NEW Harbor Freight 5’ x 10’ Trailer. Designing the PERFECT Kayak/Utility Trailer!
- Randy Reek, The Great Out There
- May 21
- 9 min read
The BIGGEST development in fishing kayaks is the UNIVERSAL acceptance of trailers.
I have been a fisherman for over 50 years and have owned dozens of small and large boats, including many canoes and kayaks.
Over the years, I have hauled trailers tens of thousands of miles with row boats, stacks of canoes, and a series of tournament fishing boats. I have also loaded countless canoes and kayaks on roof racks as well as in my truck bed
But, like many other kayak fishing enthusiasts, I have gravitated to a trailer to effortlessly transport my heavy rig. I own both a pedal kayak for smaller waters and streams plus a heavier kayak with a trolling motor and battery for windswept lakes. I can’t easily or safely load either of these on the roof of my truck! Even if I could, I wouldn’t feel safe traveling at highway speed with this mass attached to the roof.
I have also owned a fleet of trailers – including single, double, and 4-place snowmobile trailers, along with various utility and cargo trailers from 4’ x 6’ to 6’ x 14’ for ATVs and motorcycles.
So, after owning dozens of trailers in all shapes and sizes, I set out to find my new kayak trailer. Here is my “wish list” of features:
Strong steel construction.
Long V-trailer tongue for added strength.
Powder-coated finish for durability.
5’ x 10” deck to load my motorized kayak – AND other hauling!
Flush-mounted LED lights.
2,500-pound axle for load carrying – but not the overkill (harsh ride) of a 3,500-pound axle.
Strong leaf springs, with standard shackles - not the cheaper “slipper” springs.
Radial tires – the larger the better.
Side rails were optional. There was some advantage to NOT having permanent rails for side loading.
After looking at the available models online at area dealers, I chose the new Harbor Freight 5’ x 10’ flatbed trailer. This trailer was just unveiled in late 2024. I placed my order with my local Harbor Freight store and waited about 5 weeks for delivery. (It was the first of these new models that they had sold!)
The new Harbor Freight trailer met ALL of my requirements for the perfect kayak trailer, and MORE!
Note: My list of requirements did NOT include buying the trailer fully assembled! MANY readers will reject the HF trailer because it is sold ONLY as an unassembled kit. Follow along in this article for more details about the assembly process. If you do not have the time, skills, space, or tools to finish this assembly, but you still agree with me about the unique advantages of this trailer, it might be possible to PAY a shop to complete the trailer assembly.
Why did I choose the unassembled Harbor Freight trailer?
You must assemble the trailer because of the powder-coated frame components.
I will not own a steel trailer that is not powder-coated. Painted trailers show rust (“yard rot”) while unsold, still on the dealer lot! Trailers that are welded and then powder-coated after assembly have voids and hidden recesses which are impossible to coat. These are the same pockets that will collect salty slush here in the Great White North (which might not be a concern for kayak owners in the South – except in coastal areas!)
The new Harbor Freight trailer is constructed from a huge pile of struts, angles, and connectors that are each powder-coated individually for a full and uniform layer of protection.
The assembly process (while tedious) is also perfect for detail-freaks like me who want to check every joint for squareness and tighten every bolt and nut. If you have looked at the sloppy welds on trailers at the Big Box stores, you might agree with me that slowly connecting each part and individually tightening each bolt results in the strongest trailer, a trailer that is actually overbuilt!
Over the years, I have only owned one aluminum utility/snowmobile trailer. While definitely lighter, the trailer was also “buzzier”. In my opinion, a steel trailer absorbs the billions of road vibrations better and is less noticeable behind the tow vehicle. (I also have experience towing aluminum flatbed freight trailers loaded with 45,000 pounds of cargo – but that is a completely different animal!)
Beyond the materials and assembly, the main feature which sold me on the Harbor Freight trailer was the 5’ x 10’ flat deck. The large flatbed provides an important bonus for my “kayak trailer”: a wide range of uses when NOT fishing!
The most common kayak trailers are converted boat trailers, with others being converted trailers designed for personal watercraft (“wave runners”.) While there are now some trailers designed specifically for kayaks, these tend to be fairly lightweight and overpriced.
I chose the HF flatbed trailer to provide utility for hauling other loads when NOT fishing!
As a homeowner, I often need to haul yard waste and branches to the local collection site. I haul dozens of bags of mulch every year. My woodworking projects require long boards and plywood that won’t fit the tiny bed of my pickup. And I also have a motorcycle that I sometimes haul on vacation or to the dealer.
Some people have room (or the budget) for multiple trailers – I don’t! In my opinion, the best investment is a trailer that I can use for kayak fishing AND other hauling between fishing trips, year-round. The HF trailer is a great all-around utility trailer!
For maximum versatility, the HF trailer has an open deck. Being picky, I was able to hand-pick 12 pressure-treated 5/4 deck boards to complete the deck. You know that buying 12 straight boards without loose knots requires you to sift through at least 25 or 30 boards on the stack. Then I placed the boards correctly with the grain pattern facing down to shed water and used exterior decking screws to fasten to the trailer steel cross-members – details the trailer factories ignore.
I own two fishing kayaks and both have catamaran hulls which rest perfectly on the flat deck. After I completed the trailer deck, I added a piece of exterior plywood covered in carpet to keep my kayak hulls scuff-free. This panel is held in place with a few screws so it can be quickly removed. But I leave it in place most of the time for hauling lumber and plywood, and even when I’m loading my motorcycle – which requires the addition of a cradle for the front wheel.
Another feature that sold me on the HF 5’ x 10’ trailer was the 2,500-pound axle.
The bare trailer weighs about 400 pounds and the wood decking another 100 pounds. (I used 5/4 decking rather than the standard 2x6’s found on most heavier utility trailers to save a little weight and cost.) Obviously, my 100-pound fishing kayaks don’t overload this trailer. But many small utility trailers are designed for heavier loads including building materials, ATVs and more.
If you have towed a heavier trailer with a light load (or unloaded) you know that every bump and crack in the road is magnified. Unloaded trailers sometimes go airborne on rough roads!
In contrast, the HF 5’ x 10’ flatbed is designed with a lighter 2,500-pound axle – which smooths out the ride and is still adequate for most homeowner’s needs.
Likewise, the HF trailer is equipped with 13-inch tires instead of larger and heavier 15-inch tires found on some utility trailers. It is a huge plus that the HF trailer is equipped with radial tires versus cheaper bias-ply tires. Harbor Freight also stocks the identical wheel - along with a spare tire mount, which I purchased and installed.
Despite the lower gross weight rating, the Harbor Freight trailer has a long V-tongue in contrast to most trailers that use a single straight pipe. In my opinion, the V-tongue adds stability as the trailer follows your vehicle on twisty and hilly roads. Also included was a tongue jack. I replaced the flat foot with a swivel wheel for convenience – also available in the trailer parts section at HF.
The last option I added to the HF trailer was the rear stabilizer stands. (More on these when I cover the assembly.)
This is not a tilting trailer. If you plan to load anything by driving onto the trailer, you MUST support the tail of the trailer to ensure that the ball won’t break free from the hitch. I remove these supports when trailering my kayaks, and reserve them for loading my motorcycle. I did not purchase the accessory ramps from HF, and use my own ramp (which is part of the motorcycle hitch carrier I own – also from HF.)
Note that this new trailer model uses standard 5-bolt trailer wheels instead of the cheaper 4-bolt wheels found on many trailers, especially the lighter models with 12-inch tires. Anyone who needs more clearance for offroad use can both flip the axle and install 14 or 15-inch wheels!
In terms of the axle, this trailer is rare in that it uses conventional full-wrap springs and shackles. Most inexpensive trailers can only be found with cheaper slipper springs – where the rear tail of the spring slides as it compresses, adding continuous noise and vibration.
Finally, I insist on full LED lighting on my trailers. I have wasted hundreds of hours over the years replacing bulbs on my trailers. LEDs are the standard today – don’t accept anything less. The HF trailer lights are all recessed flush inside the frame rails for protection. At the same time, assembling the trailer requires you to feed the wire harness along the frame rails and connect each light. While the lights are supplied with waterproof pin connectors, I wrapped each connection with electrical tape to guarantee trouble-free use!
Now – let’s talk about the cost of this trailer.
I bought the HF trailer at the introductory price of only $999.00!
Today, this trailer is selling for $1,299. But – we all know that Harbor Freight continuously runs sales. If you want it today, you might pay full price. But if you can wait until the next sale – or you become a member of the “Insiders Club” – you can probably get a discount.
To complete the trailer, you will need to buy the decking. I purchased 12 of the treated 5/4 deck boards and 100 decking screws (the universal style suitable for attachment to metal) for $100.00. I also ordered the rear stabilizer stands from HF which sell for $24.99 each. Then I added a matching spare tire and wheel, plus a mounting bracket that I installed inside the V-tongue. These last two parts added $183.00.
In total (including the trailer at the sale price) I spent $1,332.00 on the Harbor Freight 5’ x 10’ flatbed trailer. I did not elect to purchase either the rear loading ramps or the side rails. If you need either of these, your price will be higher.
Comparable size trailers from my local dealers (Fleet Farm, Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc.) range from $1,500 to over $2,000. As noted above, ALL of these are welded steel formed from angle iron. Some are painted; others are pressure-treated after assembly. In addition, ALL of these trailers have welded steel rails which are integral to the assembly. As noted in this video comparison, you cannot remove these rails without decreasing the carrying capacity and the useful life of the trailer.
The obvious difference is that all other trailers are ready to use after you drive away. In my case, I spent about two days assembling the HF trailer. If I put a value on my time – or if you decide to buy this trailer and PAY a shop to complete the assembly – I would add $500 to the total cost.
Conclusion: I am very satisfied with the Harbor Freight flatbed trailer for my intended uses. It tows silently and is sized perfectly for my bulky fishing kayaks. Between fishing trips, I have a versatile utility trailer for large or messy loads that won’t fit in my pickup. I can haul my motorcycle - or furniture, appliances, or more for friends.
While the total cost (including labor costs) is comparable to alternative trailers, I feel this is a superior design, materials, and construction. Having invested a few days in the assembly, I have confidence in the durability. I have a well-built, 100% rust free trailer. In my opinion, the new Harbor Freight flatbed trailer will outlast the competition – for the same cost, or less!
Want to learn more about the Harbor Freight 5’ x 10’ trailer – including some of the details that I learned during the assembly process? Please continue to Part Two of this series. Please also Like this article and share it with your friends. Subscribe to The Great Out There on YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest and Like the Facebook page!
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