Which CE Smith Boat Trailer for 12 Foot Long Kayak

Question:

Hi. I have a 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6 liter engine with the OEM hitch installed 1.25 inch receiver. I am looking at the C.E. smith trailers for a single kayak that weights 125 pounds a 2023 Native Watercraft 12.5 max propel. Would you be able to answer these questions? 1. Do I need to go to the 48870 which says its for boats up to 14 feet or can I get away with the 48810 which says its for boats up to 12 feet? I ask because the price difference is significant. 2. The trailer says it needs a 2 inch ball. What ball unit would I need that would fit in my 1.25 inch receiver and have a 2 inch ball and that would also be the correct height to pull the trailer level? 3. Is the OEM Subaru hitch suitable for these trailers? Thank you in advance!

asked by: Kurt

Expert Reply:

Since your boat is 12 foot I would have to recommend you use the CE Smith Boat Trailer part # CE48870 instead of the shorter # CE48810. The weight wouldn't be an issue but the length of the boat would be. If you have a super long boat for a trailer it will have too much of it hanging off the back of the trailer.

Your Subaru hitch would work just fine with this as well. The trailer has a distance of 14 inches from the ground to the coupler. So you would need to measure from the ground to the top of the hitch opening on your car. Whatever the difference is between that dimension and 14 is the amount of rise/drop you'd need from a ball mount.

expert reply by: Jameson C