Kayak Bicycle Trailer

I wanted to launch at a spot on the Napa River that is a mile from the parking lot. I've heard that some people walk in with their kayaks. That sounded hard on the arms and legs, so I decided to make a kayak trailer I could tow behind my bicycle. It needed to be light weight, cheap and something I could make with my limited abilities and tools. So I salvaged the wheels off a kids bike I bought for a few bucks at a goodwill store. I made the frame out of wood and the tongue out of PVC pipe. The conduit is attached using hose clamps that are secured to the wood. That allows me to easily remove the tongue for transport. I rigged up a hitch on my bike that seems to have enough flexibility for the terrain I am using it on.

With the trailer disconnected, first I put my milk crate full of gear on. Then I hold the tongue while pulling the kayak up the ramps onto the trailer. Then as I load the rest of my stuff into my kayak, I make sure the weight is distributed so I end up with a very light tongue weight. I strap things up so I don't lose anything and I'm ready to go. I take a running start and hop on. It rides pretty nice. I've made the trip twice. After the first trip I now have slime in all the tires and I carry a tire pump and three cans of pressurized slime in case I get a flat.

Looks like a cool setup hope it lasts a while for you.

BTW do you have plastic sofa slip covers at home too 

Cool!  You could probably shave a few pounds of weight off & possibly strengthen your rig by bending the pvc pipe with a heat gun or blow dryer in a few places rather than using all glued together fittings. There's a lot of Youtube vids of this & it works really well.

Looks like a cool setup hope it lasts a while for you.

BTW do you have plastic sofa slip covers at home too 

We need an emoticon where the guy waves his hand over his head indicating the joke went over my head. 

Ok I get it. The bicycle seat. No, only when I want to keep my seat dry in the rain. 

What we really need is a forum section titled "Limited only by your imagination." I see so many cool, innovative ideas on this site!

Cool!  You could probably shave a few pounds of weight off & possibly strengthen your rig by bending the pvc pipe with a heat gun or blow dryer in a few places rather than using all glued together fittings. There's a lot of Youtube vids of this & it works really well.

I'll have to check that out. I tend to screw the fittings together when I use them for this kind of project. I can't get the angle precise enough while shoving on a glued fitting.

Way cool, was the fishing worth the mile to get there ?

Is that Glass Beach ? I walked out there for the first time a few weeks ago and thought it would be an ideal launch spot, if not for the long walk. Looks like you solved that ! Nice work !

Ken, will you be using that trailer to haul kayaks up the hill at GS? 

Nice job traildad ! That's something I intend to build or more likely buy  in the future. There are a few spots I can think of where it would come in handy.  Thanks for the post .

Alex

Is that Glass Beach ? I walked out there for the first time a few weeks ago and thought it would be an ideal launch spot, if not for the long walk. Looks like you solved that ! Nice work !

Yes there is glass all over the beach. I've only been there twice so I haven't tested it throughly yet. But it seems that the bottom is firm and might be ok even at low tide. It is supposed to be a good fishing spot as well.

Great idea for the bike trailer Ken.  Now I have to ask the question since I grew up in that area, How do you make sure your bike is still there after a day of fishing?  There's not much to lock it to out there.

Keb, will you be using that trailer to haul kayaks up the hill at GS? 

Not unless I get an electric motor for my bike. 

Great idea for the bike trailer Ken.  Now I have to ask the question since I grew up in that area, How do you make sure your bike is still there after a day of fishing?  There's not much to lock it to out there.

As you can see there is a fence and a sign that talks about salmon restoration. I lock my bike to the fence poles and the trailer to the sign. It seems from what little I've seen the trouble makers aren't willing to make the walk to get out there.

Very good.  I was thinking there was only the power towers out there.