Mule Surfboard Trailer

Anyone got / tried one of these?

http://muletransportsystems.com/index.html

Would be interested in reports if so, or any tips on UK stockists:

Would also be interested in other trailer options for carrying a board which are also flexible for use as a general cargo trailer – not something I'd be using for huge distances. Mainly commuting between campsite and beach along quiet lanes on hols.

Board I would be using it for would be a 7ft Magic Carpet. Occasionally a 9'3" longboard.

These are brilliant, seen a few around and they look like the most flexible option, particularly if you are gonna be dragging different length boards.
I want one but havent got round to looking at the price yet, think it will probably put me off (shed build instead i reckon)

I'd go for that.

Funnily enough my A level design project was a surfboard trailer for a bike. I was quite pleased with it but no idea where it went – probably a skip.

Where do you live and surf SJ?

I think my sister has a mule. It seemed to work well with her 6 0 egg, and she's helping organise and leading this cycle surfari from biarritz to bordeaux. I'll ask her to respond to this thread when she gets back from work.

They're actually pretty cheap. 90 dollars (About 60 quid) on Ebay so similar price to Carver Racks etc but loads more flexible. No UK shipping cost though, which is why I was wondering about UK distribution

I like the idea that the board becomes the load bay so you can lash gear on top. I'm thinking the weight of a drybag with wetsuit etc above the wheels would actually help stability.

Sweet! I'm going to have one of those, just right for the new house in St Ives 8)

Surf-mat. I live in Kent (not known for its surf, sadly but a few spots work on big N swells).

In laws live in West Country though so do most of my surfing there – Puts, Croyde, Woolacombe etc – N Cornwall occasionally. We also head to Pembrokeshire a few times a year, but the campsite we stay at is a couple of miles from the nearest break. Hence the trailer requirement to avoid having to drive the van down there with wife and baby asleep in the back!

Planning a permanent move westwards next year…

reckon you could use it for kayaks as well?

SJ – good plan (moving down)!

Been a bit cr4p surfwise recently but we had a great spell of waves in June and July.

Where you based Mat?

Re Kayaks. Don't see why not. They have a wider wheelbase version which will take a SUP board, so reckon you're be fine with that.

LoCo – just outside Truro so "local" breaks are Porthtowan and Perranporth. Grew up in Polzeath so know that area well, went to uni in Swansea (for the waves mostly) so up on S Wales too. Basically a surf bore (as in boring, not a river wave) as well as a car bore…!

St Ives very handy for Porthmeor (had a total barrelfest there last year) and Gwithian – ideal!

Bored everyone to death with this but here's Gwithian/Godrevy shot from not long ago:

And a small day at my old stomping ground of Polzeath:

Nice, was in St ives july and had a couple of good days at Gwithan, would be nice to ride to.
Roll on winter and some slightly bigger stuff (not too big mind as I'm still getting used to it all!)

a friend made something similar with an old pram out of a skip and a few luggage straps!!! good way of getting to the beach with the bike tho 🙂

That's tiny, this on the other hand…

(posted on another thread ages ago)

I saw something similar to that when I lived in Holland. A guy pulling a full Canadian canoe with full kit on a proper old sit up and beg bike.

Great shots Surf-Mat. I'm ex Swansea myself, but SIHE rather than the uni. I do miss Gower…

http://standuppaddlesurf.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1631
……..seems pretty pricey to me.

SJ – although I went to Swansea Uni, the surf club ended up cr4p so surfed for SIHE instead! Got to the semi finals against Sam Lamiroy in one comp. Funnily enough, he beat me! His surfing (he's the same age as me) has gone to an amazing level now – mine's stayed about the same. Dammit.

Nick1c – given that the price on ebay is $90, even with shipping he's putting on a fair markup.

Surf-mat -too little water-time and not enough fitness mean that my level of surfing ability has gone in the opposite direction unfortunately!

i lived a couple of doors down from sam in plymouth and he was on the same course as me.. really nice guy.

looking forward to this wave drought breaking…

Would have to see one in the flesh, as I'm not sure how they'd work with my 6'2" fouling the back wheel/ scraping the tail or putting allot of pressure too close to the tail. Thought about getting an old tagalong + adapting it for bunging mine + my daughters boards on for heading up/down Newgale hill.
Couple of the local lads have old style carriers, but they look a nightmare when its windy.

Mal-ec. You live near Newgale? I'm jealous! 😀

Had an awesome early morning session there back at the beginning of June. Sadly it was the day we were heading home so could only manage an hour or so, and I haven't surfed since due to family committments etc.

I saw some of those Carver racks in Ma Simes last time I was down your way. Probably OK for a smaller board but I think you're right – they'd be really unsafe in a side-wind, especially with a bigger board. I was wondering whether I could adapt a BOB trailer or similar to carry a board but even with some sort of strut to stop the board fouling the rear wheel, I don't think the hitch is long enough, and I think the whole thing would be top heavy.

where in kent to surf, I live in maidstone and assumed surfing was history

Joss bay, folkestone harbour.

rock'a'nore in hastings can be fun, heavy shore dump barrels onto shingle.

Ianpinder – Quite a few spots but all quite fickle and inconsistent. You can get lucky and have a cracking session in the right conditions but it's the exception rather than the rule.

Most N facing spots work after a big Northerly has been blowing down the North Sea. So more likely during Autumn / Winter. Look for a big low pressure off Scandinavia , and a day or so later we generally get waves. Surf forecasts for North Norfolk work OK for Kent or magicseaweed has a forecast for Joss Bay.

Joss Bay is probably the main spot – even has a surf school. It can get surprisingly packed when there is swell, and some pretty good local surfers. Sandbars in middle of bay and chalk reef at sides. Bit rippy in places so watch out.

Broadstairs (Viking Bay) off the harbour wall is a bit more mellow with longer rides – good on a longboard. Only really works at low tide in similar conditions.

Ramsgate Harbour Wall can work pretty well, but quite a lot of localism. I think there are also some semi secret spots around Margate.

Camber Sands works at high tide in a big South Westerly, but gets blown out very easily as its so exposed. A macking south westerly swell giving overhead waves further west will give you a couple of feet there. Quite a strong cross-shore rip so you can end up with a long walk back from where you started out from!

Brighton is the most consistent spot within about an hour's drive and has a big surf community. Main spot is Hot Pipes – near the outfall of Shoreham power station – not the most scenic of locations but can get pretty good on a SW wind swell and is sheltered from the wind. The Marina wall is also pretty good, but again very locally.

It's definitely not Hawaii, but some options locally, provided you've got the time to monitor the charts etc – worth an investment in a good winter wetsuit!

Mail me if you want more info. I'm just down the road from you. Don't get out much at the moment but hoping for some sessions over the Autumn if you fancy sharing petrol.

Nick1c – given that the price on ebay is $90, even with shipping he's putting on a fair markup.

I take it back… have been in touch with the company and they want $70 to ship to the UK, so $160 in all…. I think a shed bodge may be on the cards.