catrike pocket + child trailer

[zymurguy]

Okay folks,

I've done some looking around but haven't found what I'm looking for... blame it on being new here, I am... but anyway I have a question I was hoping you could help me with.

I've been researching tadpole trikes and I've settled on the catrike pocket. This will be my first 'bent and it's about all I can afford so I didn't really have too many options.

So, the wife says I can get the Pocket if I can still pull our son in his Chariot Cougar 2 trailer. I first thought, "hey no problem". But now I can't seem to find much info about child trailers and recumbents.

Is anyone out there pulling a child trailer with a Catrike? or specifically a Pocket?

Thanks!!!

Cheers,

Zymurguy

[jeff-o]

Hmmm, where does the child carrier attach to your bike right now?

[zymurguy]

Thanks for the reply!

Currently, my Chariot Couger 2 trailer uses a hitch that clamps on at the rear axle between the skewer lever and the frame at the drop-out. It's a real small hitch featuring a flat section with a hole in it for the quick release skewer and a cup shaped region for the ball of the hitch to snap into.

My diamond frame road bike has 700c series wheels so the axle is... what... uh... about 13" off the ground, right? So this means the hitch is at that same height.

The Catrike Pocket uses 16" wheels all around so if I were to put the same hitch in the same respective location it would only be 8" off the ground and this may put the trailer at too much of a declination for the child to ride comfortably/safely (at least that's what I envision).

The Catrike Pocket has a vertical frame tube rising up from the rear drop-outs (akin to a seat stay on diamond frames). I was thinking that I might be able to fabricate a bracket to clamp on to the Pocket's frame to re-locate the hitch to a more appropriate height. I'm just a little worried about clamping anything onto a frame tube (especially aluminium). I know that if engineered properly a bracket could clamp with sufficient force without damaging the frame but I'm not really an engineer and I'm nervous about voiding warranties, etc.

I may be totally off base here too as I'm sure there are some that would say that I just should't consider towing a child carrier/trailer with such a short wheel base trike in the first place.

So, any sort of ideas, experiences, suggestions would be greatly appreciated... thanks!!!


Cheers,

Zymurguy

[jeff-o]

In that case, I'd consider trying to engineer a bracket that extends from the Pocket's axle up 5" to meet the trailer hitch. For all I know, someone may already manufacture such a thing...

[zymurguy]

That's a pretty good idea too... maybe it would just need to brace against the upright frame tube (seat stay). Thanks! That's a pretty good idea!

[meb]

Thanks for the reply!

Currently, my Chariot Couger 2 trailer uses a hitch that clamps on at the rear axle between the skewer lever and the frame at the drop-out. It's a real small hitch featuring a flat section with a hole in it for the quick release skewer and a cup shaped region for the ball of the hitch to snap into.

My diamond frame road bike has 700c series wheels so the axle is... what... uh... about 13" off the ground, right? So this means the hitch is at that same height.

The Catrike Pocket uses 16" wheels all around so if I were to put the same hitch in the same respective location it would only be 8" off the ground and this may put the trailer at too much of a declination for the child to ride comfortably/safely (at least that's what I envision).

The Catrike Pocket has a vertical frame tube rising up from the rear drop-outs (akin to a seat stay on diamond frames). I was thinking that I might be able to fabricate a bracket to clamp on to the Pocket's frame to re-locate the hitch to a more appropriate height. I'm just a little worried about clamping anything onto a frame tube (especially aluminium). I know that if engineered properly a bracket could clamp with sufficient force without damaging the frame but I'm not really an engineer and I'm nervous about voiding warranties, etc.

I may be totally off base here too as I'm sure there are some that would say that I just should't consider towing a child carrier/trailer with such a short wheel base trike in the first place.

So, any sort of ideas, experiences, suggestions would be greatly appreciated... thanks!!!


Cheers,

Zymurguy

Sounds like you have Charriot's EZ Hitch rather than their standard hitch. Their standard hitch clamps to the stays. I suspect the EZ Hitch was an upgrade substitute else you wouldn't be posting this question if you have both attachment systems.

You could get an extra EZ Hitch skewar from REI online for $17.00. You could also get the standard hitch if you order a cycling kit and have the option of use with several bikes. If you already have the standard clamp, just substitute the clamp.

If the thread was not directed at the attachment but rather a tadpole vs. bike question, the 3 wheels of the trike will give greater control and stability relative the bike, and the increase in rolling and aero resistance should be milder with a trike vs. a bike.

[meb]

Thanks for the reply!

Currently, my Chariot Couger 2 trailer uses a hitch that clamps on at the rear axle between the skewer lever and the frame at the drop-out. It's a real small hitch featuring a flat section with a hole in it for the quick release skewer and a cup shaped region for the ball of the hitch to snap into.

My diamond frame road bike has 700c series wheels so the axle is... what... uh... about 13" off the ground, right? So this means the hitch is at that same height.

The Catrike Pocket uses 16" wheels all around so if I were to put the same hitch in the same respective location it would only be 8" off the ground and this may put the trailer at too much of a declination for the child to ride comfortably/safely (at least that's what I envision).

The Catrike Pocket has a vertical frame tube rising up from the rear drop-outs (akin to a seat stay on diamond frames). I was thinking that I might be able to fabricate a bracket to clamp on to the Pocket's frame to re-locate the hitch to a more appropriate height. I'm just a little worried about clamping anything onto a frame tube (especially aluminium). I know that if engineered properly a bracket could clamp with sufficient force without damaging the frame but I'm not really an engineer and I'm nervous about voiding warranties, etc.

I may be totally off base here too as I'm sure there are some that would say that I just should't consider towing a child carrier/trailer with such a short wheel base trike in the first place.

So, any sort of ideas, experiences, suggestions would be greatly appreciated... thanks!!!


Cheers,

Zymurguy

Regarding differing r wheel diameters, I've used the same Trek Trailer (made by Charriot) on plural road bikes, a mountain bikes, 406 rear wheel recumbent, and a 305 rear wheel folder, no handling or control problems. My stays are too big and I have body clearance issues on my 305 rear Corsa tadpole, so no luck there. At any rate, rear axle to trailer axle is about 3 feet, so 5" would change the lightly loaded tongue angle about 8 degrees and the interval between the rear axle and the trailer by .4".

[zymurguy]

Thanks for the cool info!

I'll look into the 'standard hitch'. I think our chariot came with the EZ hitch (using a q.r. skewer) and we bought another one for my wife's bike. Perhaps the standard hitch can more easily be adapted.

I'm hoping to place an order for my Catrike Pocket this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once I get it I'll evaluate the angle differences between the diamond frame bikes and the Pocket and see if I really need to worry about it or not. I just thought it might be worth doing some preliminary exploration on it.

THANKS AGAIN!!!

[meb]

Thanks for the cool info!

I'll look into the 'standard hitch'. I think our chariot came with the EZ hitch (using a q.r. skewer) and we bought another one for my wife's bike. Perhaps the standard hitch can more easily be adapted.

I'm hoping to place an order for my Catrike Pocket this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once I get it I'll evaluate the angle differences between the diamond frame bikes and the Pocket and see if I really need to worry about it or not. I just thought it might be worth doing some preliminary exploration on it.

THANKS AGAIN!!!

The EZ hitch comes on and off faster, the but standard hitch will accomodate the vast majority of bikes.

[ChiliDog]

There's a photo of a fellow pulling a Burley D'Lite with his Catrike Speed over on BROL. Of course, it has 20" wheels in the rear.

If the wheel size is an issue, can you swap out the trailers wheels to 16"? I'll be interested in your answer as I am getting a Pocket and want to tow my "kids" too in a child trailer.

[zymurguy]

do you have a link to that forum/thread ? I've looked around and I can't find the pic. I'd sure like to see it!!! THANKS!

[ChiliDog]

Under the thread, "Another triker on the loose" under General Discussion...