Homebrew aluminum kayak trailer

Looks great. So the entire thing was bolted together? I don't know these things, does it need to be registered? If so, does it have to pass some sort of inspection or just pay fees? I just bought a truck, so I should try to build one for my AI too

Yes, all bolted. The only tricky part was where the swing arms attach to the frame.

This link makes it sound like the registration process is easy:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/registering-homemade-trailer-in-california.1330076/

But based on my previous (kit-built) trailer registration, I'm betting that it depends on getting a competent DMV person...

Great info. Thank!

A few more pictures.

I'm thinking that this trailer will be able to go where no trailer has gone before. Maybe I should name it "Enterprise"...

It looks really good.  Is the DIY savings significant?

Have you tried trailering with your AI on it? I finally got to used my yakima two weeks ago and the tongue wasn't as long

as my malone trailer.

It was either too close where it prevented me from opening my rear door or it's not balanced and teters off the rear if I

have it farther back.

It looks really good.  Is the DIY savings significant?

To be honest (and, I'll be honest about this with NCKA, but not with my wife...), I probably didn't save much. I bought the wheels, swing arms, and shocks from Yakima, I had to buy a few tools, and I made a couple of fairly costly mistakes along the way. But, I think if I was just starting now, knowing what I know, I could build one for half price or less of the real deal, which would put it at about the same price as a Trailex trailer. I might just try it to see if it really is possible...

Have you tried trailering with your AI on it? I finally got to used my yakima two weeks ago and the tongue wasn't as long

as my malone trailer.

It was either too close where it prevented me from opening my rear door or it's not balanced and teters off the rear if I

have it farther back.

I hadn't really thought about how it would balance until after I built it. I tried it out this morning, and to improve the balance, i think I'm going to ditch the Hobie bunks, and use PVC pipe instead. I'll need to make the rear part of the bunk removable, so that I can still stand it up on end, but I don't think that'll be too difficult to achieve.