Utility Cycling - Bike Trailer for a Kayak

Ok, I live very close to a great kayaking river. I want to pedal the boat there, that would be TOTALLY FRIGGIN AWESOME!

I have looked online and see comercially available rigs fro around $300.

My fave sofar is this one from Paddleboy:
http://www.paddleboy.com/pages/product_pages/PB_Flyer/phantom.jpg

I want to build my own I think, or find one out there for less than $100. This one seems so simple. Just some aluminium tubes and scooter wheels. I already have approriate foam blocks.

Anybody have any advice, or better yet, has anyone ever built their own trailer?

That's a nifty looking trailer. $300 doesn't seem like too much for a well-built piece of equipment -- you don't want it damaging your boat during the ride.

I'm also going to make an obligatory mention of the Xtracycle (http://www.xtracycle.com/). It's out of your price range, but it might be something to consider for the future.

I use a slightly modified Wike Woody Wagon.
http://www.wicycle.com/kit.htm
Modified in that I extended the length of the top the "T" shaped drawbar to fit the width of my canoe, and I have more confidence in ropes and my own knots over straps and buckles. I also sprung for the optional alloy wheels and canoe pack.

The design of the Paddleboy rig has the advantage of putting the weight on the bike down low, a plus. The design of the Woody Wagon puts the weight of the trailer up high on the bike by attaching the drawbar to the seatpost, and it has to be up high on the seatpost to clear the rear wheel.

I have found that by loading my gear in the canoe so that the trailer is just a wee, little bit heavy in the front, has the least effect on the bike. Too much or too little weight on the drawbar makes the bike unstable. This won't be as much of a problem with the Paddleboy trailer design.

I don't know if it will work with the Paddleboy trailer design, and probably not with a kayak, but one big thing about the rig I have is the whole trailer is modular. When I get to the river I can break down the trailer, pack it in it's canoe pack, and pack bike and trailer in the canoe and take out somewhere else.:)

CommuterRun, that Wike Trailer is pretty cool! I worry about the post hitch as I have a suspension post, but I guess I could get a solid post anyway.

I figure it just can't be that hard to make my own...

Thanks! Keep posting

Here's what my rig looks like.
http://static.flickr.com/33/66345500_567ea701da.jpg

I wouldn't be hard to make a trailer that would do this. You might even be able to find a used kiddie trailer cheap somewhere and use parts from that (hitch, axle, wheels, etc.).

Do you have a sign on the back that says, "Caution: This vehicle makes wide turns"? That's an awesome trailer!

Oh yeah, and turning too sharp (not like just turning a corner, but like hanging a U-turn in a narrow road)
will produce enough torque on the seatpost to wrench the seat around sideways.


Do you have a sign on the back that says, "Caution: This vehicle makes wide turns"? That's an awesome trailer!
Nah, but I did hit a few things trying it out in the yard when I first got it, including running over some of the wife's flowers.:D

That truely is an awesome rig. I showed pics of it to the wifey and she started laughing. Its perfect :D

I think I will prolly look for a used parts trailer and work from there. Right now I need to focus on school work, so it is a perfect diversion!

I have a FOLBOT folding kayak that I can put on my shopping trailor to get it to the nearest water. 10 minutes to assemble.

Yeah, a folding/inflatable kayak would make this easier. I have a Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100...so no go there.

Just wondering.... What is the legality of bikes with Huge trailers. Im sure its all about where you live and all. I heard of a guy in Missouri who was towing a Bass boat with a Mortorcycle..LOL The Powers that be (PTB) were not impressed. Missouri bike stautes limit any fine to $25. But I think his
was alot more.

In Florida there's no restriction on trailer size, at least none that I've ever found nor heard of. If there were I think I would have heard something, since the whole Sheriff's Dept. knows I'm the guy that tows a canoe, or other trailer, behind a bicycle on the highways.:)

This would be a great thread for a Utility Biking forum.

You can get a ready-made trailer (minus the "spine") from LL Bean for $99. The connection to the bike would be up to you. From my experience pulling loads attached to the axle and seatpost, axle attachments are much better as they have much less effect on bike handling and can support more weight.

BikesAtWork.com has a similar design to the OP's post that would be better quality in a similar design.