Commuting - Opinions on trailers?

After grumpily sitting in traffic in my car today (had to haul something) I have decided to buy a bike trailer. I occasionally have to haul stuff that won't fit in panniers/backpack, but most all of it could be hauled via trailer.I'd be interested in any feedback folks here had to offer on brands of trailer/experience hauling trailers, etc. Figure if I get a trailer I can knock my car use down to 1-2 days a month, which would make me happy. Thanks in advance.

Just out of curiosity, what is it that you are trying to haul? Question being asked because there are different types of trailers. I've seen a flat one that has a cover which in squarness it appears to be the same size as a child trailer. And then there are the child trailer.

I have a 2 seated child trailer that the seat can be left down. I'll give you a bit of advise, take your bike with you and test the hitching mechanism to your bike. Mine slips every once in a while if I hit a big enough bump due to the shape of the bottom of the frame near the wheel.

question--- those child trailers, do you think i could haul around 30 lbs. on them? i mean, i have been wanting to buy a BOB but they are too expensive, child trailers are so much cheaper. whatchya' think???

Most child trailers are capable of hauling 80-100 lbs.

My trek Transport Deluxe is rated for 100. It is a two child trailer.

what was the cost?

I wouldn't use a trailer for commuting but find it a boon for hauling sacks of coal, large grocery trips etc. Mine's a cheap (£100 ish) Steel frame thing with a large orange box inside - It's not wonderful but it's adequate and attaches to the chain stay. Mine was imported to the UK under the Mission name but it's Chinese manufactured so is probably available under other brandings.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

I used a Burley d'lite 2-child trailer for the past two years. It worked nicely for hauling my laptop/clothes to work and groceries or other items on the way home.

Wal-mart sells a Cosco trailer for $95 that sounds like Richard D's Mission brand. They don't list an actual weight limit, but the description says children up to 4 yrs so I guess weight rating is around 50-60 lbs.

Wal-mart sells a Cosco trailer for $95 that sounds like Richard D's Mission brand. They don't list an actual weight limit, but the description says children up to 4 yrs so I guess weight rating is around 50-60 lbs.

RainmanP,

I'm not sure if it's the same -

http://www.missioncycles.co.uk/BikeDetails_IE4.asp?Products_Action=Find('ProductName','Cargo+trailer')&Products_Position=FIL%3A+Category+%3D+%27Trailers%27ORD%3AABS%3A2KEY%3ACargo+trailerPAR%3A

As I said it's not bad but not great. It will carry up to about 100lb/80kg

I am surprised there I have not seen any bike trailers with a surge brake mechanism in the hitch, as a loaded trailer will make braking a lot more difficult for the bike.

Okay, I just bought a trailer-- looks like a rubbermaid tub on wheels, should be just fine. Ugly but practical, I think, I guess I'll have it in a week or so. I can use it for larger grocery runs and once a month or so for hauling supplies to the art center where I teach. (I'm certainly not gonna commute with it on a daily basis hauling the thing, and it's not going near the PX's). I'm looking forward to using it.

AndrewP said
"I am surprised there I have not seen any bike trailers with a surge brake mechanism in the hitch, as a loaded trailer will make braking a lot more difficult for the bike."

Andrew, I've got one, the trailer is made by Cycletote http://www.cycletote.com/

The brakes really do help to stop the bike when its loaded, I have hauled all kinds of things, up to about 200 pounds. I have a friend who dose not drive, or ride. She bums rides off her friends to get her shoping done. She has six or seven dogs at home who can go though a lot of dog food. She was always calling me to take her to the store, and never offered any money for gas. So the last time she called me I show up with the tandem and the trailer.... Kinda backfired on me as I had to pull her and the dog food back to her house. But she hasen't called me for another ride :p

Here is a site for trailers that will haul just about every thing. http://www.bikesatwork.com/hauling-cargo-by-bike/

Poquemahone,
What brand did you get? Cost? Weight limit? Where? From time to time I consider getting a small inexpensive trailer for occasional use.
Thanks,
Raymond

a rubbermaid tub on wheels Sounds a lot like mine. I love the thing. Here's a link to the site of the guy who builds 'em.

http://www.bikerev.com/

Not so pretty, but it's waterproof and lockable (unlike most others out there) and its cost and unloaded weight are comparable to the others.

rainman-- I got it on ebay for $120 including shipping; it's the same one Nualle's got. Bought it from the owner of the company. I'll post again once I get it and tell you how I like it.

So, Poguemahone, how's your trailer been working out for you?

So, Poguemahone, how's your trailer been working out for you?


Try:

www.xtracycle.com

Corsaire

We have an InStep Turbo Trailer Elite, which retails for $179.99. I use it for taking my daughter to and from school. I've thought about shopping with it, as there is a nearby market with great stuff but truly awful parking.

It works great for all-weather child transport. However, beware -- the hitch fits most, but not all, bikes.

Paul

I have a BOB Yak that I pull behind me everyday on my commute. I have been using the BOB for almost a year. I used to pulled a Burley child trailer when my daughters were small. The difference is amazing. Both trailers are excellent, but the BOB pulls much easier. I think this is mostly due to lower drag because it is more aerodynamic. But the overall weight of the BOB plus load is also smaller that what I pulled with the kids in the Burley. I carry about 30lbs in it day to day and has been fantastic because I no longer worry about how much I can carry to and from work. Burley makes two cargo trailers, the flatbed and the nomad. Both appear to be great trailers and will carry a larger load than the BOB due to the position of the wheels.

I purchased it used for $150. I still haul my daughter--she now serves as a stoker on our tandem. I highly recommend the use of a trailer for commuting, it has freed me from my dependency on a car, and it allows me to ride one of 3 different bikes to work, my fendered touring bike on wet days, my moutain bike with studded tires in the winter, and my tandem when I am dropping off a daughter at school. I just had to by a BOB skewer for each. If you have a Burley you don't even have to buy skewers.

It rocks. It does everything I've asked it to over the last six months or so, including hauling a TV from Target, various bike parts and art supplies, groceries every week. When I got it I thought I'd use it a couple of times a month, but last week I used it on three seperate days. I think what I like most about the one I got is it goes on and off the hitch easily. When I go for groceries, I just detach it, haul it into the store, fill it up, and check out, just walking the trailer behind me.

It has eliminated a lot of my car usage. I'm now down to the occasional trip to southside to hunt old bikes, driving to Charlottesville, and some large item hauling. I've put less than 1000 miles on my car so far this year. I intend to get a second hitch and put it on the 1984 Trek 850 I built up as a rain bike.