When I got my 1236, I intended to put it on my camper and not get another trailer. It actually worked really well as the camper provided a flat, broad surface to set the boat on. I didn't need anything special, just dense foam pads to protect the camper. The trouble with that idea is that I go fishing a lot more than I go camping. I looked into some contraptions that were designed to help one person get a boat on top of a vehicle. It seems to me that by the time you get done spending the $ on the contraption you'll be well on your way towards the cost of a trailer. And, Jim is right about the motor, etc. It's not a major hassle to have to do and undo every time you go out, but it still takes time. The one thing I found I liked the least was having the motor in my Jeep because inevitably there were gas fumes. I don't know how old you are, but at my age lifting an 80# boat above my head wouldn't last too long. I'd spend more time in traction than fishing...