Motiv Trailer 4 spar

Over the years we have used a large selection of trailers from older ‘Heath Robinson’ numbers through to two spar (six canoes) and three spar (eight canoes), braked and unbraked. The moment we set eyes on the Motiv Trailer we knew it was a game changer with its fantastic heavy duty galvanized frame, struts and uprights.

One of the most noticeable elements of the trailer was its smooth and effortless ride when towing. We towed it behind vans, Land Rovers and cars and each coped admirably with smooth braking even fully laden. Similarly the towing hitch is solid and rolls effortless when manoeuvring the trailer by hand and hooking up. The trailer we tested came with a spare wheel and rubber strips on the spars to stop canoes or kayaks sliding around. These worked really well.

The lights are bright LEDs with side indicators for reversing and guidance. The trailer is generally fitted with the new superior 13-pin adaptor (you can opt for 7-pin or use an adaptor). Motiv back their ‘Best of British Construction’, with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and five-year chassis warranty.

Motiv have built their pedigree across a wide range of trailers from rowing to paddlesport, from flat-bed to box trailers each carrying their design and fabrication expertise. It is great to see British companies setting the bar high with great engineering and value for money. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

It is probably useful to consider a few pointers for loading larger trailers such as eight-boat and 10-boat as the spars and cross members are fairly high. We have concluded a number of methods to reduce risk and manual handling concerns as follows:

• Use a see-saw method to reduce the need to lift above head height.
• In particular from the rear of the trailer it is easy to slide an upturned canoe up at an angle so it slides onto the third spar (nearest the back) and onto the fourth spare (at the trailer front). It can then be see-sawed up at the back so the canoe is sitting on the fourth spar front and back.
• Loading from the rear a good method is for two people to hold an upside down canoe at the widest point facing each other on the gunnels (roughly where the carrying yoke would be). They can then slide/feed the canoe on to the spars. This method can be used for loading car roof racks and reduces the need to lift canoes above head height.

Whether you are a club, centre or outdoor focussed organisation, Motiv Trailers are the best we have come across.

Other optional extras for the trailer include:

• Basket cage that fits into one of the bottom spar spaces.
• Bicycle rack.
• Extending rear light bar.

It is worth noting that Motiv also do a ‘professional range’ of canoe and kayak trailers with an integral storage box located in the axle subframe. Finally Motiv also offer trailer servicing and a full spares and parts stores for rubbers, wheels, hitches and jockey wheels of all shapes and sizes.

Prices start from around £2,000 plus VAT

Visit www.motivtrailers.co.uk or drop them a line on info@motivtrailers.co.uk or call +44 (0)1588 673345

Features

Braked single axle trailer

• 19ft 8” length capable of carrying 22 kayaks or 10 canoes
• 400kg unladen or 1300kg gross
• Galvanized frame and spars with rubber mounting strips
• Heavy duty lockable tow hitch and jockey wheel
• Optional basket and cycle rack
• Bright LED lighting throughout
• One-year mechanical warranty and five-year chassis warranty

Features and design 5
Function and utility 5
Value for money 5
Look/feel 5
Durability 5