Utility Cycling - Rehabbed a kiddie trailer

We hauled some recyclables down to our local collection point / brush dump using the trailer this weekend. We got some strange looks as we rode in as apparently there was a lot of people doing lawn work over the weekend so it was basically us and about 5 pickup trucks coming in at the same time. We just chuckled and went about our business.

I was out in the garage and looked at the old kiddie trailer I picked up last year and had sort of forgot about. It's loaded with old bike parts and wheels right now but since I can't do much riding in the snow I think I'll start tearing it apart. I noticed you said you didn't get many construction pictures so I'm going to try to take plenty of tear down and build up pictures and when I'm finished I'll post some links to the pics or a slide show or something here.

Love the write up on the trailer. I have also converted a kiddie trailer, and like to past a pic of me hauling a freezer to a friends house, but it is to big. Any suggestions on how to reduce it? I cropped it all ready.

Love the write up on the trailer. I have also converted a kiddie trailer, and like to past a pic of me hauling a freezer to a friends house, but it is to big. Any suggestions on how to reduce it? I cropped it all ready.

I assume you're saying the picture is to large. if you go to imageshack.us and upload it there they will offer you multiple sizes of thumbnails and also reduce the picture to about 1024x768 in it's full size. This is what I find to be the best method for posting to forums.

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I'm about to get my lazy @55 up and go to the garage and start tearing down the trailer, I'm not sure if I have all my tools here yet (just moved) so this may be short lived. I'll make sure to snap some pics though.

Nice build, I am working on a trailer project myself. Just trying to scrounge up a wheel for it right now.

Nice build, I am working on a trailer project myself. Just trying to scrounge up a wheel for it right now.

Thanks! Post some pictures wen you have it completed.

Just a quick few shots of the bike & trailer combo
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x74/RaiynStorm/MybiketrailerGroceryBF.jpg
Grocery Mode
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x74/RaiynStorm/MybiketrailerUtilityBF.jpg
Utility (Recycling / non food hauling)
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x74/RaiynStorm/MybiketrailerrearviewgroceryBF.jpg
Rear view in Grocery mode

I have a similar hitch as this on the kiddie trailer I just finished redoing

http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/1017/img0030croppedux3.jpg

except that mine is still intact and functioning. It is really "springy" though, and with every pedal stroke when I'm accelerating or on a hill, the trailer will heave forwards with a slight delay from the bike. It's annoying but workable.

I've been wondering if I replaced the rubber inside rod with a length of chain if this would take care of it? Or is this mostly just because of the spring and essentially can't be "fixed"?

I have a similar hitch as this on the kiddie trailer I just finished redoing

http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/1017/img0030croppedux3.jpg

except that mine is still intact and functioning. It is really "springy" though, and with every pedal stroke when I'm accelerating or on a hill, the trailer will heave forwards with a slight delay from the bike. It's annoying but workable.

I've been wondering if I replaced the rubber inside rod with a length of chain if this would take care of it? Or is this mostly just because of the spring and essentially can't be "fixed"?

It certainly can't hurt anything as the chain is certainly stronger than the rubber, but it won't cure the issue. Work on pedaling "in a circle" to smooth out your power delivery and downshift a notch or two more on the hills.

It certainly can't hurt anything as the chain is certainly stronger than the rubber, but it won't cure the issue. Work on pedaling "in a circle" to smooth out your power delivery and downshift a notch or two more on the hills.

I hadn't actually thought about that. I was just blaming everything on the trailer :D

I'll try it, thanks.

I hadn't actually thought about that. I was just blaming everything on the trailer :D

I'll try it, thanks.

No problem. I had similar issues with my rig. Also did you see the part about tire scrub and tire pressure on the first page?

No problem. I had similar issues with my rig. Also did you see the part about tire scrub and tire pressure on the first page?

Yep I saw that too, one more thing I never would have thought of. This thread was actually my inspiration to begin with btw, thanks :)

Yep I saw that too, one more thing I never would have thought of. This thread was actually my inspiration to begin with btw, thanks :)

Glad to know I could help. :beer:

Like this thread. Helped me decide what to do with my kiddie trailer. Did my first 10 miles today, snatched up some groceries and new tail lights :)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/th_S5030369.jpg (http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/S5030369.jpg)
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/th_S5030367.jpg (http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/S5030367.jpg)

Like this thread. Helped me decide what to do with my kiddie trailer. Did my first 10 miles today, snatched up some groceries and new tail lights :)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/th_S5030369.jpg (http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/S5030369.jpg)
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/th_S5030367.jpg (http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh223/joeslow/S5030367.jpg)

Glad to be of service. :beer:

Good work, Raiyn. Came out nice. :)

Two really nice trailer conversions. Probably the nicest ones I have seen.

Good work, Raiyn. Came out nice. :)
Thanks, I'm really happy with the way it turned out, especially since it was my first one.

Two really nice trailer conversions. Probably the nicest ones I have seen.
Thanks :beer: