I've owned a Rack & Roll for 2 years now. I really like this trailer. Yes, the Hobie trailer is cheaper but, as pictured, it looks as if it only holds one yak. That just might "fill the bill" for many. The Rack & Roll, on the other hand, comes complete with a long set of Thule bars. With such long bars I regularly place 2 Hobie yaks (in this case an Outback and a Sport) on "L" racks mounted near the center ...and I still have room for 2 upright bike racks in the outside reaches of the bars. That's a great combination for long driving vacations.
I also like the larger tires. Been on rough roads and also 80 mph on freeways without a problem. The wide stance between the wheels keeps this trailer very stable, as does the heaviness of the "designer" wheels, which "secretly" lowers the center of gravity. The larger tires also keep the yaks up higher, and farther away, from any road debris that might get kicked up. And the only "bounce" I ever get is taking a speed-bump too fast.
There is another trailer out there called the Sports Rig. Very similar but made of steel instead of aluminum. But it is just slightly cheaper once you find you have to purchase a longer tongue to accommodate even short kayaks. Both were designed by the same guy. The R&R is the newer design.
I've found that trailering my yak was superior to trying to get them up on the roof of my minivan (almost impossible for an old guy like me to do single-handedly). And gas mileage is way-improved over roof mounted. The down side is that you need to be careful not to enter into, say, a fast food parking lot without casing the joint beforehand for a decent trailer friendly parking space.
Storage can also be a problem in some situations (yes, you can take the wheels and tongue off the R&R in minutes and store the whole thing flat against a wall, but who wants to do that routine every time they sail?). In my case I just leave the yaks on the trailer in the garage and store my "yak things" (such as seats, PFD's, etc.) in large plastic tubs on the floor under the trailer.
As for security, I have a trailer tongue lock, trailer hitch lock, and 4 coil cord security cables weaving through the "J" racks, bile racks, bikes and kayaks. Yes, if somebody really wanted to steal the load, they could. But at least it's safe from most low-lifes.
If you can put your yak in or on top of a car easy enough, stay away from the complications of a trailer. But if you find you can't get your yak on your car by yourself, a trailer is the answer!
Thomas
_________________ Absolute kayaking corrupts absolutely.
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