Experience with Yakima Trailer for Canoe Transport

[AlanP]

My newer car can't use a roof rack but does have a trailer hitch. A lot of trailers out there but most are limited to 55 mph. I've looked at Yakima Rack and Roll but was told it was too light especially with a very light canoe and would be pushed around by semis. Also the canoe sits fairly low on the trailer making it difficult to see. The load can't extend more than 4 feet beyond the trailer without being flagged during the day or light at night. Flagging it wouldn't be a problem but what about the light? Does the light need to be a combined stop, turn, and running light? What about a bow running light for a power boat? Would that suffice for this issue?
Does anyone have any experience with the Yakima trailer?? It really looks interesting: light, easy to more around and store during the winter.

 

[Robin]

I don't know about the Yakima trailer but a friend of mine bought a used galvanized Holsclaw trailer and turned it into a pretty good canoe trailer. The nice thing about Holsclaw trailers is that they have coil springs and shocks to help keep the trailer from bouncing around. The canoe in this picture (a 17' Prospector)is hanging out pretty far but it was legal in Maine and Mass.
I would just use a red marker light clamped to the gunnel if you needed lights out back of the canoe. I think the light would have to be red, any other color would be confusing to other drivers imo.

Holsclaw trailer

If your handy, you might find one like this and fix it up, you can see the springs and shocks in the second picture important features for such a light load

http://albany.craigslist.org/boa/5060545035.html

 

[yellowcanoe]

No Title

Look for a used utility trailer. You can build a rack to go on top. That Yakima gives me the willies. I personally would not tow anything on the interstate without lights..A red flag just does not cut it at highway speeds and in the rain..
Plus its gol darn expensive.. I have a MO Family Four canoe trailer and it cost $1400 about 17 years ago. Its quite heavy and does not sway on the highway.
Trailer lights are IMO a thorn that one has to deal with. I think brake lights are not underrated. Springs and shocks are a very good idea . Mine does have them. The wood box is marine ply and after 17 years is still sound. Its stored out all winter.
Another aspect of a trailer used hard is how big are the tires? Mine are 15 inch and almost as wide as a car tire. Little 8 inchers overheat over long distances so in your search you might keep that in mind. We've never had a flat. But we do have a spare tire.
Looks like Michigan does not have an in the rain use of lights law.. But if you wander to another state you may be pulled over.

 

[cflcanoe]

Never used the Yakima Trailer. But a few things to think about. You can always add weight just watch the and limit of trailer research were to add it to. A freind used to use bags of cement for weight. The Yakima Trailer has light weight springs made to handle better with light loads. Side winds will like to blow against the canoes. And make them act like a sail. Weight will help this. A lot of people on this web site are very creative. So am sure some one has figured out how to extend the lights toward the rear.

 

[Holmes375]

I've used the Yakima and the Sportsrig trailers for years. Both very good. Pulled 'em around at 75 mph no worries. Haven't had wind troubles with tractor trailers anymore than the usual buffeting you get with your vehicle. In Wyoming I prefer to trailer due to high winds and 80 mph double trailer rigs passing by. Car topping is more affected by crosswinds and truck buffeting than low trailers in my experience.

The Sportsrig has a 60" bar spacing (fixed) while the Yakima goes to only 48" I believe and is adjustable.

Many trailers are too heavily sprung for light canoe/kayak trailering and they bounce around - rebound and damping is all wrong for our light loads. Specialised trailers work so much better on the freeways.

I flag in the daylight hours and use a waterproof battery powered bicycle light (red) for a night lamp. I've travelled the western states quite a bit with this set up and never had a legal issue. It functions simply as a taillight. Planet Bike makes a bunch of different style lamps and you can fab a mount for it. I use a minicel foam mount that fits in under the deck plate and the light is attached to it with a small strap.

I also rigged my trailers with LED trailer lights as they're older models and came with conventional bulb lamps that were unreliable. Yakima currently comes with LED lighting, not sure about the Sportsrig. LEDs are nearly maintenance free and if the wiring harness is done up right you'll have no electrical troubles.

Specialty trailers are expensive but I've been using them for years now and I'm sold on 'em. I do have roof racks for local stuff but I go straight to the trailer when I'm hittin' the highways.

 

[madmike]

I fallowed one of these lighter trailers for a while last summer. I was impressed. I would own one. Might me a nice option to the 2000 lb Mo Long Ranger I have now.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I have friends with the Long Ranger ( two) and they are wonderful at highway speeds. Have ridden with him from NJ to Texas twice and Louisiana twice and to Florida. but its a bit of overkill unless you are a pro boat hauler or needing to haul accessories that need to be covered!

 

[Mnoutdoorfunguy]

We have used a Sportsrig Trailer for years and thousands of miles. It pulls great behind my 2012 Ford Fiesta, twice out to Washington state with two QCC kayaks. We have the original tires and last winter had a machine shop replace the bearings in the hubs. It has been used for the two kayaks, an NDK Triton tandem kayak and Wenonah Minnesota II.
The canoe has to be offset to one side. Otherwise, the canoe will hit the tongue. We use the Yakima Keelover Mounts for the canoe. Made in the USA. Provides us better mileage than on top of the vehicle and you don't have to be concerned about those gusty days on top of the vehicle. Interstate speeds are no problem

 

[AlanP]

Thanks everybody for your input. I was getting a little frustrated trying to find a trailer with tires big enough to withstand 70 mph highway speeds. Seems like the 8 inch tires are only good up to 62mph and have read articles that the small tires will fail.
I'm going to compare the Yakima Rack and Roll with the Sportsrig Trailers and buy one.
Thanks again, made my day.

 

[Mnoutdoorfunguy]

For what it is worth, Sportsrig is made in the U.S.A. and the Yakima is/was made in China.
Steel vs aluminum.
Our Sportsrig has been worth every penny, especially after a 20 mile paddle and you don't have to lift the boats up on top of the vehicle or when you are driving in 40 Mph gusts and you don't have to worry about the boats or rack itself getting ripped from the roof. We made a platform for the extended taillight using two Sticky-Pod brand suction cups and it has held ver well. Best of luck in you decision.

 

[Holmes375]

The SportsRig is definitely the better trailer. Its a very expensive trailer nowadays but I'd buy it again. It rides better and the bar spacing is better for long hauls/long boats. Does some pretty gnarly off road work, too. The Yakima is best suited for 16' boats or shorter in my opinion while the SportsRig can be configured to haul the long stuff rather efficently.

I sold the Yakima last year as I no longer needed the second trailer. I still have the SportsRig which has seen enough miles and years to require tire, shock and bearing replacements at the beginning of last year's season. I believe I bought it in 2005.

SportsRig is having their summer sale right now with a couple trailer packages offered up. Don't know how long it lasts, no special codes required.

 

[AlanP]

Thanks Wanderer, I'll go with your advice for the Sportsrig. I like the idea of Aluminum but if something breaks, its easier to get steel welded over aluminum.

 

[Robin]

Found this trailer, half the price but you have to bolt it together yourself, anybody have any experience with it?

http://www.castlecraft.com/canoe_trailer.htm

 

[AlanP]

I found that the trailer is only rated for speeds of 62mph or less. I verified this will Discount Tire.

 

[Robin]

I asked Castle Craft if the trailer would be suitable for the Maine Turnpike which is 70mph in some areas and they replied that the trailer was rated for all US Highway speeds.

Then I found this reply from Yakima, Maximum Speed When Using a 66 Inch Yakima Rack and Roll Trailer # Y08106

• The Rack and Roll trailers, like the 66 inch long model # Y08106, are rated to tow at normal highway speeds. As always, exceeding posted speed limits is not recommended, especially when towing.

 

[AlanP]

I received this e-mail from trailerex (they sell the Castle Craft Trailers: [FONT=&quot]Below Castle Craft said they could do 70 and I changed it to 65 mph that it what our tire company told us. They are not rate at 70 mph. If you have any other question please feel free to give me a call. [/FONT]

 

[Robin]

Confusing post, ..... but to save a grand I'll go with the Castle Craft and keep to the speed limit when I trailer that Old Town square stern, unless I find a used Holsclaw that fits my needs.