Customer Reviews

Malone MicroSport Trailer Four Kayak Transport Package with 4 Malone AutoLoader XV Kayak Carriers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
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I finished assembling this trailer last week. Putting it together myself really helped me to become familiar with how this product was engineered. I have to say that it is VERY high quality in virtually every detail. As you might expect, my alternative would have been to get a 4 x 8 utility trailer and adapt it for use with kayaks. I have purchased and assembled a 4 x 8 trailer in the past, and this is of much higher quality. Also, the longer tongue helps with clearance for longer kayaks. I also appreciated the fact that the axle that came with this unit was pre-assembled. The package sold here on Amazon not only includes kayak carriers, but also a spare tire and mount, and a set of 15' cam straps and safety lines (which you can use to secure the front and rear of very long kayaks if needed). BTW, this trailer looks like it would be compatible with most car-top carrier accessories making it even more versatile (say, for carrying bikes, etc.). My Thule stackers fit just fine, for example. The two top aluminum cross bars are 65" long and are 1.25" x 1" in cross-section (1.25" front-to-back, and 1" top-to-bottom).

As others have mentioned, the instructions were very clear INCLUDING cautioning you to check for things as you go that will save time (such as making sure both leaf springs are facing the same way before you bolt them on...!). You can go to Malone's web site download the instructions if you want to take a look.

The people at Malone are very helpful and know exactly what paperwork you will need to register your trailer as a newly-built vehicle. In California, unfortunately, the process is a bit of bureaucratic dance that involves TWO trips to the DMV.

The other thing is if you haven't signed up for Amazon "Prime" yet (where you get unlimited free shipping by second-day overnight for I think $79), you should DEFINITELY sign up for it if you are going to buy this trailer. While you won't get second-day (as is disclosed when you order), the shipping is still free and this is a 250 lb. shipment from Ohio, which I suspect would easily cost more than $79. So anyway, check that out.

After I have used the trailer if I have anything to add I will update my review.

UPDATE: Dec. 10, 2011: My trailer continues to be very useful to haul all kinds of things besides my kayaks. I contacted Malone and found that I could get a leaf spring upgrade (Model MPG468; I think it was about $60; see their web site) to increase the load rating of the trailer from 355lbs to roughly 800 lbs. (Since you assembled the trailer, you will know how to swap out the springs!) Anyway, Malone cautioned me that 800 lbs exceeds the capacity of the crossbars, but I built a simple, removable, 4' x 8' plywood box that bolts directly to the frame. The REAL benefit to a middle-aged person like me is that the box is 28" off the ground, so unlike with other trailers, you don't have to bend down to pick up things off of it. I transported a bunch of mulch this fall, and most recently, we used the trailer to go get our Christmas tree.

I am over 70 years and my wife and I had almost quit kayaking because of the difficulty lifting the boats to the top of the car. Now with the Malone MicroSport trailer and the PaddleBoy Air Kayak cart we can each individually handle our kayaks. We have resumed pleasure kayaking and are getting more exercise as well.

This is a great product. I got the MicroSport trailer with 4 sets of Malone J Brackets. It went together easily...directions were easy to follow and straightforward. I have a Jackson Daytripper 12 which is a big kayak...straight and wide. Even though it is not a typical kayak shape, it rides great even at highway speeds. Loading is easy and it is so great not to have to lift this high over your head to get it on a cartop. My wife has a Pungo 120 on order and we are looking forward to many enjoyable trips using this trailer.

I have to also say the guys at Malone's tech support are by far the best I have dealt with in a long time. When you call, you talk to a real person (not an endless series of recordings). They are helpful, courteous, and go out of their way to help you...something you don't find in many business these days. I give these guys and their product a 10. Thanks from a Happy Customer.

Compared to some of the alternatives on the market, which are either $800+ more expensive or cheaply constructed, this trailer is a gem. It is easy to assemble (although I wouldn't suggest doing it alone unless you're really keen), lightweight, reliable (so far so good), stable and sturdy.

It took about 3.5 hours to assemble the trailer, although I admit that three quarters of that time was spent under work lights at night which may have made it a little slower, and went without a hitch (no pun intended) for the most part. Note: you WILL need deep sockets for this as the threads on some of the bolts are long. I'd also recommend a cordless drill that can handle the sockets if you don't want to spend an inordinate amount of time endlessly turning a socket wrench. You'll also need some wire strippers (and crimping tool ideally), a box knife, and a few other basics like a shifter (adjustable wrench) and screwdriver. It probably also took me a little longer than necessary as I DIDN'T have the cordless drill for most of the time... All in all though, if you have any head for construction (common sense mostly), and basic tool skills, putting this thing together is a doddle!

I love the fact that even with my 17', and my girlfriends 15' kayaks on it, it's so well balanced I can lift and move it with a few fingers. It's also nice and stable on the road; I've towed it (fully loaded) at up to 80 mph without any noticeable vibration or issues with it bouncing or drifting.

I guess the only issue I had was that the electrical adapter for the lights did not fit the plug I have on my car right out of the box, but I'm not sure if it was me or the trailer that had something non-standard, so it's not really fair to point a finger here. Either way, I just cut off the excess shielding on the trailer's plug and it fitted perfectly, so problem solved.

The long and the short of it is, I like this trailer a lot and would recommend it without hesitation as excellent value for money.

The trailer is great, however I have not been able to get the trailer registered in New York state because I cannot show the that the tax collected is against the VIN number of the trailer. This has been going on for three weeks. As of this date I'm not happy with Amazon.

Only took 6 hours to assemble. And - amazingly every piece was there and nothing arrived broken. it was very well packaged and instructions were clear with no technical language that required translation. I've pulled the trailer with my mini-van for 100+ miles so far with no trouble at all. i have hauled several combinations of kayaks with it - 1-4 kayaks; 10ft-16ft kayaks and all shapes of kayaks. no problem. i also used it to haul a couple of 4x8 sheets of plywood - without the racks of course. wish i had bought one of these long ago. and - if you are like me and have trouble backing a trailer into a driveway, i have found that the long tongue makes it seem much easier to back. don't know if there is a technical explanation for this phenomenon, but for me it works.