child trailer for new dad

[carail]

Hi, new dad here :)

I need a child trailer. My wife really likes the chariot:
http://www.chariotcarriers.com/
But the price is a litle high (1000$ for a double and the bike kit)

So i found this:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442507979&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302693105&bmUID=1201552098391

So here's my question:
Is the MEC trailer any good, or should i really go with the Chariot.
I'm gonna be using it mostly on my bike, walking around town, and sometimes for jogging.
Or is there anything else you would recomend me.

p.s. i plan on having more kids, so its gotta last for a few years.

[lstiffler]

i picked up a schwinn double trailer at target for 79 bucks. it works perfect.

[Michel Gagnon]

I only used the trailer for cycling. The cheaper Chariot models are equally good and much cheaper than their top-of-the-line models, and unless you plan on riding offroad, the suspension is not needed. My Chariot (vintage 2000 if I remember correctly) is roughly similar to the Chariot Caddie and served us for roughly 8000 km of all-season riding, even in snow. It has been almost waterproof. Only problem: the plastic door becomes brittle at -15 or -20 C.

That being said, I have seen a couple of MEC trailers and they seem equally well built. The fabric might be a bit thinner so it would not last for 5-10 children and I have no idea how waterproof it is, but the frame is equally protective. Check the hitch to see how easy the trailer is attached to the bike. I give 10/10 to Chariot for its EZ-hitch and have no idea how this one fares.

In both cases, I have no idea how they work for walking or jogging nor how easily they convert from one mode to the other.

As far as I'm concerned, another great contender is [http://wike.ca]Wike trailers[/url].

[DynamicD74]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! We have the Chariot Caddie, which is Chariot's less expensive trailer,and we love it. We've had it about 3 years now. The only thing is that with our model, maybe this has changed, there are limited accessories available. But, I'd still recommend it. And, we do have the double model. Check out my avatar. It's my bike hooked up with the Caddie. And, the two pics are of our girls inside about two and a half years ago. They LOVE it! The oldest has outgrown it....she's very tall, and has her own bike and an Adams Trail A Bike, should we choose to ride for longer periods of time when she might get tired, but the youngest still rides in it and acts like she's in a limo. She has plenty of room to stretch out. ;-D

[Portis]

i picked up a schwinn double trailer at target for 79 bucks. it works perfect.

We bought a schwinn at TArget that was about $180 several years ago. It lasted fine for several years and is still in good shape. Our kids have now outgrown it and it looks about like it did when it was new. I see no reason why people drop $400 on a kid's trailer.

The main reason is that you simply won't get that much use out of it. Have you tried stacking a couple kids ages 2 and 4 next to each other and riding around for a couple hours. Ain't gonna happen! Our kids enjoyed the trailer but only for short stints. Then they would get bored start whining, or crying etc. Despite the fact that we would pack snacks, color books etc. They simply can't sit still that long.

[TheFool]

What do you guys think about a child seat mounted on the seat post/seat stays (like my dad used to ride around with me in as a child) vs. trailers? Safety differences?

[bigboybiker2007]

We purchased the Burley solo and we are thoroughly pleased with it. They make a model larger for doubles. We pulled this cart all over and also push it all over town. Many naps taken in the burley and no complaints.

[squirl]

If you do plan on jogging much, I would suggest getting a lowerend model of the chariot and also a good quality jogging stroller like a Yakima. Youll use the bike trailer more if it is always ready to go and jogging strollers are generally much lighter and less bulky than bike trailers. Its worked for me.
Good luck

[Focused1]

Loved our Burley Delite...well made and the hitch system was simple and worked well. I wouldn't put a kid in one of those seats described above. I think a trailer is much safer

[carail]

I wouldn't put a kid in one of those seats described above. I think a trailer is much safer


+1 those things are dangerous

[mparker326]

What do you guys think about a child seat mounted on the seat post/seat stays (like my dad used to ride around with me in as a child) vs. trailers? Safety differences?

I use both. The mounted child seat is much more convienent. I don't have to hook anything up. I just put a helmet on the kid & put him/her in it & strap them in with the 5 point harness. I feel safer with the kid on the seat than trailer. I feel like I could more easily get out of the way with a kid on the seat rather than pulling a heavy double wide trailer. I never go very fast with kids on the seat or in the trailer so any crashes (never had any) would likely be minor.

Granted you have to use your brain if you are using a seat, such as supporting the bike when you are mounting/dismounting etc.

If I need to carry both my children, I use the trailer.

[masiman]

What do you guys think about a child seat mounted on the seat post/seat stays (like my dad used to ride around with me in as a child) vs. trailers? Safety differences?

Check out this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=366738). The child seats are safe but not as safe as trailers.

[andrelam]

Personaly have had my child both in a trailer and on a rear bike seat. I find riding with the bike seat much easier. The trailer causes a good bit of resistance, yet a child on a rear seat is nearly unnoticable for effort. As far as balance goes I don't see that as much of an issue. I also liked having my daughter on the rear seat as I could talk with her the whole time. When the child is in the trailer you loose a lot of contact. I bought a lower end Bell child seat and is cost me all of $40 new. It installed fine and works just fine. You can spend $100 or more, but I don't see them being twice to three times as good as the lower priced unit. I figure I grew up in Holland and my Mom had me on a seat that was strapped to the front handle bars, and my sister was on the back, and coming back from the stores there would be a bag of groceries on each handlebar... and that was considered NORMAL.

Until the child is about 1 you realy can't travel with them on a bike unless you have a secure mount for the infant seat. The only bike that allows for that is the new Dutch "Bakfiets" a modern interpretation of a traditional dutch cargo bike. These can how hold infanct carriers so it would be similar to strapping a child into a car:
http://www.bakfiets.nl/modellen_cargo_bike.php
http://www.bakfiets.nl/montage_maxicosi.php

Once you get over a year the child has a strong enough head and neck to be able to wear a helmet and hold it up. I still like the handlebar mounted seats the best. They allow the most interaction with a child. Yes they do affect the steering so you need to learn how to deal with it, but the adjustment is no big deal. I remember visiting my cousin in Holland when her youngest was 2 years old. We went for bike ride to the beach. She had the two year old in the front handlebar seat and I could ride next to them. We could all interact untill the little one fell asleep on the way back. I know that most people in the USA tend to freak out about the way other countries transport their childern, but seeing that upwards of 35% of the Dutch user their bikes every day to get to work and get around, they have remarkably few fatalities and serious injuries.

Once you child get to around 4 you can also have losts of fun with a trailer bike. It allows the child the ride along and feel like they are realy riding like a big person. My daughter enjoys it.

Happy riding,
André

[TheFool]

Well, once my dad's bike slipped off a (very low) bridge into a brook, and my brother wasn't hurt at all, and he was in a rear seat :) I imagine that as long as the seat back is higher than the child, with some sides too, it's not so bad.

But I definitely agree about waiting until the kid is a couple years old...


(expecting first child in July... so I was thinking about it...)

[DynamicD74]

I feel much better when my kids are in the Chariot Caddie trailer. With a seat as you're talking about, I wouldn't feel as safe. The way my trailer is set up, I might fall, but my kids wouldn't. That's my idea of safety!

[TheFool]

The way me trailer is set up, I might fall, but my kids wouldn't. That's my idea of safety!

How does that work?

[iltb-2]

What do you guys think about a child seat mounted on the seat post/seat stays (like my dad used to ride around with me in as a child) vs. trailers? Safety differences?

I think they are fine, never had a problem, safety or otherwise.
See http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=5980131&postcount=22

[DynamicD74]

How does that work?

The connection that it has contains a sort of ball "joint," that allows for a pivoting type motion, so it allows the trailer to stay upright even if the bike goes down, or I suppose I would be more correct if I said that the ball joint allows for maximum range of motion that would make it much less likely that the trailer would flip or go down, in the event that the bike went down. Regardless, your children are strapped in, with helmets, with an aluminum frame around them, and their heads are no where near the top of the carrier. It seems like they have a much less chance of getting injured, if something were to happen. Scroll back up, and look at my kids in the trailer, and notice how far their heads are from the top. Also, note that there is an aluminum bar over their heads, toward the back that acts, not only as a part of the protective cage, but also as a type of roll bar, just in case. I love all the safety features of our Caddie.

Look about halfway down on this site, to the blue lettering that says, "Included eZ hitch." That picture sort of explains it. But, if it doesn't, I'm sure there is some information on their site that will, if you have time to surf around. Hope this helps....

http://www.chariotcarriers.com/english/html/caddie.php?PHPSESSID=95a23a46cc4a4d842b049d149b304989

[DynamicD74]

If you do plan on jogging much, I would suggest getting a lowerend model of the chariot and also a good quality jogging stroller like a Yakima. Youll use the bike trailer more if it is always ready to go and jogging strollers are generally much lighter and less bulky than bike trailers. Its worked for me.
Good luck

Yep, that's what we did. We have the Chariot Caddie for the bike and a BOB jogging stroller for strolling!

[carail]

I bought the MEC trailer.
I went to my lbs and to MEC to take a good look at each of them.
The Mec trailer is pretty much the same thing, exept no suspension and the side panels don't open. I don't think that those 2 features are worth the 450$ difference.
I live in Quebec, so the conditions here right now are: lots of snow, ice, slush. salt and other misc. crap,
its been 3 weeks now and i have no regrets.

Thanks everyone for your help and or opinions. :)