> I have been looking at this trailer all winter. It is a lot of money. <snip> Yes, the price went up $200 last year. The package deal plus one of the optional trailer tounges to match the length of your kayaks is the best deal. Consider getting a spare tire, too. I love the performance vs. a small-wheeled, leaf spring/torsion bar, heavy duty trailer that bounces all over the place. > I managed to pull my back out last fall with a herniated disk and the less > lifting this trailer would entail maybe worth it. It sounds like the > trailer folds up. <snip> It does fold up but there is a catch. The trailer is designed for both bikes and kayaks, but kayaks need an optional extension toungue to fit their longer length (if you have short whitewater kayaks, they may fit with the standard bike setup.) This extension piece bolts onto the existing trailer toungue with two good size bolts and lockwashers, and makes the toungue too long to fold the trailer up onto its end (and have the toungue hang straight down) without unbolting it. So the pictures on the website where the trailer is folded up on its end and rolling around on optional castors is only for the bike setup, or after the kayakers take off the toungue with a wrench. Plus, I'll add that if you overtighten the bolts on the toungue, it becomes pretty hard to disassemble because it's effectively crimped on (ha ha, I know about that, I did it!) > So when I am at a remote launch site, can I fold up the > trailer, an put it into the back of my Ford Explorer. This would prevent > theft or damage of an expensive trailer. My usual launch sites are pretty > remote and unprotected. <snip> The trailer is too heavy for doing something like that, even for someone with no back problems. I don't think it would fit into an Explorer at all. I bought a set of key-matched hitch locks -- one that goes through the coupler lever, and one that replaces the hitch pin, at www.etrailer.com. Here is the link (or just search for "7684" on their website): www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=7684 Although not perfect security, it would deter the amateur and slow down anyone else a little. Adding it to your insurance policy is a lot easier than lifting it or worrying about it. Gary *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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