Bike trailer
- Thread starter slowworm
- Start date
-
BushMoot: Come along to the amazing Summer Moot 31st July - 5th August (extended Moot : 27th July - 8th August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
I used a single wheel, Bob yak style on a family cycle tour in Scotland. I needed more load capacity since our 3 year old was on my partner's bike and I only had rear pannier rack? Loaded it was a pig to balance with it. Never tried it unloaded but if expect to not to feel that bad.
Two wheeler trailers are better with carry freedom considered the best I think. Those don't affect bike balance and from experience of our son's two seat child trailer when without child, shouldn't be too bad when empty. Loaded they're the better option too.
Bear in mind they're free rolling so whilst you do get drag it's not too bad. Aerodynamics in a headwind was very noticeable with even the streamlined burly trailer we had. A flat bed cargo trailer without a load shouldn't be too much of an issue in a head wind. Loaded is always a different matter!!
What use do you have in mind for the trailer? Cargo, shopping, touring load or other?
Two wheeler trailers are better with carry freedom considered the best I think. Those don't affect bike balance and from experience of our son's two seat child trailer when without child, shouldn't be too bad when empty. Loaded they're the better option too.
Bear in mind they're free rolling so whilst you do get drag it's not too bad. Aerodynamics in a headwind was very noticeable with even the streamlined burly trailer we had. A flat bed cargo trailer without a load shouldn't be too much of an issue in a head wind. Loaded is always a different matter!!
What use do you have in mind for the trailer? Cargo, shopping, touring load or other?
I regularly use a 2 wheeler trailer with the bike. Highly recommend for moving stuff about and saving unnecessary car trips. So versatile.
Easy to tow, don't notice it too much when up to speed, braking or cornering. Just have to be aware of it when passing narrow spaces or tight turns. Can be a bit of hassle when pushing the bike through busy places or boarding trains.
Easy to tow, don't notice it too much when up to speed, braking or cornering. Just have to be aware of it when passing narrow spaces or tight turns. Can be a bit of hassle when pushing the bike through busy places or boarding trains.
Yes, it's for moving stuff about rather than long treks. So a couple of bags of shopping, a bag of rubbish or even chainsaw or air rifle. Not far but over poor rural roads.
I was thinking a 2 wheeler but not something overly expensive. I hadn't really thought about it but perhaps breaking if carrying a fair load would be a bit of a concern.
I notice some connect to the rear hub and some under the saddle - is any option better than the other?
I was thinking a 2 wheeler but not something overly expensive. I hadn't really thought about it but perhaps breaking if carrying a fair load would be a bit of a concern.
I notice some connect to the rear hub and some under the saddle - is any option better than the other?
Rear hub is better because the seat tube mounts can affect stability. Axle mount you can lean your bike as you pedal without leaning the trailer. It kind of isolates the bike and trailer in a way. The burly trailers have a good mount that flexes in all directions so you can even lay your bike flat on the ground without tilting the trailer at all. I think carry freedom is similar?
There's another certain type of hitch which can be retro fitted to other trailer makes which is as good. Unfortunately I can't remember what it's called. I've heard of people getting their hands on a cheap trailer, stripping it back to the bare chassis, adding that hitch and bolting a box onto it. There's trailer makes that supply the bare chassis and you can attach your own container or buy one they make.
There's another certain type of hitch which can be retro fitted to other trailer makes which is as good. Unfortunately I can't remember what it's called. I've heard of people getting their hands on a cheap trailer, stripping it back to the bare chassis, adding that hitch and bolting a box onto it. There's trailer makes that supply the bare chassis and you can attach your own container or buy one they make.
Mine attaches to the hub, via hitch that attaches to the hub axle skewer. Simple to set up and quick to hitch and unhitch. Never tried a seat post attachment, but would imagine the hub attachment is more stable. Seat post might be more maneuverable in very tight places.
I think they tend to come with 16" or 20" wheels, perhaps look for the bigger size for rougher roads.
Also I'd look for one without, or at least removable side frames. If everything is boxed, bagged or lashed securely they do nothing except get in the way and add weight.
I think you can get a good one off eBay for about £60 to £100. Mine was originally a pet trailer with the canvas compartment bit removed to make it into a flatbed.
I've covered well over 1000miles with it, all sorts of loads, camping gear, shopping, firewood, my elderly dog, children, other bikes, inflatable canoes, kitesurf gear etc etc.
I think they tend to come with 16" or 20" wheels, perhaps look for the bigger size for rougher roads.
Also I'd look for one without, or at least removable side frames. If everything is boxed, bagged or lashed securely they do nothing except get in the way and add weight.
I think you can get a good one off eBay for about £60 to £100. Mine was originally a pet trailer with the canvas compartment bit removed to make it into a flatbed.
I've covered well over 1000miles with it, all sorts of loads, camping gear, shopping, firewood, my elderly dog, children, other bikes, inflatable canoes, kitesurf gear etc etc.
Very impressive trailer, was part of it once a ladder? I don't need to carry that much for now but it's good to know you can carry a fair bit as, one day, I could cycle long logs back. Do you get many comments from other people when cycling those loads about?
Thanks for the other replies. I'm looking at a cheapish £100 trailer to start with, then I can have a bit of a play with and changes as required. I'll look for a hub connection and see if I can get some decent sized wheels on it.
Thanks for the other replies. I'm looking at a cheapish £100 trailer to start with, then I can have a bit of a play with and changes as required. I'll look for a hub connection and see if I can get some decent sized wheels on it.
It was indeed a ladder I actually bought a triple ladder just for the purpose of cutting up to make it
:0) yeah I get a fair few looks from people when out and about with it.
Normally lots of comments from people asking where they can get one form.
I’m working on a smaller trailer which I should hopefully get done soon that I’ll stick pictures up of
Cheers Russ
A bit later than expected but ......
This is the other trailer that I’ve made for my nephew picked it up last week
He’s a happy boy
Cheers Russ
This is the other trailer that I’ve made for my nephew picked it up last week
He’s a happy boy
Cheers Russ
I have 2 with different sized wheels depending on the load. This is a 15 mile trek to a camping spot wife a& I go to alot where there's a yurt.
This is the big(ger) trolley
This is the big(ger) trolley
Am using a BOB ibex trailer, upgraded the suspension to an air shock,
and bigger wheel tyre 20"x2.4 as apposed to 16"x1.75 all ad to a softer ride,
removed the steel mesh base bed and made a nylon pals fabric base for better load
mounting options and removable,
being a single wheel its good for narrow trails but if you overload it can
be awkward when not riding the bike as you have to hold the weight balance
with the bike, a trailer kick stand would help this when parking, also have a Thule chariot2
which is a 2kid trailer and two wheeled with leaf spring suspension, this can take more weight, is more stable though not ideal on single track hill trails.
and bigger wheel tyre 20"x2.4 as apposed to 16"x1.75 all ad to a softer ride,
removed the steel mesh base bed and made a nylon pals fabric base for better load
mounting options and removable,
being a single wheel its good for narrow trails but if you overload it can
be awkward when not riding the bike as you have to hold the weight balance
with the bike, a trailer kick stand would help this when parking, also have a Thule chariot2
which is a 2kid trailer and two wheeled with leaf spring suspension, this can take more weight, is more stable though not ideal on single track hill trails.
I’ve got a Burley Coho XC, it was expensive but I find it really good. Once I’ve got my speed up, it’s not that noticeable even with a full load, except for up hill. Being one wheel, you don’t have to worry about clearance as it follows the same line as the bike. The one thing I haven’t worked out is, is it better with the weight at the front or back because very occasionally when really loaded, you get a bit of a fish tail wobble, but only when it’s loaded to the limit.
I've had a few trailers over the years but the one I found to most useful is the Burley Travoy.
The Travoy works really well as a bike trailer and a handcart and has a pretty good capacity plus useful bags and straps too. Unfortunately like all the best trailers they are expensive.
I liked my BOB Yak but it was too focused for me, its purely a touring trailer and a bit unweildy when its off the bike.
The Travoy works really well as a bike trailer and a handcart and has a pretty good capacity plus useful bags and straps too. Unfortunately like all the best trailers they are expensive.
I liked my BOB Yak but it was too focused for me, its purely a touring trailer and a bit unweildy when its off the bike.
i used a "bob" trailer (no idea which model, bought second-hand) for a year in Aotearoa, while it did the job i would (probably) not use one again: it was difficult to balance with one wheel behind, the "twisting force" between the front and back of the trailer caused a crack in the frame (=at the joint of the two parts) which was a p.i.t.a. to weld due to the thin material, i also wish it would have been a tad bigger to fit my large backpack into it instead of having to cycle with it (almost empty) on my back...
I've used a single wheel touring trailer and they're rubbish. I've pulled a child and a dog trailer. They roll nicely if you get a good one like burley brand.
Get one with a good, solid hitch. Saw a guy having to go out into traffic at a junction when his trailer came off the bike leaving it in the middle of the road with cars going past both sides.
For cargo use people sometimes make their own. You can buy good cargo trailers as frame on wheels or as ready made with a platform or box attached. If you get the frame version you can make your own carrying surface or container.
Get one with an axle hitch or a very good rear triangle hitch I think it might be called a Weber hitch. Burley hitches are good fixed to the axle.
Similar threads
