Commuting - trailer for errands

I've been commuting to work for enough time now and I think I'd like to expand my bicycling powers to running errands. Can anyone recommend an affordable (student budget) bicycle trailer. Most I've found are fancier than needed (child seats/harnesses/mesh). I'm just looking for a simple contraption to hook onto my road bike and go. It can be open air as long as there's a securing mechanism. Thanks in advance.

----
Reza

The student budget part is the hard thing, but a Bob trailer works extremely well for me.

BobTrailer (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=19975&item=20-2158&slitrk=search&slisearch=true#)

I was visiting my inlaws in Oregon and noticed a few people collecting and hauling recycleables by bike trailer. It appeared as thought the bike might be their primary transport and recycling might be a big part of their income. That is, the bikes and trailers were older models, to say the least. The didn't have a fancey BOB trailer, but had found a deal on an older, used child carrier - the boxy kind, about three feet wide with a netting enclosure. I've thought about it, and if I were dead set on a bike trailer I'd start by looking at yard sales and the local pennysaver for a used child carrier.

DanO

Can anyone recommend an affordable (student budget) bicycle trailer.
Wike make a variety of trailers that seem good value. The prices are reasonable and they get very good reviews. They do a whole range of trailers, but you might find the cargo trailers (http://www.wike.ca/lct.htm) most appropriate?

Also, as someone mentioned above, a used child trailer could also make a good cargo trailer. Check out eBay - there are lots of Burley trailers for sale. Burleys seem to last for a long time and get good reviews too.

Used is good. I spent $50 on an old Cannondale bugger. It's heavy and has completly trashed and unserviceable bearings, but it does the job for me. I haul beaucoup fruits in that bad boy.

Or if you're the handy sort and have access to a welder, http://www.re-cycle.org/trailer/

I use this one almost daily for my work commutes:
http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/default5891.html?p=Flatbed&i=7

The horizontal PVC crossbars are so I don't have to tie everything down, I can just sit it in the trailer.

http://static.flickr.com/34/71291112_f7583156c2.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/34/71291167_d30883ed27.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/35/71291069_ef0f01c669.jpg

On a student's budget you would proabably be served just as well by a used, kids trailer picked up at a yard sale. I also have the Burley Solo and it pulls very well. :)

Watch garage sales and thrift stores or craigslist for old child carrier trailers. I've used our old one to haul large boxes and such around. They work fine and are generally pretty cheap used.

Build your own. It's really not as hard as you might think. This was finished in a weekend. I probably spent all of $12.00 on the hardware. Everything else was just stuff we had sitting around.

My first trailer. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=160351)

I have reworked the hitch now, but I don't have any pics yet. Initially, I was trying to build it as a do-it-all trailer, (hauling loads or the dog). However, I got a baby jogger from someone's trash heap and am in the process of converting it to a dog trailer. This one is now strictly for groceries and whatnot.

Wike make a variety of trailers that seem good value. The prices are reasonable and they get very good reviews. They do a whole range of trailers, but you might find the cargo trailers (http://www.wike.ca/lct.htm) most appropriate?

I'll second that recommendation. I have the largest Wike flatbed. I can bungee large things to the rails, and I have cheap plastic bins for groceries and such. It has a capacity of 125lbs, although I don't think I've ever carried more than 75lbs or so.

Wike make a variety of trailers that seem good value. The prices are reasonable and they get very good reviews. They do a whole range of trailers, but you might find the cargo trailers (http://www.wike.ca/lct.htm) most appropriate?

You can also buy kits to make your own from Wike, and save some $$ that way.