Whether you’re an experienced paddler or a brand new kayaker, finding a way to carry your kayaks can be difficult, especially if you’re driving longer distances.

With just one kayak, it might fit on the roof or in the truck bed. Two kayaks might fit in a special roof rack. For multiple kayaks or vehicles that can’t fit boats on the roof, you may have to consider a kayak trailer.

We’re going to help you understand what to look for to choose the best kayak trailer for your needs. By the end of the article you’ll know the good bad and ugly of choosing a kayak trailer.

Best Kayak Trailers

	Ironton Steel Folding Utility Trailer Kit	Ruff-Sport Kayak Trailer	Malone EcoLight 2-Boat J-Rack Kayak
Kayak Capacity:	3-4 Kayaks	4 Kayaks	2 Kayaks
Trailer Weight:	250 Pounds	168 Pounds	164 Pounds
Weight Capacity:	1400 Pounds	400 Pounds	275 Pounds
Crossbar Width:	48″	64″	58″
Rating:	4.2 / 5.0	3.8 / 5.0	4.5 / 5.0

For more of my kayak gear recommendations, have a look through these popular Outside Pursuits guide links: Recreational Kayaks, Kayak Carts, Kayak Roof Racks.

Quick Answer: The 6 Best Rated Kayak Trailers For 2021

1. Ironton Steel Folding Utility Trailer Kit
2. Ruff-Sport Kayak Trailer
3. Malone Xtralight Trailer Package
4. Malone Auto Racks MicroSport Trailer Kayak
5. Malone MicroSport Kayak Trailer
6. Yakima Rack and Roll Kayak Trailer

We’ll also give you a few suggestions so you can get started choosing a top rated kayak trailer a little quicker with our comparison table and buyers guide. Let’s get into it!

Kayak Trailer Reviews

If you want to start your research or order online, this list is comprised of some great choices for kayak trailers. We went with well loved kayak trailers you can count on!

#1 Ironton Steel Folding Utility Trailer Kit

The Ironton is generic utility trailer but can be outfitted easily to transport up to 4 kayaks. What is nice is you can customize it any way you want.

You could just strap your kayaks to the trailer as is, I personally would mount some J kayak carriers to keep them more secure.

With the largest cargo capacity on our list of 1400 pounds, it’s also versatile. Whether you have any water sports crafts or a lawn mower, this trailer will be able to handle it.

The sturdy steel frame weighs about 250 pounds so it’s a beefy frame and rated for highway travel. One feature I like in particular is the ability to fold the trailer and store it vertical!

Keep in mind there is assembly, so you will need to break out your tools. Some people have reported the instructions are not good so keep that in mind.

#2 Ruff-Sport Kayak Trailer

This universal trailer is a little more open to the imagination. Essentially what you get out of the box is a lightweight aluminum trailer that can be used for just about anything with two horizontal aluminum cross bars.

There are no kayak carriers or mounting cradles included with the trailer. For some this seems odd. Others will understand the value of versatility.

With a few ratchet straps and a little ingenuity you’ll be able to mount everything from kayaks to SUPs, canoes, bikes, and anything else you can think of.

I like that the trailer leaves room for users to modify it to fit just about any adventure equipment.

In fact you could probably even adapt it to carry extra gear for a weekend camping trip. It’s just a matter of your imagination.

I wouldn’t try to fit more than two kayaks on this trailer as you’ll have trouble finding the space or securing the load.

Best For: Paddlers who want to be able to use their kayak trailer for bikes, SUPs or other equipment with some quick adjustments!

#3 Malone EcoLight 2-Boat J-Rack Kayak Trailer Package

Another great trailer from Malone that, unlike the Ruff-Sport, has dedicated kayak racks built in.

You won’t be able to carry other gear on it, but if you’re looking for a dedicated dual kayak trailer it probably doesn’t get much better.

Two vertical deep V-shaped kayak holders come with ratchet straps built in. All you have to do is tuck the kayak into its cradle and then strap it down nice and secure.

There are few trailers with this kind of built in security for holding a kayak load.

I like that it’s built to do one thing very well. The sturdy box channel frame should be more than enough to hold up to anything you’ll need to carry the kayaks through.

Just be careful on particular rough roads as it’s a lightweight trailer and could bounce or jostle if you’re not conscious of how you’re driving with it.

The kayak cradles are adjustable side to side so that you can make room and adjustments for any loads you’ll need to carry. You can even adjust each arm independently so you might be able to get away with carrying loads such as the occasional canoe.

Best For: Dedicated trailer space that’s the perfect two kayak trailer with lots of reliability and load security.

#4 Malone Auto Racks MicroSport Trailer Kayak

Malone makes tons of kayak and canoe accessories from trailer, roof racks, and mounts. That’s why this trailer is a great deal.

Not only do you get a solid kayak trailer, you’re also saving tons of money because they bundle in 4 of their J-Pro2 Kayak carriers on the trailer.

There’s enough room for up to 4 kayaks on this trailer. I love that they mount sideways using the J-Pro2 carriers which are reliable and easy to use.

On our entire list this is the only 4 kayak capacity trailer we’ll review. If you need space for more than two kayaks on trailer, this is your last stop!

Spare tire, safety chains, kayak carriers, and straps are all included. That makes this aluminum frame trailer easy to use and simple to operate.

The hardest part will be assembly after arrival but we’re sure you can handle that.

I like the sturdy box channel frame that’s a little more robust than some kayak trailers in this class. In my opinion the Malone Mocrosport is the best kayak trailer.

Best For: Paddlers who need space for an entire family worth of kayaks on one trailer!

#5 Malone MicroSport Kayak Trailer

Similar to the Ruff-Sport, this bare bones trailer leaves much up to the whims of the user. You’ll be able to tailor this kayak trailer exactly the way you want it with just a few touches.

Even though it only has two horizontal bars, you can still attach dedicated kayak carriers to it if you want. Or just leave it open and simply strap down your kayak with a few webbing buckles.

That way you can swap it out when needed.

With dramatically different price tags between the MicroSport and the Ruff-Sport, it’s hard to make a good call. Both trailers are made from lightweight aluminum.

Both have running lights. Both have horizontal rails. So which one is better?

It’s hard to say really. I would suggest that you choose the one that fits your kayaks best by dimensions and be sure to leave room for future growth in case you trade your kayaks for longer or bigger ones.

This trailer is best for those who might prefer the more reputable Malone name and construction.

#6 Yakima Rack and Roll Kayak Trailer

Last but not least on our list is the Yakima trailer. Most will recognize Yakima as a leader in kayak carrier and trailer accessories for aftermarket. Yakima is a dominant name in kayak carrying gear.

I love that their trailer is an impressive 78” wide. That’s quite a bit more space than the MicroSport or Ruff-Sport. Plus, it’s designed specifically to be compatible with all Yakima carriers.

That means you can easily put on the carrier of your choice from J carriers to horizontal bars.

The tongue and wheels are lockabale so that nobody can lift your nice trailer while you’re out paddling the lake.

This is a nice feature, but other trailers can be locked with a simple padlock and who really steals trailer wheels? It’s a negligibly useful addition to the trailer overall, I think.

Two major drawbacks are that you’ll have to buy additional kayak carriers from Yakima to get the most out of this already expensive trailer. That makes for a multi-thousand dollar expense before you’re ready to rock and roll with the trailer.

I also don’t like the thin wheels that seem prone to getting stuck or damaged by large potholes or ruts in muddy forest roads.

Best For: Yakima fans that want something compatible with Yakima accessories.

Kayak Trailer Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Kayak Trailer for You

Kayak trailers are popular for large groups and institutional settings like scout camps, summer camps, and expeditions. They help get multiple people, boats, and gear to the put in location with ease.

Picking out a kayak trailer can seem like a nightmare, especially if you’re not familiar with trailers. Let’s find out what really matters when choosing a trailer.

• How Many Kayaks Will You Carry?
• What Size are Your Kayaks?
• Are You Mechanically Inclined?
• Tire and Wheel Size
• Kayak Trailer Comparison
• Conclusion

How Many Kayaks Will You Carry?

If you’re planning on running a Girl Scout camp you might need to carry a few dozen kayaks. Most of us don’t need this many kayaks on a single trailer.

However, they do make them with capacities of 16+ single kayaks on a single trailer. You may want to contact a local trailer maker if you have special needs like this.

For the rest of us, our kayak needs tend to be somewhere between 1-4 kayaks for a family or small group.

Many kayak trailers are large enough for two kayaks and four is common enough. When your needs exceed this ballpark you may want to consider a custom trailer.

What Size are Your Kayaks?

Almost all kayak trailers are made to handle single or tandem kayaks. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t double check though.

The length of the trailer tongue may determine how easy it is to fit larger kayaks. If you’ve got a particularly tiny trailer it might be difficult or impossible to fit longer tandem or sea kayaks.

Before ordering your kayak trailer, contact the manufacturer if you have any doubt that your kayaks will fit. Returning an entire trailer can be a real hassle, particularly if you order online.

If you want to know the dimensions of the trailer you’re ordering, check the manufacturer’s website. If this doesn’t clarify then you can often find the answer in Amazon customer reviews.

Chances are good that someone else has already asked about what size boats can fit in your particular trailer. It may required some reading and measuring but you’ll figure it out! If all else fails, ask some questions yourself.

Are You Mechanically Inclined?

Buying a kayak trailer online will result in a huge pile of heavy boxes being unloaded at your door. Then you get the distinct pleasure of tugging them around, unboxing a bunch of steel parts, and trying to put it together.

There are actually two things to consider here. First, are you mechanical enough to put it together properly? If not you may get frustrated or fail to assemble the trailer properly.

This can be just down right dangerous if the trailer flies apart on the highway because you forgot a bolt.

Secondly, you’ll need some tools. Some of the tools for trailer assembly can be uncommon sizes or shapes. You may end up spending quite a bit on special tools just for this job. Again, frustrating and annoying.

If you’re not mechanically inclined and don’t have a good set of tools you may want to simply buy the trailer pre-assembled. Even if it’s a hundred dollars more expensive, it might be worth it in the end

Trailer Materials

Kayak trailers can be made from a variety of materials. These are the most common:

Aluminum – This is the lightest option and enjoys the advantage of not rusting. It is also more expensive than steel but the best option if you can afford the extra money.

Steel – The cheapest option but trailers made from steel need to be maintained so they don’t rust.

Galvanized Steel – Steel that is galvanized is coated with zinc so that it does not doesn’t rust or corrode anywhere near as easy as non galvanized steel. It is typically cheaper than aluminum and stronger so it’s a good option.

Tire and Wheel Size

Most kayak trailers use similar size tires. However, where differences exist, larger and wider tires are better for rougher terrain.

Smaller tires are fine for the lightweight loads of carrying kayaks but they may suffer in off road or unkempt dirt road areas. If you’re heading into rough terrain, consider going with larger and wider trailer tires when available.

Suspension

Most kayak trailers do not have a suspension and for the most part there is no need for it. The exception would be if you need to drive over rough and bumpy roads. If that is the case having one can reduce the chance of damage to your kayaks and gear.

Tongue Length

The Tongue is the section of the trail that connects to your hitch. The length is measured from the hitch to the axle. By knowing this length will tell you if you can safely transport your kayaks.

Too short and the kayaks may be hanging too far off the back of the trailer. Having it longer than you need will make the trailer harder to maneuver than it needs to be.

Conclusion

There are lots of choices for your next kayak trailer. If you need room for up to four kayaks then your choice is clear, stick with the Malone Auto Racks MicroSport. For those who prefer versatility, the Ruff-Sport trailer with horizontal bars is probably best.

Yakima fans know which trailer they’ll want! And for those who want a kayak trailer that’s ready to go with minimal hassle, consider the Malone Xtralight.

One question frequently asked: Malone vs Yakima kayak trailers, which is better. Yakima products tend to be more expensive but you do get what you pay for: quality! Malone trailers are a good choice as well. They tend to be easy to put together and versatile. Either would be a good choice for transporting your kayak!

I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best kayak trailer to fit your needs. If you want to comment or recommend a trailer I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch.

Have fun and enjoy your time on the water!

How We Researched

To come up with the top kayak trailers, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as REI, Dicks Sporting Goods, Cabelas and Backcountry along with our own personal experience.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options for the price. The author, Casey Fiedler has been an avid kayaker and leads kayak camping trips during the summer months in his native state of Michigan.

To help narrow down the selection he used his personal experience along with recommendations from kayak tour guides and rental shops.

After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.

Sources