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Kawishiwi Lodge
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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Gear Forum Canoe Trailer Reply
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View BWCA Photo and Trip Report Contest Page
| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| yellowcanoe |
05/27/2012 07:44AM Analyzers trailer looks similar to my Mo Famiily Four, which I love and it has been up and down the east coast and back and forth west. Large wheels are good for interstate crusing and the trailer does not sway. Mine is 15 years old and holding up well. It was a tad pricey but I looked at it as an investment. I wanted a road holding trailer that would not fly off the interstate if a pothole was hit at 70 mph. I think the trailer was $1100 then |
| Diego |
05/27/2012 05:33AMquote analyzer: "I've got about $1200 into this one, and love it. Analyzer, how big is that trailer? |
| fitgers1 |
05/23/2012 09:38AM Keith, I have decided to not go the trailer route. I am just going to get the racks for the back of my truck. After we discussed it previously, I ended up deciding to just go with a new cheap boat trailer and modify that. However, that plan flopped as well. Racks for me. |
| markaroberts |
05/23/2012 07:51AM I have used it on trips here in KY. Yes, I would be comfortable on a 500 mile trip. Also, I found mine on Craigslist for $200. Here is the link for Trailex. You can custom design the trailers to the number of boats you are carrying. . .even add storage compartments. No rust. . .light weight. . .can fit in the garage along side of the cars due to width. Plastic fenders that do not rust. trailex site |
| Diego |
05/23/2012 07:45AMquote markaroberts: "I have used a trailex two boat trailer for a couple of years. Weighs 125 pounds. bounces around if nothing on it, but works like a dream with two boats. The tires are only inflated to 15 pounds on this type of trailer. Due to not having much weight there is not much tire or bearing wear. You can't put gear in the trailer. . .but you can put the trailer in a standard garage along with two cars due to it not being very wide. If you paddle longer boats (I have a 17 1/2 foot voyager and a 17 foot Necky kayak. it supports them much better due to its length and the position of the supports. I tried a 4x8 utility tailer and did not like it. MUCH heavier, could not fit in the garage, tended to rust (the trailex is aluminum), did not support the kevlar kayaks and canoes as securely as the trailex which was design for these." Whats the furthest you have transported canoes with the trailex? Would you be comfortable taking that on a 500 mile trip? I need to come up with something soon. |
| markaroberts |
05/23/2012 07:21AM I have used a trailex two boat trailer for a couple of years. Weighs 125 pounds. bounces around if nothing on it, but works like a dream with two boats. The tires are only inflated to 15 pounds on this type of trailer. Due to not having much weight there is not much tire or bearing wear. You can't put gear in the trailer. . .but you can put the trailer in a standard garage along with two cars due to it not being very wide. If you paddle longer boats (I have a 17 1/2 foot voyager and a 17 foot Necky kayak. it supports them much better due to its length and the position of the supports. I tried a 4x8 utility tailer and did not like it. MUCH heavier, could not fit in the garage, tended to rust (the trailex is aluminum), did not support the kevlar kayaks and canoes as securely as the trailex which was design for these. |
| Beaverjack |
05/22/2012 04:05PM I've been looking for a good canoe trailer for decades. Seen very few that would be durable enough for long hauls. First of all, the main moving parts are the wheels. That's where the rubber meets the road for a trailer (sorry for the bad pun). I learned with horse trailers that you need some beef in the undercarriage. A bouncy trailer won't last long, and it's going to take a beating back there. No way around it. Most trailers I've seen are too light in the wheels and axle to be durable. The shocks also need to be sufficient to provide stability. Now, the last thing you need is another set of tires to go flat, wheel bearings to go out. Wheel bearings are the achilles heels of any trailer - constant maintenance. The question is - which trailer provides the right balance between convenience in hauling and maintenance? I'm not sold on the ultra light jobs that look like they could be pulled with a bicycle. Seems like a retro-fitted double axle utility trailer might be the best long-term performer. But I could be wrong - not likely with the number of miles I got pulling stock, but it's possible, maybe. |
| andym |
05/21/2012 06:23PM If you can connect a rope harness to the 4 corners of the boat and have a strong enough tree limb or wood frame then you can just pick the boat up off the trailer, drive the trailer out from underneath, and then lower the boat onto blocks or a storage frame. An extra rope from the stern to a person or some attachment point will help keep the boat pointing straight. |
| Ole496 |
05/21/2012 01:54PMquote tanknees: "Remackel had two canoe trailers at a booth at the Midwest Mountaineering Expo in Minneapolis that was just a couple weeks ago. I don't think they're out of business, or at least they better not be - I hope to get one someday! To me the Remackel trailer is super-efficient in terms of owning one trailer instead of one separate trailer for canoes and another for hauling furniture, brush, etc. That's awesome news, they must have moved then. One of these days I'm gonna spring for one of their trailers, it's a must have! |
| mocha |
05/20/2012 07:18PMquote tanknees: "Remackel had two canoe trailers at a booth at the Midwest Mountaineering Expo in Minneapolis that was just a couple weeks ago. I don't think they're out of business, or at least they better not be - I hope to get one someday! To me the Remackel trailer is super-efficient in terms of owning one trailer instead of one separate trailer for canoes and another for hauling furniture, brush, etc. we use either a 15 passenger van or a f250, but i could pull it with my colorado. Remackel Trailer is definitely not out of business, he builds canoe trailers, utility trailers, just about whatver you want. he does it year round. i guess why we like the trailer so much is that he listened to us describe where and how we planned to use the trailer and built it accordingly. This is not like some trailer you buy at the hardware store, it's built to last a long long time. |
| analyzer |
05/20/2012 09:57AMquote 45Auto: "My john boat trailer that I changed the rails to left and right for canoes. Removed the boat with our fork lift. Very easy to swap back. Works great for my 2 canoes. We used this method before I built a canoe trailer. My B.I.L had a 16' bass tracker, and we used the trailer to haul two canoes. Getting the boat off the trailer without a fork lift can be done with a tree, some rope, and a few blocks. back the trailer up near a good size tree. Run rope from the handles on one side of the transom, around the tree, and to the the other handle. Disconnect the hooks from the front of the boat. Slowly pull forward so that the boat slides off the trailer a foot or two. Place blocks under the rear of the boat so that it stays at that level. Slowly pull forward again, until you get to the end of the flat part of the bottom of the boat, and place a 2nd set of blocks. You should be able to pull away now, and have the boat up on blocks. ----------- When you are done with the trailer, back the trailer up to the boat. Put the towing vehicle in NEUTRAL. Hook up the wench strap from the trailer to the front of the boat (again, this is another reason you need to use a large tree and a good solid rope to secure the transom). Crank the wench. The boat will stay put, but the trailer and tow vehicle will slowly slide back under the boat. When you get enough boat on the trailer, slide out the first set of blocks, then crank more boat on, until you can slide out the 2nd set. Finish cranking the trailer under the boat, back up slightly more, and remove the rope from the transom. You are good to go. I recommend flat ground near the tree. |
| analyzer |
05/20/2012 09:48AMquote Diego: "quote analyzer: "I've got about $1200 into this one, and love it. During the school year, drop by the local high school, and talk to the teacher of the welding class (sometimes they are there in the summer too). Many times students are looking for a welding project for a grade. You pay for the steel, and they weld it up. My nephew had a class at tartan, and he did some of the welds for me. If you need summer welding done, check with a vocational school that teaches welding. Often they will do it for the cost of the supplies. I bought my steel at a steel shop off 94/Broadway ish in MPLS. There is also a place called "handy hitch and welding" off english/36 just east of 61. But then it will probably cost you $150-160 something like that. I used green treated plywood, and studs, with stainless steel screws, bolts, nuts, etc. That gets expensive. I paid about $300 for the trailer from someone who used it to haul motorcycles, and then converted it to a tri-haul boat trailer. That was nice, as it was relatively flat to begin with, and had the full size tires which I love. If you are starting with a boat trailer, I highly recommend starting with a 16' or bigger trailer. It will have a longer tongue, and you will need it with some canoes. Be careful of the "swing", when you are turning corners. you don't want to put a crease in your tailgate. |
| Diego |
05/20/2012 06:08AMquote 45Auto: "My john boat trailer that I changed the rails to left and right for canoes. Removed the boat with our fork lift. Very easy to swap back. Works great for my 2 canoes. Have you made the trip with trailer up north yet? Thats defiately an idea and lots oj cheap john boat trailers out there. Let us know how well it rides and if you pick up any damage to canoes. I like the idea of a utility type trailer though, so it can perform double duty. Ive got limited space for all my toys! |
| 45Auto |
05/20/2012 05:39AM My john boat trailer that I changed the rails to left and right for canoes. Removed the boat with our fork lift. Very easy to swap back. Works great for my 2 canoes.  |
| Diego |
05/20/2012 05:01AMquote analyzer: "I've got about $1200 into this one, and love it. This is the type of trailer im hoping to get. Did you weld yourself or purchase like that? The 4 place Remackle trailer likevthis desighn run $2200, so your doing pretty good. Ive been trying to find something on craigslist that i could convert, but nothing so far. |
| analyzer |
05/20/2012 12:35AM I've got about $1200 into this one, and love it.   |
| tanknees |
05/19/2012 10:44PM Remackel had two canoe trailers at a booth at the Midwest Mountaineering Expo in Minneapolis that was just a couple weeks ago. I don't think they're out of business, or at least they better not be - I hope to get one someday! To me the Remackel trailer is super-efficient in terms of owning one trailer instead of one separate trailer for canoes and another for hauling furniture, brush, etc. Mocha - what do you pull yours with? I'd likely get a 4 place, but do you think it could be competently pulled by a 4 cylinder Corolla or a 6 cylinder Mercury Sable? I'm just unsure of whether I currently have a vehicle capable of towing it. I have a Reese Backpacker trailer I pull behind the Corolla with ease, but it is much lighter/shorter. |
| Ole496 |
05/19/2012 09:16PM The Remackel Trailer is about the best one I've ever seen in person. I really wish I had one. But, I think he went out of business? |
| 45Auto |
05/15/2012 05:54PM We removed a 16ft Jon boat from its trailer and removed the 2 85in running boards and reinstalled sideways today to haul 2 canoes next week from VA to Quetico. Wish us luck! |
| mocha |
05/15/2012 06:51AMquote Diego: "quote mocha: "this is one 6 place trailer we use, very durable, holds gear below the canoes, can remove the canoe rack and use the trailer for utility things like hauling stuff... we named it the Silver Bullet" about $2500. considering it should last about 20 years minimum, that's $125 a year. we use it about 125 days a summer so that's $1 per day! hay, that's a good deal! |
| Diego |
05/14/2012 09:50PMquote mocha: "this is one 6 place trailer we use, very durable, holds gear below the canoes, can remove the canoe rack and use the trailer for utility things like hauling stuff... we named it the Silver Bullet" What did you pay for that trailer? |
| mocha |
05/14/2012 07:45PM this is one 6 place trailer we use, very durable, holds gear below the canoes, can remove the canoe rack and use the trailer for utility things like hauling stuff... we named it the Silver Bullet |
| bapabear |
05/13/2012 03:07PM Don't have a pic to share at this time but last year I took the trailer from my 14ft Starcraft rowboat and converted it to carry my canoe. I bolted a 4x4 with carpet perpendicular across the support pads and another lengthwise near the front to attach the front of the canoe. It rides super smooth and I can snug the canoe down on it tightly. Worked for me. I would like a new canoe-only trailer but the price is not right. |
| vinnie |
05/13/2012 01:39PMquote twston: "I just bought one of these last year and am very happy with it. I added a storage box to mine from a local farm supply store. They are a very friendly and helpful in answering all my questions. Ships to you in box's and only took a few hours to assemble. I went to a DYI and added 1-1/4 black pipe insulating to the cross bars to protect the boats. Made in Iowa. Email me if you want to see any pics. I have one of these canoe trailers also and i'm very happy with it |
| Merganser |
05/13/2012 10:33AM Not sure what these babys run but I'd want something like this. Room for gear too. |
| Diego |
05/13/2012 09:30AM I agree, the prices on these things are sky high for what they are. Having said that, i want one because this seems like the easiest and cleanest method. |
| twston |
05/13/2012 08:23AM I just bought one of these last year and am very happy with it. I added a storage box to mine from a local farm supply store. They are a very friendly and helpful in answering all my questions. Ships to you in box's and only took a few hours to assemble. I went to a DYI and added 1-1/4 black pipe insulating to the cross bars to protect the boats. Made in Iowa. Email me if you want to see any pics. http://www.magnetatrailers.com/homepage.html |
| Jackfish |
05/12/2012 10:56PM Hey Shock, please don't type in ALL CAPS. Thank you. |
| shock |
05/12/2012 08:38PM OK I'M NOT SAYING WHATS THE BEST TRAILER BRAND IS. BUT THE BEST DESIGN IS ( FOR TWO CANOES) AND I BORROW IT WHEN EVER I GO INTO CANOE COUNTRY IS A 4X8 FLOOR AND SIDES , THE ENDS ONE 2X4 ACROSS THE TOP FOR THE TOP CANOE UPSIDE DOWN AND PUT A COUPLE OF 2x4 (CARPET HELPS) ON THE BOTTOM FOR THE OTHER CANOES KEEL(WHICH IS UPRIGHT) NOTHING IS BETTER FOR A FOURSOME WITH ONE VEHICLE |
| markaroberts |
05/12/2012 07:07PM I have a Trailex SUT 2000. I also bought the kit to convert it to a two boat trailer. this trailer is light enough that you can lift it with the boats on it and move it if you need to. I have put kayaks and canoes on top of luggage racks, J hook systems, Yakima, etc... the trailer is the only way to go! 
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| LazyLefty |
05/04/2012 12:20PM I've looked at trailers specific to canoes/kayaks. Why do you get so little trailer and engineering for so great of a price? Frustrating to know I can buy a utility trailer with 10 times more steel and welding for $300 less. |
| keth0601 |
05/04/2012 11:42AM So I've been browsing for a good light, somewhat cheap canoe trailer for awhile now and I've been thikning about one of these. Anyone have any input? It does look a little flimsy but all I would be using it for is a couple canoes. My only other reservation with it is that it rides a little close to the ground and I'm worried about rock bouncing up and maybe damaging my kevlar canoes. Any other options would be welcome too. |
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