Recreational & Family - Need help selecting a trailer.

Wife and I bought a burley tandem (Rivazza /w carbon fork) last year (July) and love it (got 600 miles on it). Now we have a problem or a miracle depending on how you look it. Boy due in May, which was unexpected because we had given up after 3 failed attempts. Now I am a cyclist of 15 years, my wife is a newbie. I told her we should sell the tandem and she almost cried (cool for me!!!). So that being said we are looking to buy a trailer for next fall or early summer 2007. Usage will be mostly road, and some fireroad (with my mountian bike). If the kid likes the trailer we are hoping to get between 1-2 hour rides in.

Based on the info above where does a guy get info and ratings on a trailer. If you have had experience with one let me know. I know a lot about burly since I own a burley tandem but know nothing about the other brands. Are there good resoruces on the web for research. Was thinking about ebaying a trailer since we don't have tons of money with the kid comming.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Congratulations mtbcyclist! We tried for several years ourselves so I know how relieved, excited, scared, and thrilled you must be.

Anyway, we have a Chariot Cougar 2 for our twins. It was a bit spendy, but well worth it in my opinion. It converts to an excellent jogger too.

You might try epinions.com for comparisons. Good luck!

One feature I think is important is metal frame running around the whole outside, including outside the wheels.

Other posts on the topic:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=148590
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=168816 (you posted on this thread)
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=167960
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=166375
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=167511
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=165270
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=160035
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=126690
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=156097
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=155946
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=114439
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=125971

The above should cover what you are looking for and more :).

I have had both the Burley DLite and Chariot Cougar 2. Both are excellent and have pluses/minues. I had the DLite and got the Cougar, mainly because the jogging features were better. Both have HIGH resale.

Burley
Plus - LOTS of space for kids and storage (several bags of groceries), rolls wells, stays upright if bike doesn't, folds quite well.
Minus - Doesn't make the nicest jog stroller

Chariot
Plus - LOTS of attachment options, makes for a GREAT jogger, stays upright
Minus - almost half the storage of Burley, smaller seating space, more complex to fold

One feature I think is important is metal frame running around the whole outside, including outside the wheels.

Yes. My elderly Schwinn trailer has that frame around the outside, and it is very useful. It protects the trailer and wheels, and also provides a convenient location for mounting lots and lots of flashing strobe lights.

I am amazed by how courteous Houston drivers are when I am pulling the trailer. Normally, they either pretend not to see me, or (if they are a punk teen-age guy) swerve in my direction. With the trailer, they slow down, go five or ten feet to my left, and wave in a friendly manner.

Mtbcyclist: See, aren't you glad now that you posted here? Lots of info, links, and opinions!

Steve

Ah yes Fibber.... I stand corrected. LOTS of good info here. Thanks folks!

One item on trailers that seems to draw strong love/hate mail is the way they attach to the bike. Personally, I am a fan of the Burley universal frame mount, as I can easily move it bike to bike. I have not run the back of my heal into it, so, so far, it works for me.

Steve

One item on trailers that seems to draw strong love/hate mail is the way they attach to the bike. Personally, I am a fan of the Burley universal frame mount, as I can easily move it bike to bike. I have not run the back of my heal into it, so, so far, it works for me.

Steve

Conversely, I am a fan of the Chariot's skewer hitch. It attaches a ball and cup joint through the rear axle, which is probably the strongest part of the bike.

Having ridden a Burley for 1.5 years and a cycletote for 3 years, I much prefer the seatpost hitch on the cycletote. Any of them will be strong enough for you. I have never heard a story of any of the hitchs failing (anyone else?). I also have never heard a complaint about the safety features of any of the trailers. Although I have not heard comments, in any form, about the cheaper trailers available.

Your riding style, trailer ride quality, transportability, durability, trailer space, jogger capabilty, jogger quality, customer support and budget seem to be what drive the purschase decisions. Rank and rate any way you please ;).