Has anyone built a Harbor Freight Kayak trailer? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

peguinpower · 04-29-2013, 09:47 PM

Easy to do? Plans?

Planning to build one. Moved my kayak for 5 years on a roof rack.

The roof of my old car where the rack towers stood rusted through. And so are the top edges of my windshield. This despite washing down the car every outing.

Don't want to take that chance with my current ride.

Any trailer plans that won't cost an arm and a leg welcome.

Sdspeed · 04-29-2013, 11:35 PM

Noticed these two on Texas Kayak and Florida kayak forums starting with the HF trailer and just extending the tongue 6 1/2 feet. Then you could use any number of ways to cradle your kayak. Also if you don't weld you could cut and section the existing tongue and slide a larger square tubing over each end and bolt it back together the length you want with grade 8 hardware.
Trailer seems to get positive reviews.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...res-90153.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by peguinpower

Easy to do? Plans?

Planning to build one. Moved my kayak for 5 years on a roof rack.

The roof of my old car where the rack towers stood rusted through. And so are the top edges of my windshield. This despite washing down the car every outing.

Don't want to take that chance with my current ride.

Any trailer plans that won't cost an arm and a leg welcome.

peguinpower · 05-20-2013, 06:26 PM

thanks. looking into it.

powerzz · 05-20-2013, 08:22 PM

I copied those ideas and ended up with this. Easy to build, light weight and tows great.

IMG_1247.JPG

IMG_1250.JPG

IMG_1248.JPG

IMG_1251.JPG

JarrodMc · 05-20-2013, 09:46 PM

If you need any welding done let me know. I'm a TIG welder.

oneyedeer · 05-21-2013, 06:34 PM

Powerzz thats nice and clean

easyday · 05-21-2013, 09:04 PM

Total spent?

powerzz · 05-22-2013, 07:58 AM

Less then $350 for the trailer and all the parts to modify it.
You can use a the HB 20% off coupon for the trailer to save some $$.

nitsuj · 05-22-2013, 01:45 PM

Damn, that looks nice powerzz. If I lived local I'd be picking up a HF trailer this weekend and take JarrodMc up on his welding skills.

powerzz · 05-22-2013, 03:18 PM

No welding needed, Just a few holes drilled in the tongue replacement.

wiredantz · 05-22-2013, 03:21 PM

where did you get the larger tongue at?

powerzz · 05-22-2013, 03:25 PM

Escondido Metal supply. $45 for 10'

JarrodMc · 05-22-2013, 08:58 PM

Thanks Nitsuj. Powerzz, that is a nice trailer setup you've got. Personally though, I would like to have brackets at least in the stern of the boat on either side to cradle it more and to be able to strap onto.

powerzz · 05-22-2013, 09:26 PM

I actually have a couple pieces of PVC pipe, (carpeted) that fits in the contour of the bottom of the boat and keeps it perfectly aligned on the trailer.
I'll take some pics tomorrow if I get chance.

easyday · 05-22-2013, 11:47 PM

Great now im thinking about building one.

lizzardlips · 05-28-2013, 07:16 PM

I've been working on plans to customize the HF trailer also. The last thing I've been trying to figure is the tongue length. The 6 1/2 foot extension doesn't seem long enough. I saw another plan where they used a 14 foot tongue and ran it the full length of the trailer. Powerzz, yours looks great. It looks like you ran the 10 foot tube to the middle cross bar, giving your trailer about 12 feet overall length. Is that about right?

powerzz · 05-28-2013, 08:57 PM

That's correct. I used the original tongue as a templet to drill the holes. I also removed the vin numbers and riveted them to the new tongue.

Allisgroovey · 06-17-2013, 10:31 AM

I built Harbor Freight's 4 x 4 foldable trailer to carry our two 10.5 ft fishing Kayaks, trips to the dump, and firewood.

The kit assembled pretty well for an unskilled kind of guy, using suggestions I found on the web from others. The instructions are just minimal. They could use some "blown up" illustrations of small areas.

Like others I find the light package inadequate. Could not get running lights to work, then nothing at all. I have to check all my connections. The parts did not match the instructions, so I guessed.

I have called their Customer Assistance Tech dept. Left a message, and sent them an email per their instructions. Five working days later no word. I bought new lights and wiring and may just run down the problem and replace their kit.

It is a sound trailer. I added 1/2 inch plywood floor and side rails from scraps in the garage. Nothing fancy and multiple purpose.

I got $100 off with a coupon, but given the work and hours, and additional expenses of replacing the wiring/lights I might have just bought one from Fleet & farm, except the HF one folds up and can go in my garage in the winter.

usmp06 · 06-17-2013, 02:45 PM

HF has a boat trailer on sale right now.

http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-...ires-5002.html

Use the 20% code of 61458489 and it comes out to be 319$

04-29-2013, 09:47 PM	#1
peguinpower bing! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: socal Posts: 246	Has anyone built a Harbor Freight Kayak trailer? Easy to do? Plans? Planning to build one. Moved my kayak for 5 years on a roof rack. The roof of my old car where the rack towers stood rusted through. And so are the top edges of my windshield. This despite washing down the car every outing. Don't want to take that chance with my current ride. Any trailer plans that won't cost an arm and a leg welcome.

05-20-2013, 08:22 PM	#4
powerzz Junior Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Marcos Posts: 21	HF Trailer I copied those ideas and ended up with this. Easy to build, light weight and tows great. IMG_1247.JPG IMG_1250.JPG IMG_1248.JPG IMG_1251.JPG

05-20-2013, 09:46 PM	#5
JarrodMc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vista Posts: 411	If you need any welding done let me know. I'm a TIG welder. __________________

05-21-2013, 09:04 PM	#7
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	Total spent? __________________

05-22-2013, 03:21 PM	#11
wiredantz Currently @ MLO Territory Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Under the Shadow Posts: 2,290	where did you get the larger tongue at? __________________ Team: Disbanded You only have one chance in this life...make the right decision(s)...so you don't regret it

05-20-2013, 06:26 PM	#3
peguinpower bing! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: socal Posts: 246	thanks. looking into it.

05-21-2013, 06:34 PM	#6
oneyedeer Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Orange County, ca Posts: 684	Powerzz thats nice and clean

05-22-2013, 07:58 AM	#8
powerzz Junior Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Marcos Posts: 21	Less then $350 for the trailer and all the parts to modify it. You can use a the HB 20% off coupon for the trailer to save some $$.

05-22-2013, 01:45 PM	#9
nitsuj Junior Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 18	Damn, that looks nice powerzz. If I lived local I'd be picking up a HF trailer this weekend and take JarrodMc up on his welding skills.

05-22-2013, 03:18 PM	#10
powerzz Junior Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Marcos Posts: 21	No welding needed, Just a few holes drilled in the tongue replacement.

05-22-2013, 03:25 PM	#12
powerzz Junior Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Marcos Posts: 21	Escondido Metal supply. $45 for 10'

05-22-2013, 08:58 PM	#13
JarrodMc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vista Posts: 411	Thanks Nitsuj. Powerzz, that is a nice trailer setup you've got. Personally though, I would like to have brackets at least in the stern of the boat on either side to cradle it more and to be able to strap onto. __________________

05-22-2013, 09:26 PM	#14
powerzz Junior Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Marcos Posts: 21	I actually have a couple pieces of PVC pipe, (carpeted) that fits in the contour of the bottom of the boat and keeps it perfectly aligned on the trailer. I'll take some pics tomorrow if I get chance.

05-22-2013, 11:47 PM	#15
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	Great now im thinking about building one. __________________

05-28-2013, 07:16 PM	#16
lizzardlips Junior Join Date: May 2013 Location: Arcata, California Posts: 1	I've been working on plans to customize the HF trailer also. The last thing I've been trying to figure is the tongue length. The 6 1/2 foot extension doesn't seem long enough. I saw another plan where they used a 14 foot tongue and ran it the full length of the trailer. Powerzz, yours looks great. It looks like you ran the 10 foot tube to the middle cross bar, giving your trailer about 12 feet overall length. Is that about right?

05-28-2013, 08:57 PM	#17
powerzz Junior Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Marcos Posts: 21	That's correct. I used the original tongue as a templet to drill the holes. I also removed the vin numbers and riveted them to the new tongue.

06-17-2013, 10:31 AM	#18
Allisgroovey Junior Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ellison Bay, WI Posts: 1	Harbor Freight - No Customer Service I built Harbor Freight's 4 x 4 foldable trailer to carry our two 10.5 ft fishing Kayaks, trips to the dump, and firewood. The kit assembled pretty well for an unskilled kind of guy, using suggestions I found on the web from others. The instructions are just minimal. They could use some "blown up" illustrations of small areas. Like others I find the light package inadequate. Could not get running lights to work, then nothing at all. I have to check all my connections. The parts did not match the instructions, so I guessed. I have called their Customer Assistance Tech dept. Left a message, and sent them an email per their instructions. Five working days later no word. I bought new lights and wiring and may just run down the problem and replace their kit. It is a sound trailer. I added 1/2 inch plywood floor and side rails from scraps in the garage. Nothing fancy and multiple purpose. I got $100 off with a coupon, but given the work and hours, and additional expenses of replacing the wiring/lights I might have just bought one from Fleet & farm, except the HF one folds up and can go in my garage in the winter.

06-17-2013, 02:45 PM	#19
usmp06 Shark Bait Join Date: May 2013 Location: Banning Posts: 91	HF has a boat trailer on sale right now. http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-...ires-5002.html Use the 20% code of 61458489 and it comes out to be 319$