch tires, XL tongue, and 80 inch bars. Could only really haul my solo canoe on old configuration and a change in vehicles make some kind of change necessary. Could of done most of the work myself but...lots on my plate right now. I was looking at the choice of drilling holes in my new wrangler roof or upgrade the space trailer. Wranglers have other options I know but cost wise I think I made a good move. Don't have many photos of the space trailer I'll try one or two.

A trailer is a matter of personal preference depending on number of canoes, people, and amount of gear. That's all I got.

I once had a wrangler jeep with oversized tires and a ragtop. I clamped 2x4s to the rollbars so I could carry my canoe on top. It only worked with the top down, but I found that I actually got better gas mileage with the canoe on top than without!

I have been pulling trailers for over 35 years as part of my livelihood. In Texas some 25 years ago I lost hub, wheel and all as a bearing burnt out. Spindle hit the pavement and sparks flew.

Several other miscues as well.

I dislike small tires as that means lots of RPM on the bearing and a greater likelihood of failure. Bring an entire hub assembly is my advice instead of just a spare bearing. Makes life easier in case of failure.

I wouldn't hesitate to pull a trailer. Of course that's easy to say when you have Been doing it most of your life.

Needing to haul canoes with my Wrangler is one of the reasons that this project happened: Old Thread

Did you ever find the information on the material you put on top of the load bars?

The tube steal is easy enough to find, and I have seen people use pipe insulation and tape, but it's nice to have a cleaner look. I thought about bolting on Thule load bars somehow.

I built this trailer years ago. It has made 15 trips to the BW at 3100 miles round trip and more than 40 to my hunting property in the Hill country at 800 mile round trip.

Hauled one canoe on top of my Cutlass Supreme a couple times.
Hauled One on the top of my 97 Mercury Cougar a couple times.
Hauled two on top of my Tahoe many times.

Never used a trailer.

Thought I would update with a couple of photos. Space trailer upgrades: bigger tires, longer tongue, tongue jack, 80 inch cross bars, D rings along the back bottom frame, some reflective tape.

I loaned out the trailer once and the borrowers broke the tongue.



Wow what are the odds of that happening
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