DIY Kayak Cart or buy cheap pre-made on Amazon?
 

I am a new owner of preowned 2012 Hobie Revo after like 7 to 9 months of hiatus.

Now I'm looking around for a good kayak cart as my kayak's bottom is practically still pristine and I would like to keep it that way.

Any advices? I've looked around on old threads and there's not that many discussions regarding to which is better via DYI or buying a reasonable affordable one off Amazon.

Non-Pneumatic Wheels from Amazon

Pneumatic Wheels & cheapest one


TWO following DIY links:

Palmetto Bulletproof Build

Waterman Natwork's DIY

I made the cart from the Palmetto site, but instead of using the Harbor Freight wheels I used some low pressure sand wheels, it's much better that way

DIY: PVC + Big Harbor Freight Tires + Strap

This method allows you to put the yak on the fulcrum.

Whatever you do make sure you get wheels that have bearings

Yes Sir the Palmetto with wheeleez, works for BAJA beaches.

I have the amazon pneumatic one. Got it off of ebay for a little cheaper. But, in the year that I've had it the tires have popped twice. It's cost me about 14 bucks to replace. It gets the job done though and is able to lug my stealth around when I fully load it which is usually close to 100lbs. If you're not handy and take forever to complete a DIY I'd go with it as the cart is so cheap you wouldn't care much if it got thrashed.

One other thing to consider is how easy it will be to breakdown the cart. I have a PA14 and have the wheelez cart with the big sand wheels, I hate walking to my truck to get my wheels after I land (beach or dock).

I usually breakdown the entire cart before launching; wheels and cross bars in the front hatch and frame strapped down behind the tank. Ounce I land I take everything out, put it together and walk the kayak to my truck.

I have that non-pneumatic amazon one. I like it so far. Not a ton of use but if fits inside my kayak which was my main reason for choosing it. goes on the sand ok but digs a little. Not saying it's the one but it seems good for the money and what I need it to do.

when I built the DIY cart I put holes in the axle so I could use pin clips and washers to hold the wheels on, I can pull the wheels off in a second and store everything in the back of the yak.

Bite the bullet and get one of these you will not regret it.

Wheeleez

I tried the DIY harbor freight method mentioned above and PVC broke and All those hours of drilling and stuff to waste. Just bite the bullet save time and money


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Non of those DIY look like they will hold up very well. Those vertical post looks like they would break easily in sand or even while trying to go over curvea. Probably ok im hard pack sand with lightly loaded yak.

I just put wood dowlings in the up right PVC. It not only strengthens it it also gives the unit more support.

Geno

Great idea that would hold for sure.

For $32 on Amazon it's not even worth it to DIY a POS cart. I built my own because I have a welder so it's steel. Just buy one if you can't make a real one.

I'm fascinated that there is no one good answer! Anyway, I do have an access to a welding machine so I can build one. What plan did you used or you made I on your own? Picture?

I could strengthen the cheap-ass amazon cart's critical points as long it isn't stainless steel as I don't have welder for that metal. Now, I'm leaning toward to Amazon's product since its cheap and don't have to deal as much with building. However, which is better via pneumatic or non-pneumatic? I can replace either wheels with beach wheels later on. Or am I better off just build my own via welding? If so, what plan I should try to copy or follow?

This kayak cart mentioned in the original post has been in regular use for more than ten years, all original parts are still used. It is still being used to transport a fully loaded kayak over the sharp rocks, and steep cliffs necessary to reach launch spots here in the Pacific Northwest.

Unfortunately, for some people, a person working in a sweat shop in a third world country can do a better job, in that case, buy something off the internet.

Ha you're cool...
I just learned not to be a cheap ass...
Glad your hours of time aren't worth 32 bucks haha


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Impressive! ALL PVC? Or with wood dowels as support?

As for the 3rd world sweat shop employee, they can definitely do it better as it takes constant practice on the daily basis to perfecting the welding method! I can do it pretty well but not as good as I don't do it for a living.

Then what's your answer? :-) I'm just trying to figure out an effective but cheap cart without breaking the bank as I just spent a grand and half investment of pre-owned Revo.

I have to buy a hobie livewell as well. If the cart sucks & breaks... At least I can weld them back together and use until I have enough money for good one. My $$ into livewell is atop of my priority list.

I've been using the DIY for six months now without breaking it.I'm thinking of firing up the ol tubing bender and making one like the Boodox landing gear..

The DIY is a good one and won't break, it's bombproof and finds the fulcrum (very important)

Wait, well I did break mine, but it fell off my roof rack on a cold morning and shattered. Fixed it in minutes back to bombproof. When my 2015 outback fell off my roof rack, parts broke as well. Shyt happens.

I went to a hobie dealer and measured a universal cart, then modified it to perfectly fit the stealth and x-factor hulls that I had.
Attachment 18272

Nice, now I'm planning on making my own as my boss said that he will help me with making a cart of my own by this week. Can't decide between the universal version or something like this...



http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009V6..._1455479159800

All PVC. I guy emailed me and told me that stuffing the PVC with packing peanuts made it stronger, give something like that a try if you think it would help.

The company in China that makes that Amazon cart sends me emails through my website to buy them for resale. You can probably buy three or four of them through Alibaba for the price of one at Amazon.

As with all the kayak rigging articles on my website, they are only one way of doing things. Hopefully, they will serve as a starting point for others to do their own thing.

What I can't do is explain to a closed minded idiot the satisfaction you get from making something with your own two hands. In this case, I wouldn't say you are a "cheap ass", just a plain old run of the mill ass.

Haha thanks for great tips regarding to peanuts. I'm going to make one from either steel or thick aluminum. Will keep this thread posted with my project

Regular steel will rust, go with stainless if you can. The Harbor Freight rims will rust too, plan on replacing them every few years or find some plastic hubbed wheels.

HF wheels are cheap so its not a concern. Can't weld a stainless as that will require a special welder which we don't have. I will spray an enamel paint on it and renew the paint job every once awhile to prevent a corrosion. That's why ill prefer aluminum if I can.

I have a Hobie heavy duty cart ("good one") I am about to weld because IMO it is an over priced POS. Now I am sure there are people with tons of trips and no problems, but I am not one of them. Keeper pin broke second trip and the cross bar above the axle completely came out............welds broke.

Moral of my post, you want to make one, more power to you. Sounds like the power wheels one is the way to go. Just cause you buy a good one doesn't mean it is going to be bullet proof. And bait is way more important.

Have you thought about using the collars instead of the pins? That might alleviate some issue that you had.

Cart
 

Copper tubing is more rust resistant 1/2 I'd =5/8 o'd perfect for most wheel
Bearings

Now that's the polar opposite of what I am trying to do! LOL, my hourly wages are still in its teens so I am a long way from being able to spend some absurd amount of $ like that.

Agreed but it lacks the strength that I need it to have as for the cart. Especially if I'm using it to help someone else's PA 14 or other heavier kayaks.

Beef it up
 

I put a 1/2 steel axle from Home Depot inside the copper tubing to beef up my axle. It was able to carry PA-14's without any issue

Not bad idea! Got your PM, I'm sending my reply.

You guys made a cart out of copper tubing rather than PVC? That should work nicely. Just as easy as PVC DIY and probably a lot stronger. Use some 1" heavy wall pipe and fittings and a little solder, steel axle, good to go.

Stop wasting your time and get a wheelez cart, you'll thank me later

What you can do is heat up the axle real good with a heat gun or torch and push it through the hull. The plastic will seal perfectly around the axle. You'll never forget them at home and almost impossible to steal.

http://www.davidcortner.com/slowblog/IMG_2571t.jpg