Trailer ???

[devildogmech]

Hey all,

While I can't go car free, I figured this would be the best forum to ask this question. We need a trailer (to haul the smaller kids and groceries). My wife found one on sale at K-mart (http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_080W588220110001P?vName=Fitness+%26+Sports&cName=Bicycling)

Is this a good deal or a POS? If it's a POS, what would you sudgest? We dont have a bunch of cash, but can afford around $100...

TIA

Billy

[TuckertonRR]

Personally, I'd never buy anything bike-related at x-mart. The quality of the products just aren't there. It may look like a "good deal", but you'll most likely find that this isn't a durable item. If I were you, I'd save up some money and buy a good trailer from a reputable bike shop - searching here & on the utility forums you'll find some good trailers - though I don't own one, a Burley trailer might be a better bet.

[Torrilin]

Chicago Craigslist has 5 trailer postings over the last 2 days. I think if you keep an eye on it, you should be able to find a good quality used trailer that uses standard wheels and spokes. This would make it more durable for the long haul. The trailer you linked is one that I'd worry about using. It might not be meant for the kind of use I would put a trailer through.

[donnamb]

If it's rug rats you will be hauling, keep an eye on Craigslist for a used Burley or Chariot. They're very good quality and safety-conscious.

[CliftonGK1]

InStep seems to be a fairly reputable name for jogger-strollers and the like, so I doubt that it's going to fall apart on you with weekend use to haul the rugrats or some groceries.
I don't know about for a daily durability, though. For true daily utility trailers, I always see Burley and BOB (utility models and kid haulers), and now Chariot (kid haulers) as the big names.

[toThinkistoBe]

If those wheels are anything like the wheels on my trailer (plastic, very similar looking, got it at big lots), you do not want to change a tire/tube. Ever.

I agree with the others, craigslist is the way to go. :)

[Chuck G]

Look for a used Burley Cub. I got one off craigslist for about $200-250. The Cub has a hard plastic bottom, IMO that's probably better for a combo kid/utility trailer than a fabric bottom if you going to use it a lot.

[Bikepacker67]

Hey all,

While I can't go car free, I figured this would be the best forum to ask this question. We need a trailer (to haul the smaller kids and groceries). My wife found one on sale at K-mart (http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_080W588220110001P?vName=Fitness+%26+Sports&cName=Bicycling)

Is this a good deal or a POS? If it's a POS, what would you sudgest? We dont have a bunch of cash, but can afford around $100...

TIA

Billy

Here's a Burley off of Craigslist (http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/704550993.html) for $100 in the Chicago area.

And here's (http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/704146816.html) another.

You're lucky living near a major metropolis, because you can scoop up these deals every day of the week!

[devildogmech]

I will keep my eye's open for a used one.... Thanks for the links, I'll try to get to look at those asap.

Billy

[jgedwa]

On the other hand, I have a cheapish In-Step (although it does have steel rims/spokes) that I have converted to a utility trailer with a hard bottom and sides (corrugated pastic with an aluminum frame).

Since I have to store the thing outside in the weather, i did not want to invest hundreds of dollars into it. I hate to sound like a wasteful consumer, but I got the thing for about $50 and figure it will hold up for a couple of years before it rusts out.

jim

[countersTrike]

, I have a cheapish In-Step (although it does have steel rims/spokes) that I have converted to a utility trailer

Interesting- so an X-Mart In Step. I wondered where mine came from originally! Picked one up at a yard sale; ripped, full of spiders- BUT it had brand new tires and rolled well; so it was worth $10.

I re-covered the top, stuck bumper stickers over the side windows; so far- it's been great!

Nice to know where it came from - thanks!

[Nycycle]

My neighbors got one, the wheels came loose in just a month of riding. We got a Schwinn Trailer for Grand Kids and it holds up great but sure is a wide cumbersome thing.

If I was to look at another I would look at Nashbar.

[bragi]

Buy a used Burley trailer on Craigslist. It will cost no more, probably less, than the trailer at the box store, and it will be a much better trailer.

[gerv]

I have an In-step trailer that I bought off Craigslist. One issue I have with it is the quality of the hitch. Before spending $100 on any trailer, you might research the various hitches that exist. IMHO the Burley or Chariot hitches look a lot better... something that would last a while.

One problem with a lot of this low-end gear is that it's designed for folks who take the trailer out about 10 weekends a year. If you want a grocery hauler, you might need something that would survive 50-100 trips a year.

[Robert Foster]

I have been thinking about getting a trailer for grocery store service and some of the kid haulers on Craig’s list might be a good buy. Like an earlier poster it should be easy to convert to a grocery hauler. Many years ago when my son was small I made a trailer at home with some spare Bicycle wheels and axle and a tube bender. I would try it again but I don’t have a seat post to mount it to so one of the low mount axle or frame mount ones look like they would work better.

I have cut my auto use down considerably in the last few months. It is not likely I will be able to live auto free in Southern California however. There are far too many things I simply can’t get to without getting on a freeway and bikes aren’t allowed. I can live about 70 percent Auto free if I start grocery shopping if I do it by myself. It will be more like 50 percent auto free if I take my wife shopping. She is a long way from falling in love with bicycling like we did 20 years ago.

[sumguy]

Amazon reviews (http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000EHY3G6/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1)
Just ordered the same trailer as OP but will convert for utility use. Only wanted a trailer for big bags of cat food, cat litter, and aspen chips. For $100, thats probably the best you can do new. Ordered mine from Amazon (free s/h).