Utility Cycling - The post your trailer thread.

I imagine going downhill with a load like that could be really fun! Especially if you are of the opinion that brakes and stopping are over rated! :)

Yeah, that was a big reason why I upgraded bikes, my dear old Cannondale with canti brakes up front and a U-brake in the rear were not up to the task. The disc brakes on the new bike stop freaking time :D and the wet don't bother them at all!

Cheers!

Thats really nice and efficent looking. I like your links of the Bikes too. Very nice!

Finally got some pics of my new trailer after a trip to the store.

Case of water for size comparison.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/Nigal/Bike%20Stuff/438.jpg

Weeks worth of groceries. About 50-60 lbs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/Nigal/Bike%20Stuff/436.jpg

Hitch to quick release.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/Nigal/Bike%20Stuff/439.jpg

The wheels feel like the heaviest part of the whole thing. 20" I think.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/Nigal/Bike%20Stuff/441.jpg

With the cover on it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/Nigal/Bike%20Stuff/444.jpg

OK so it is a sort of gooie substance that is applied to stop the bolt moving? Keeps the bot in place?

Thread locking adhesive is anaerobic - the presence of air stops it setting. So, applying it to the thread and fitting a nut excludes air causing it to set. Make sure to use the right strength for the size of bolt (read the instructions), as some of these adhesives set so firmly that you'll never undo them. Help is at hand however, application of heat denatures the adhesive. I inadvertently used a permanent grade on an Aluminium frame, these screws weren't going to come out. Luckily, I was able to heat the screws with a spot-welder, just a moment's heating and they came out easily. Without the ability to apply heat to the bolt only (a gas torch wouldn't have been localised enough), I would have scrapped the frame, or damaged the paint.

Nylock nuts use a undersized nylon washer crimped to the nut. This is cold-formed by the thread when the nut is tightened over a male thread. This is very effective at preventing loosening through vibration.

Hope this helps.

Oh thanks that info is very helpful. Seems the new nuts and bolts that are in place right now are holding but it is good to know that there is something else i can do :0)

A few pics of my latest creation:
http://tinypic.com/r/2yxkj20/7
http://tinypic.com/r/21oymu0/7
http://tinypic.com/r/2crltkx/7
http://tinypic.com/r/5l7xvc/7

I'll probably replace the home made universal with a heim joint, for the added stability at the pivot point.

I got a Aosom Cargo Bicycle Trailer yesterday. The trailer is a lot bigger then I was thinking it would be.

I plan to do a real review later because I could not find any information my self about this trailer. I also have not ridden it with any weight so I will have to talk about that later. The trailer is big. 2 adults could probably sit in it. The carrying capacity is 180lb its steel. My girlfriend really wants to ride in back. I might try it out. Only at low speeds.

The construction seems to be pretty nice. Its steel with a steel bottom, 35lb because of that. Its actually 36in wide, to wide for a door way, so you have to take it sideways though the door. The wheels are not true, I will have to take care of that later, the wheels are steel. I have put reflective tape on the side bars, and put light mounts on it, and a reflector on back.

I'm pretty happy with the trailer. And the price was great.
The side bars can be taken off .

http://breadbike.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/20110831-095001.jpg?w=500
I had better photos but this will have to do for now.

Here is the description from their page
Description
Brand New
Color: red and black
Size: Large
Made by steel metal with solid bottom
Easily assembles and folds down for storage
One bicycle hitch/connector included, you do not need anything else to connect the trailer to the bike
Including a removable, washable cover
Folding Frame
Cubage about. 140 Liter.
Specially strengthen Bottom.
Trailer Weight: 35lbs
Max loading : 180lb
Size: 31.5x24x14inch (LxWxH)(This just the inside its actually 36in wide. to wide for a door way, so you have to take it sideways though the door)
The size of the tires are 20"(Diameter) x 2.125"
Length with drawbar is about: 54inch
Package Size: 28x22x14inch (LxWxH).

Aosom Website Cargo Bike Link (http://www.aosom.com//index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=46)

I upgraded the tyres on my trailer to Comet Primos which run at 100 psi... unloaded I barely know the trailer is there and these really lower the rolling resistance from the 50 psi Kendas it came with.

Amckinney,
I bought a trailer just like yours to put a seat on. my wife has ms, I wanted something to cruise the boardwalk. I added a kickstand in front, makes it more stable when your passenger is getting on and 203587off. I put a set of wheels on the back, that solved two problems, a seat makes the center of gravity higher, there is a little bit of a bobbing203586 motion. The back wheels smooth out the ride and also makes it easier to roll through doorways with the wheels off. If your on the road those kn203585obby tires make a lot of vibration. I put on a pair of whitewall slicks, lot smoother ride. I have put about 150 miles on it, very happy so far.203584

Very cool, Dave Armstrong! :thumb:

A squirrel stole my sandwich but I got most of it back.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC01923.jpg

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC01924-1.jpg

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC01971.jpg

Looking for more.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC01974.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2011shastatrailer1.JPG

Changed the dual drive on the Shasta's 3 speed hub from a 16/18 to an 18/22 which makes it fairly capable as a trailer puller.

I stumbled across this Oregon business Equinox Trailers ("www.equinoxtrailers.com) and I'm very happy I waited. I have 2 thirty pound dogs, so it's not a weight issue, but a layout concern that kept me from getting one of the typical pet trailers. I looked at new and used pet trailers for months before coming across this website.

I took the trailer out Wednesday for a shakedown ride and it's very well behaved. One thing that showed why it's good to have a custom trailer, is the owner redesigned the divider in the trailer to attach lengthwise, instead of his standard width wise partition.
Now my dogs can stand more comfortably in the trailer and although no one had asked for this configuration before, he came up with a solution that works very well and did not charge me extra.

The trailer can adjust to 3 different widths and if I take out the center divider and the floor, I'm pretty sure I don't ever need to use a car to go grocery shopping again!
I can haul as much in this pet trailer as we've ever put in a vehicle and the pictures he showed me of what these trailers can haul make me confident it can haul what I throw in there.

I can't recommend this company enough. I don't have a public site I post pictures to, but PM me, if you'd like and I'd be happy to send pictures of my trailer, hitch and bike.

We made some trailers for our folders. I posted it in the Folding bike forum. Link here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/756474-We-made-some-trailers-for-our-trips-w-folders.

Has anyone ever seen one these Cannondale trailers? I picked it up for $20 yesterday.
I love the aero wheels.
I am thinking it would be a cool salt flats sidecar.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/RatRodBikes%20Build%20Off/Photo-0015.jpg
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/RatRodBikes%20Build%20Off/Photo-0014.jpg
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/RatRodBikes%20Build%20Off/Photo-0016.jpg

Finally built my trailer with 20" wheels:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05135.jpg
1" square tubing, all bolted on, no welds.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05136.jpg
With my DL-1.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05134.jpg
Wheel attachment.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05130.jpg
Towbar attachment & tension cable, rope loops for bungee cords.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05133.jpg
Tension cable (rear).

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05131.jpg
Towbar.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05128.jpg
Hitch.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05138.jpg
Hitch attachment.

Probably a bit overbuilt, fairly heavy at 17kg, but easy to tow, even on a dirt road with mud patches. Max load 25 kg so far, but I think it could easily carry 50kg.
Thanks to UC forum members for all the useful info!

I just put this one together today.

Not sure which brand trailer this was but I am sure it was the cheapest one you could get. I used it for kids for about 6 years and the fabric was Hammered. I stripped it and used some of the top frame for the side rails. I mounted the steralite tote using mostly holes and hardware from the original trailer (I drilled one hole in the frame before realizing that it was not necessary).

I am planning to use it in my commute and to carry things on short 10mi errands.

Finally built my trailer with 20" wheels:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee42/Reynolds51/DSC05135.jpg
1" square tubing, all bolted on, no welds.

Probably a bit overbuilt, fairly heavy at 17kg, but easy to tow, even on a dirt road with mud patches. Max load 25 kg so far, but I think it could easily carry 50kg.
Thanks to UC forum members for all the useful info!


Really impressed with this one, do you have a build thread up at all?

Really impressed with this one, do you have a build thread up at all?

PM sent.

Cheers but can't reply, because I haven't posted enough. But the answer was, yes please.

Here's my one-hour trailer. I wanted a little beater flatbed to haul water containers with. I had the set of wheels and axle kicking around in the garage, salvaged from a kiddy trailer that someone had thrown away. I used the hitch arm from my Burley Nomad. I just put the rest together from scraps that were laying around. The bed is a piece of 3/4" plywood.There's a couple of lengths of square metal tubing underneath to stiffen the whole thing up. To attach the hitch arm I used pieces of plastic sink drain tubing and clamped them on under 1" pipe clamps, the arm just slides in and I used a 3/8 bolt to hold it in place. Took about an hour to build and works like a charm. I can remove the two by twos in a second and use it as a flatbed to haul anything. I used it the other day to haul two containers of water, seven gallons each. That's about 120 pounds of water and the wheels/tires/bearings seemed to be fine with the load. So, It's an ugly little thing, but it was free and it's perfectly functional.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/jesusridesaroadthing/WaterTrailer.jpg

UPDATE:

Found out today that it works great for getting groceries!

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i110/jesusridesaroadthing/100_0867.jpg

Wow, that Croozer Trailer looks really nice.

Has anyone got a trailor on a biek that is electric and has a motor on the back wheel. I am asking because i have had some trouble with my bike. Will elaborate later :0)

Tonight's grocery run... hot my two favourite grocers and the teller at each asked, "how are you going to carry that on your bike?"

This is why I love my trailer.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/sept27groceryrun.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SItcPIU8RT0/ToQN79unOZI/AAAAAAAAAF0/eRijEXJ6bcY/s400/Load%252520of%252520Wood%252520.jpg
My mama always said, Trailers is as trailer does. I'm very impressed at all the other trailers I've seen. I built this one for hauling my twelve foot surf board. The lumber run was a test case. I put it together for about $30. Someday I'll upgrade to something more pretty. Maybe when I learn to braze! A trailer would be good practice before building a frameset.

... http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC01923.jpg

Your axle looks a little bent. What's the story?

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2011kuwie18trailer1.JPG

The trailer has been seeing a lot of use of late...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2011kuwie18trailer1.JPG

The trailer has been seeing a lot of use of late...

Is that an old Chariot trailer?

Is that an old Chariot trailer?

It is a repurposed MEC child trailer... reconfigured the internal frame to make a press bar and replaced the stock low psi tyres with Comet Primo racing tyres which makes it roll out much faster.

The tote slips in right between the wheels and frame and is secured laterally in this fashion and the tension off the bar keeps it snug, especially when it is unloaded.

Makes it a 30 second job to remove it and use the trailer as a flat bed.

This is my first trailer, a Burley Flatbed. I got it last week and so far I've only really used it twice. The first time I hauled a pretty heavy load of groceries, and today I used it to ride downtown and pick up a drafting table I'd been wanting. It worked pretty well, although riding through some pretty thick traffic and halfway across town with the oversize load was kind of tense at times.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/lamplightsg/Rockadile/102911144021crop.jpg

This is my first trailer, a Burley Flatbed. I got it last week and so far I've only really used it twice. The first time I hauled a pretty heavy load of groceries, and today I used it to ride downtown and pick up a drafting table I'd been wanting. It worked pretty well, although riding through some pretty thick traffic and halfway across town with the oversize load was kind of tense at times. ]

Hi there Lamplight,

I find that in the UK, bike-trailers seem to scare drivers and they keep well away from me. Perhaps it's different in the US.
I have a CarryFreedom Y-Frame Large
http://i54.tinypic.com/1o1tw3.jpg

Hi there Lamplight,

I find that in the UK, bike-trailers seem to scare drivers and they keep well away from me. Perhaps it's different in the US.
I have a CarryFreedom Y-Frame Large
http://i54.tinypic.com/1o1tw3.jpg
Oh that's definitely the case here as well, at least in my town. I noticed most people giving me a LOT more room, especially when the trailer is loaded. I think it was just tense for me because a) I'm not really used to towing yet, and b) That table is quite a bit large than the trailer, so I was taking up a lot of room. In most places I was wider than the bike lane!

Just scored a Chariot single at the bike co-op in relatively fine shape and it has an older style tubular hitch arm and universal frame clamp that does not use the newer quick release design and square tubing.

So am wondering if this was one of the models that was subject to a hitch recall and if it can be refitted with the newer hitch design which also works with the axle mounted Chariot hitch ?

Will have to take some pictures later... think it may be the ideal light duty / puppy hauling / camping trailer as it is narrower and lighter than my other utility trailer.

Oh yeah... paid $20.00 for it and as the old hitch seems secure will test it on the ride home.

Home... ride was great and the suspension on the chariot really was noticeable as I took the roughest roads I could find on the way home and even jumped a curb or two due to the nature of the tow vehicle.

My other trailer will bounce around a little when it is unloaded but the Chariot just sails over the bumps as smooth as can be... and it is narrow enough to go through a door with the wheels on.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2011chariot1.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/2011chariot2.JPG

Has anyone ever seen one these Cannondale trailers? I picked it up for $20 yesterday.
I love the aero wheels.
I am thinking it would be a cool salt flats sidecar.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/RatRodBikes%20Build%20Off/Photo-0015.jpg
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/RatRodBikes%20Build%20Off/Photo-0014.jpg
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac348/kingfish254/RatRodBikes%20Build%20Off/Photo-0016.jpg

I scored one of these recently for $8. No hitch though and I'd like to fabricate one. Ideas needed.

I found a deal on craigslist for a instep trailer and converted it to a flat bed.
http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy48/dan42_2009/trailer004.jpg
http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy48/dan42_2009/trailer005.jpg
http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy48/dan42_2009/trailer006.jpg
Her she is on her first haul today!
http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy48/dan42_2009/trailer015.jpg

Dan42,I just bought one of those too,LOL! (I must have deleted the pics off the hard drive,I'll shoot more soon). Got mine new at...ugh...Wallymart because they had them for $88 or so regular priced,but on sale 1\2 off-wanting an Xtracycle-but not knowing the extent it'd get used (see my user-title under my username....DISABLED Cyclist :twitchy:),I wanted to see what a c-note trailer looked like now-a-days,and for under $50 new....I couldn't not get it :thumb:

Singlespeed92, I have been enjoying mine. I use it more than I thought I would! I also picked up a "tuff box" at homedepot for $13.00 and just strap it down to the bed of the trailer for hauling groceries and what not....I am sure the pricier trailers are nicer but this trailer gets the job done!

So far,alls I've done is drug it around town a couple times (once with a couple garbage bags of pop cans recycled)...hard for me to do winter riding when it gets cold (cold-temp-issues with two seperate old injuries),but I'm hoping to go car-lite with it,and am projecting an old Trek frame I've had since new (a 2000 6000) to use as a dedicated trailer rig over the remainder of the coldness*,which if I use it as much as I expect,that Trek will be an Xtracycle next year.

It may be late next month before I can shoot some pics. My old digicam survived a 90% loss (material things,no one was home) house fire back in June,and it's like it knows I'm replacing it with the tax refund,LOL,the closer we get,the less it wants to work-I almost couldn't get it to work today (put some stereo digs on CL),and it promptly quit again after those 3 were shot and uploaded :twitchy::o,I promise though,I have one :p

(*in reality,sub-freezing temps this winter have been sporadic and not that often,but there's been lots of rain when it'd be nearly freezing temps,but I digress...:lol:)

A few pictures of my home built trailer. Mostly recycled parts, bought some strap steel and bolts for the mounts.

Interesting trailer build! How does it detach from the bike hitch? Looks kind of permanent like.

Interesting trailer build! How does it detach from the bike hitch? Looks kind of permanent like.

It takes less than 30 seconds to attach and detach. The trailer drop outs sit on shoulder bolts and are held in place with locking hooks and fastened with allen screws. The bike has mounts placed on the quick release and bolts in the fender mount holes.

Here is my trailer. It's a cartop carrier on an aluminum frame that fabricated.
238492

I got an inquiry to build a custom trailer to haul a 9’ long surfing board. Fine and good until the person tells me they’re worried about turbulence from passing semis on the freeway affecting his ride – which it most certainly would. I didn’t have a good answer for him short of an obnoxious amount of ballast. Should I be so pessimistic? Thoughts?

It takes less than 30 seconds to attach and detach. The trailer drop outs sit on shoulder bolts and are held in place with locking hooks and fastened with allen screws. The bike has mounts placed on the quick release and bolts in the fender mount holes.

sweet!!! Nice job man & thanks for the clarification!

Here is my trailer now, I finally put our shop's name on the side......
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm155/StuInTokyo/cycling/trailer_ver_3/IMG_3057.jpg
.... now I have to be on my best behavior :)

I daily haul well over 100Kg on that trailer, it is one solid and heavy trailer. By itself the trailer weighs 34Kg. I hope to build a new more robust, but lighter trailer this year.
Cheers!

Here's my trailer, a Nashbar Cargo 2 trailer (poor student I am).

I'd like to get one with suspension to protect my cello as much as possible!

Thanks everyone, now you have me looking for trailers on Craigslist! Hahahaha My wife won't appreciate your influence on me.

I did find Schwinn trailer locally for cheap. Maybe I could convert that to a flatbed and use it for larger loads, or keep it as a carrier and carry my niece around in it. I'm sure she would have a blast.

Here's my trailer, a Nashbar Cargo 2 trailer (poor student I am).

I'd like to get one with suspension to protect my cello as much as possible!

that AND a big fat balloon tire like a Big Apple 16X2.35" deflated to 20lbs.....im guessing a cello is far too light to get any travel out of the Ibis shock's coil.

Here is my trailer now, I finally put our shop's name on the side......
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm155/StuInTokyo/cycling/trailer_ver_3/IMG_3057.jpg
.... now I have to be on my best behavior :)

I daily haul well over 100Kg on that trailer, it is one solid and heavy trailer. By itself the trailer weighs 34Kg. I hope to build a new more robust, but lighter trailer this year.
Cheers!

Very cool...interesting to know how the seat post attachment handles the empty weight of the trailer and the loads you pull?? Don't you get some excessive "push" on the bike from the weight being on the seat post vice the standard axle mounting?

that AND a big fat balloon tire like a Big Apple 16X2.35" deflated to 20lbs.....im guessing a cello is far too light to get any travel out of the Ibis shock's coil.

True, my cello with case weighs less than 15lbs. I put very low pressure on tire currently, and it seems to absorb some shock. I'd get a fatter tire for my current trailer if I didn't plan on replacing it soon.