I built (not bought) my sailboat. Since I was already doing the “roll your own” approach, didn’t buy a regular sailboat trailer. I’ve been fiddling with various transportation alternatives with mixed results. Most of the time the boat rides in a “cradle” I made of 2″ x 4″s and padded with foam from pool noodles. The cradle is tied down in a firewood hauling utility trailer. It looks incredibly redneck but has worked for thousands of miles. I’m still refining solutions for bypassing boat ramps (I dislike being tied to boat ramp infrastructure).
I’ve spent a lot off time looking at homemade trailer designs. Now that I’ve got more “state park” / “overland” camping gear I want to get more organized (especially for carrying my huge Teton Cot and giant Gazelle T4 tent). Many ideas are to be found if you look.
About a month ago a reader, who’s clearly got his shit together (and carries a Teton cot too), sent me these photos:
Very cool! Here’s the description:
“The Harbor Freight kit is pretty popular for DIY motorcycle trailer projects – inexpensive, assembles easily, and pulls nicely.
Some folks build them with car-top carriers, but the TSC tool box worked better for carrying the Coleman 8-person Instant Tent and the Teton cot – the tent is about the same size as the when packed for travel. I put the cot on one side, the tent on the other, a folding chair on top of each, and bungee them down to the eye bolts.
The cooler rack is homebuilt and fastened to the tongue with u-bolts – a couple of bungee cords hold the cooler.”