Bikes for Trailers vs Bikes for racks

[cycler0707]

I've decided on pulling a trailer for my journey across the US next summer but now the harder choice, bike selection. Are there touring bikes that pull trailers better then others? I'm leaning towards the Safari right now (cost, speed of acquisition, and 3 riders who have purchased and recommend) but I'm still hoping to test ride a few other bikes before purchasing in mid-April. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[bmike]

Might want to float this over in the Touring (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=47) Forum.

[big john]

Why a trailer? Are you camping and cooking out?

[Michel Gagnon]

I'll forget the question "Should I ride with panniers, trailer or both?"

Bikes that work best with 2-wheel trailer
Basically any bike, because there is no twisting or bending moment on the bike. A two wheel trailer is usually attached on the left side of the rear quick release, so you should look for a bike that has fairly flat dropouts rather than fancy looking ones with the bolt in a "cavity".


Bikes that work best with a single-wheel trailer
Bikes that have a laterally rigid rear end.
This includes the typical "touring" bikes such as Bruce Gordon's, Trek 520, Cannondale Txxx and many others. It also includes many hybrids and cyclocross bikes, as well as unsuspended and suspended mountain bikes. Indeed, suspended mountain bikes tend to be very rigid laterally, so the single-wheel trailer works great with them. I heard of quite a few cross-country tourers which had a problem with the rear wheel of their then new Cannondale tourer (multiple broken spokes), but I suspect it is a problem with poorly tensioned spokes rather than bike design. IOW, check spoke tension before you leave.

Generally speaking, I would prefer any bike with a 135-mm dropout width (i.e. mountain hub) rather than a 130-mm dropout width (i.e. road hub), because it makes the rear wheel less subject to bending and/or twisting. But bikes with a chainstay length of 42-43 cm (i.e. generally considered too short for panniers) work fine with trailer.

Bikes that work best with panniers
Bikes that have a rigid rear end as well as long chain stays. A rigid rear rack is also good, especially if you want to carry the kitchen sink.