Should I Use V-Style Or J-Style Kayak Carriers With The Malone EcoLight Trailer?
Updated 04/20/2026 | Published 04/18/2026
Question:
What factors do you do you use to determine which carrier to use with the Ecolight? I am not sure what the best option is. I can remove the v or j carrier and add a post later to be able to carry more kayaks if I want, but I am not sure how a person would choose a v or j over the other.
asked by: Russell W
Expert Reply:
Hey Russell, good question. It really comes down to what you’re carrying and how many boats you want on the roof.
The V-style carriers are more of a “keep it simple” setup. They hold the kayaks flat, side-by-side, which is great for stability and easy loading, but you’re usually capped at two just based on crossbar space. They’re also a little more versatile if you ever mix in canoes or different hull shapes.
J-cradles are more kayak-focused and let you stand them up on edge, which frees up a lot of room on the bars. That’s the move if you think you’ll ever want to carry three boats or add a post later. So, if you’re sticking with one or two kayaks, V-style is easy and solid. If you want to maximize space or grow into more boats, J-style is the better long-term play.
What kind of watercraft will you be hauling?
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Product Page this Question was Asked From
Malone EcoLight Sport Trailer with V-Style Carriers for 2 Kayaks - 400 lbs
- Kayak Trailer
- V-Style
- 2 Kayaks
- 14 Feet Long
- 400 lbs
- 58 Inch Crossbar
- 1-Tier
- Malone
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on Kayak Trailer
Russell W.
4/20/2026
Just kayaks. Small ones. I’ve been looking at the trailers for quite a while. I started with Yakima Rack and Role because I wanted something smaller and need to consider storage. I went to Ecolight because it is still small but a lot less investment. I then looked at the Micro Sport XT because of storage. Then I realized it is heavier and costs the same as a Yakima. I am not sure what to land on.