Living Car Free - Grocery hauling options

In an effort to use my car less I am exploring options for grocery shopping. I have panniers, etc. but still can't deal with those heavy or awkward items such as big packs of TP, boxes of kitty litter, etc.

I'm posting my poll in this forum since I figure the car-free crowd is the group that really uses these things and can comment on the pros and cons of a few options.

I plan to use my Surly Instigator as the mule. Disc brakes and a brace between the stays a couple inches in front of the left dropout may interfere with the standard Burley-style hitch attachment. What alse should I be aware of?

I'd go for a 2 wheeled trailer , it may be a bit heavier than a single but it will be more stable ,,well I think it would be anyway ( I haven't towed a single wheeler yet )

I use four panniers and carry tent guy line in case I need to lash anything over the top of my rear rack.

Most of the grocery stores I go to are within a 2 mile radius, easy walking distance. I only buy enough for maybe about two dishes (luckily two dishes can last several meals since I am single :) ) Thus I almost exclusively walk to the grocery. If I had to buy more food, I'd probably bike more but it isn't necessary right now.

The Xtracycle koolaid is quite persuasive on why it is better than a trailer:

http://www.xtracycle.com/subvtrailer.php

Two-wheeled trailers is going to win the poll, because two-wheeled trailers are what most people have. Xtracycle is not the best grocery hauler, either, a two-wheeled trailer is. That said, most people will do more grocery shopping and be happier about it on an SUB, not a trailer, and if you want to give people rides also, forget it, you need an Xtracycle.

As far as grocery shopping, here's your question for yourself: do I routinely need to pick up more than, say, six bags of groceries plus two large items like a case of toilet paper or a 50 pounder of cat food? Because that would be feasible with an Xtracycle plus Wideloaders, I'm pretty sure I could get it onto mine without the wideloaders for that matter. Six paper bags of groceries I've actually done, without strain. A two-wheeler will let you carry more, but how much more can you really haul?

Don't see one-wheelers as the solution for grocery hauling. If you have one already, for touring or the like, well then that's what you'll use, but at less capacity than an Xtracycle with an extra wheel, I'm not sure what I think the Yaks are useful for, now.

The other day I brought home(In one trip) some TV dinners, a big bottle of apple juice, a 12 pk of soda, numerous small items, a 25 lb bag of dog food, and a 12 pk of toilet paper. With nothing but my rack and grocery panniers.

It CAN be done.

That said, when I have the time/money/motivation (yes, need all three at once!) I'm going to build myself a two-wheeled trailer. But for now, I make do with only the rack and panniers, and I'm doing pretty good!

I voted "Something I haven't thought of yet" as no one mentioned
the obvious and best choice , and my favorite, the trike.

I seems damn funny to me that the rest of the world has figured out
the cycle to do utility hauling duties best is the tricycle. One can haul
an amazing amount of anything on a tricycle (and no, I don't mean
any of those low down pavement scraper trikes)

Since the cost of owning more than one cycle is so cheap , long term,
there is no reason not to add a utility trike to your cycle stable. This
would allow you to haul light stuff on your bike in panniers or milk
crate with heavy duty runs left to the trike as needed.

Remember.......This job ain't about looking cool...it's about moving
the maximum amount of materials without a car.

I voted Something I haven't thought of yet: Have you thought about paying for delivery?

I use big-ass Buzzard panniers to haul home the groceries. When I need to pick up really big/heavy stuff, I either wait until the next time I have to rent a car, take a cab, or I just pay to get it delivered (e.g., through www.grocerygateway.com. Compared to the cost of car ownership, it's really not a big deal for me to pay the extra $10 once in a while.

That being said, I've heard good things about the BOB trailers (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442412491&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693105&bmUID=1152194264709). They look pretty good for those determined to be completely self-sufficient.

For those really big groceries, I habe a burley nomad, but I've taken the habit to go to the grocery store by bike something like 2-3 times a week. Gives me a good reason to bike, and I got a really big backpack that fits most big items (even big tp packs)

The Xtracycle koolaid is quite persuasive on why it is better than a trailer:

http://www.xtracycle.com/subvtrailer.php

Two-wheeled trailers is going to win the poll, because two-wheeled trailers are what most people have. Xtracycle is not the best grocery hauler, either, a two-wheeled trailer is. That said, most people will do more grocery shopping and be happier about it on an SUB, not a trailer, and if you want to give people rides also, forget it, you need an Xtracycle.

As far as grocery shopping, here's your question for yourself: do I routinely need to pick up more than, say, six bags of groceries plus two large items like a case of toilet paper or a 50 pounder of cat food? Because that would be feasible with an Xtracycle plus Wideloaders, I'm pretty sure I could get it onto mine without the wideloaders for that matter. Six paper bags of groceries I've actually done, without strain. A two-wheeler will let you carry more, but how much more can you really haul?

Don't see one-wheelers as the solution for grocery hauling. If you have one already, for touring or the like, well then that's what you'll use, but at less capacity than an Xtracycle with an extra wheel, I'm not sure what I think the Yaks are useful for, now.

I like the idea of the Xtracycle, I may even get one someday... but this whole passenger thing has me really stumped. Why not just ride 2 bikes? Seems easier. And really, why not shop more often, then try to bring home the same quanitity of groceries that you would in an SUV with a bike? Different tools, different ways of living...

That said, I'm planning on a Burley Nomad or cargo trailer, or maybe a homemade job. I'm borrowing a BOB now, don't really like the 1 wheeled thing - tips over, hard to load, can't get odd stuff to balance well, etc. Seems 2 wheeled will balance the load better, be easier to load, and I can use it for odd stuff. 2 wheels also will allow me to use it as a camp table when I tour...

Also - what about panniers? I've got large Ortliebs -plenty big enough for groceries - and if I need more space, I can use the front panniers too...

All I've got right now is a rack bag and some elastic cargo nets. I can't carry much with those! I'm looking at buying a 2-wheel trailer at some point. Has anyone tried using one of those child-trailers for hauling groceries? Do they work as well as purpose-built hauling trailers?

I guess I'm a minimalist. I haul everything on my back. I don't have the need to buy a year's supply of toilet paper or whatever. I easily clip the 4 pack of TP, or bread or other light bulky stuff to the outside of my pack. I buy fresh food that will last me 2 or 3 days. I can get 20 pounds of groceries in my back pack, more when I clip stuff to the outside of it. When I had kitties, I took the bus to buy their litter. When I had two dependents living with me, they carried their own share of the sh**, and then some, on their strong young backs.

I like the trike idea, it's so practical, and an obvious choice now that it's been pointed out. Of course, you'd need enough room at home to store the trike when you're not using it.

Personally, if I have to haul a lot, I just put on the panniers, and strap my old army dufflebag to my back (it has shoulder straps), and make sure to take it easy going up the hills. It works in a pinch, and you can haul a lot that way, but it's not a method I'd recommend to anyone with any sense.

Hey, when I had no car and no bike, I carried everything, everywhere. I guess I was a minimalist too :) But when grapefruits were a quarter apiece, I didn't get twelve of them, and now I do. Also, I own hand drums, and have need to get them from place to place. I can fit them in my largest backpack but the strain on my back is enormous and the bike wobbles. But hey, I don't have to, anymore: all my drums fit my stock Xtracycle with room for the recording rig. Most of my grocery shopping goes in one tote, and is less than a mile away. Nice to have the long bike when I go five miles for bulk organics though!

As for the passenger thing: What's not to get? I suppose my wife could take her bike too when we go one or two miles (or occasionally twenty) out to a restaurant or a friend's house or whatever, but we wouldn't be able to converse on the way. Also, it has happened that I run into a friend and give him or her (it's generally her) a ride home, or to the train, or wherever, and that's a nice feeling. Also, with two bikes you may be able to ride farther, and with a tandem you can ride faster...but with an Xtracycle your passenger can surf if s/he cares to. I consider the passenger capacity an option that comes standard...it's as useful as you want it to be.

Thanks for all the input, the different perspectives are exactly what I was looking for.

Does anyone here have any experience or comments on the Wike trailers?

Baby - I use a milk crate zip-tied to rear rack of a steel mountain bike to make my groceries. The poll needs an "Other" optional answer. Jethro

Messenger bag made by chrome, 3800 cubic inches, will haul more than you probably can, Ive never filled it completely while grocery shopping even spending $60-70 and putting 50lbs of groceries in it, but I have filled it while doing messenger work. It will hold a 50lb box of copy paper plus a few more things, or a dozen 2 liter bottles and still close the lid.

I use my grocery panniers & bags, I can easily haul 2 weeks worth of groceries. Grocery shopping has become a non-issue with me. :)

Baby - I use a milk crate zip-tied to rear rack of a steel mountain bike to make my groceries. The poll needs an "Other" optional answer. Jethro


"Something I haven't thought of" works for "Other" as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the input.

Messenger bag made by chrome, 3800 cubic inches, will haul more than you probably can, Ive never filled it completely while grocery shopping even spending $60-70 and putting 50lbs of groceries in it, but I have filled it while doing messenger work. It will hold a 50lb box of copy paper plus a few more things, or a dozen 2 liter bottles and still close the lid.

I've heard good things about Chrome bags. I have a messenger bag and a couple different back packs but am not crazy about carrying lots of weight in them. It is good, however, to be reminded that I should use the tools I have and maybe I really don't need to spend $$$ on new stuff to get my errands done.

I use my grocery panniers & bags, I can easily haul 2 weeks worth of groceries. Grocery shopping has become a non-issue with me. :)

The panniers I have were purchased for commuting and aren't very big. I'll look into some decent grocery panniers or baskets. Since I'm a single guy, maybe I really don't need the capacity of a trailer for my weekly stuff.

Hmm...

Never tried a trailer, but luuuuvv my xtracycle!

For groceries and laundry I use my Radio Flyer Town and Country wagon. Since I have been without a car on and off for the last 6 years it has served me well. For errands I use a backpack and/or rear rack on my bike.

littledog

We take two bikes to the store, both fitted with the Performance Grocery (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18210&subcategory_ID=2312) Panniers. My touring bike has a front rack so in a pinch I can put both sets on it if I need to. Don't have a trailer at the moment, but that is going to be rectified shortly. Found some plans on line. I like the Yak. But I have never had an issue getting groceries home. I typically don't buy too much in bulk unless something is on sale. Another thing you might do, is take a cab once a month for the heavy shopping. Someone posted awhile back that they took the bus to the store and took the cab back once a month when they did their bulk shopping.

Aaron:)

I have a huge messenger bag- I can carry 6 or 7 bags of groceries all the way home- one or two on the handlebars and the rest in the bag. If I want to get more than that, I just walk and bring my grocery cart.

Koffee

These guys (http://bikecart.pedalpeople.com/index.html) have free plans for a two wheeled cart if you have the tools or resources. I am currently building one.

Try the Bike Friday trailer hitch; maybe it's different from the Burley.

I voted "Something I haven't thought of yet" as no one mentioned
the obvious and best choice , and my favorite, the trike.

I seems damn funny to me that the rest of the world has figured out
the cycle to do utility hauling duties best is the tricycle. One can haul
an amazing amount of anything on a tricycle (and no, I don't mean
any of those low down pavement scraper trikes)

Since the cost of owning more than one cycle is so cheap , long term,
there is no reason not to add a utility trike to your cycle stable. This
would allow you to haul light stuff on your bike in panniers or milk
crate with heavy duty runs left to the trike as needed.

Remember.......This job ain't about looking cool...it's about moving
the maximum amount of materials without a car.


:beer: I just took three complete bikes in shipping boxes over to the bike shop on my trike. NO problem. No one seems to get this. On a fairly flat surface I have ridden with a 200 lb load and gone up some short hills. It's all about the gearing.

You're right, you can hang huge amounts of stuff in and off a trike anywhere because it does not tip over at slow speed. Even a load that shifts it self quickly back and forth form one side to another does not cause a problem, like this one.......

i have the Xtracycle...I have a trailer, but I've never been "brave" enough to attach the trailer to the Xtracycle. I may try.

Even a load that shifts it self quickly back and forth form one side to another does not cause a problem, like this one.......

And what an incredibly cute load...

I use two large panniers, one backpack if necessary, and a front basket. I can carry about sixty pounds on the bike which is quite sufficient. I can carry twenty pound bags of cat litter easily in the panniers too.

eh... i use my grocery hog! one front basket, with huge wald pannier baskets on the back. I also have bungee cords for stuff to haul on top (works for pizza, too) of my rear load. I easily bring home between $60-80 of groceries. The awesome part?? bike = $15 (from a friend, and it came with the front basket), pannier baskets = $15.

woofreakinhoo

And what an incredibly cute load...


:beer:

for extremely large/heavy loads, we use a Bikes at Work 32" trailer.

Our proximity to the many groceries in our 'hood, and increased frequency of our visits, means that most of the time nowadays we just use panniers or baskets, though. I recently installed two folding metal baskets on the rear rack of my trailer-haulin' bike. They can hold a grocery bag each, and they're open at the top. This is sufficient for most grocery trips or the weekly CSA pickup.

So the BAW trailer now gets used mostly for cases of wine, feed-store trips, bike moves, and of course hauling coffee and cups to the bridge for the monthly Breakfast on the Bridges. It's perfect for that.

I am keeping track of my wish-i-had-an-xtracycle moments -- times when we forego something due to lack of cargo space, or times when we haul the trailer and then only fill it up 1/3 of the way. seems like an Xtra would be perfect for some of our higher-volume farmers market days.

Thanks for all the input, the different perspectives are exactly what I was looking for.

Does anyone here have any experience or comments on the Wike trailers?

I happen to live in the same town as Wike trailers.Last year I bought their Cargo trailer(large).
Got 2 tote boxes (Large and HUGE) So now I am completely independent for groceries and anything
else large to haul around.
This year I got one of their canoe trailers. It is one of the best priced available. Again they were
totally help ful with the fine tuning. Hooks up in less than a minute and launches just as fast.
The green rig on their website is mine. hope this helps.