Utility Cycling - 16" -vs- 20" dual wheel trailer wheels?

I'm getting ready to build my first trailer with some materials I have laying around but need to get wheels. I would like to hear people's opinions on wheel size. I think a lot of other people would find this topic interesting too.

20 inch has a better selection of heavy duty rims also you can get tires and tubes anywhere bike parts are sold, whereas 16 inch may not be available, and heavy duty 16 inch rims are not available that I know of (does not mean they are not).
Organic Engines uses 20 inch on their heavy duty cargo SUV trike

Hello
Both 16" and 20" wheels can be strong, they are both used alot in good quality folderbikes ridden by full size peopel.

You could ask (or do a search) in the folder forum if you want info.

What use is the trailer for? If you go on bumpy roads and upand down on sidewalks maybe 20". If transporting it and storing it is important maybe 16" . 20" is easyest to buy as you say. Could you find a cheap or free BMX somwhere?

Bigger wheels = better ride. Bigger wheels = easier pull. Bigger wheels = better traction. Bigger wheels = better float(on soft strata).

How long do you want me to go on?

Bigger wheels = better float(on soft strata).at the same width? doesnt make sense

Think about it, how many commercial trailers do you see with 26" wheels, not that many. Why? Because a 20" wheel is stronger, lighter and cheaper. Even Dahon (folding bicycle mfg) confirms that smaller wheels are stronger.

I used two cheap 20" front bmx wheels from the local bike co-op. See photos of my trailer in the Post Your Trailer thread.

20" wheels are easy to come by, I see at least 1 el cheapo bmx on CL each week in the $20 range. Buy the bike for the wheels or hit your local bike co-op.

http://bikecart.pedalpeople.com (I built the DS trailer using 20" wheels instead of 26").

See photos of a recent haul in Post your Move/Haul thread. It pulled beautifully on it's inaugural ride.

The only reason to go 16" would be for size constraints or if you wanted to make your trailer with the option of disassembling/folding for transport.

If you are going to make a simple, flat frame, then the 16" wheels will lower the center of gravity by ~2". This makes the trailer less likely to tip over in turns. If the design places the cargo floor below the axles then this doesn't matter.

Flotation: Larger wheels have better floatation on soft surfaces than smaller wheels. It is the area of the contact patch that controls the floatation, and big wheels have a longer contact patch for the same amount of sinkage into the surface.

The strength issue is NOT a red herring. 2 wheel trailer wheels take more side load than bicycle wheels, because they don't lean in turns.

Take your pick. With my trailers I haven't noticed any significant difference in ease or difficulty of pulling with 16" or 20" wheels.

Bigger wheels actually put more rubber on the ground longer.

That is exactly why farmers, more often than not, opt for bigger drive wheels on tractors. The bigger diameter wheel puts a longer footprint on the ground, usually at lower pressure. Bigger footprint equals more float.

Bought a secondhand kids trailer today. Tryed it on a trip. It is 16", steel rims. First thought is to put alu rims. Second thought is to put 20" alu wheels, but maybe that is becous I am used to 20".

Since I want to take it with me in the car often (like I did today) I need wheels that connect and disconnect fast, so I am thinking of putting wheelchair wheels on it. That means getting rid of alot of steel and that is good.

I'm looking for 12" (some call 'em 12.5") wheels for my trailer project. Currently using 8" Big Wheel wheels. Can't wait to get something pneumatic back there.

I'm hoping a good donor kids bike will show in a local dumpster soon.

I'm looking for 12" (some call 'em 12.5") wheels for my trailer project. Currently using 8" Big Wheel wheels. Can't wait to get something pneumatic back there.

I'm hoping a good donor kids bike will show in a local dumpster soon.

Probably a bit more than you'd like to spend, but you can get some 12.5" Tuffs here (http://www.coloredtuffs.com/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=170).

I think the fact that it's a set for a scooter makes sense.

On my prototypes I have tried 16" wheels found them to be a bit to small, I then moved onto 26" wheels which are ok but a bit on the high side. I was given a pair of BMX type wheels at 20" think they are just about right.

Not to tall & not to small 20ty's Plenty.

...having said than I now have a pair of new 22" wheelchair wheels on the way :rolleyes:

Tom

at the same width? doesnt make sense

The length of the footprint also increases the contact patch.

16" or 20" because I can get them for free or close to free from the dump. People are always dumping small kids bikes.

Aaron:)

I modded a kid trailer and extended the tongue to accommodate my kayak. It came with 20" wheels. The kayak will not fit between the wheels so has a high center-of-gravity, resulting in tip-overs on the rough and off-camber sections of an atv/horse trail I take to the shore.

The stress of the first tip-over grenaded the hub of the cheap wheel. I scavenged some 26" front MTB wheels from cheap department store bikes and they just barely fit in the confines of the trailer frame. The COG is even higher now, resulting in more frequent tip-overs, and necessitating a frame redesign. For now I will load the kayak upright, to try and keep as much weight as possible down low.

However, the cheap MTB hubs have held up to the abuse of numerous tip-overs. I'm afraid that unless I aqquire quality 20" hubs or wheelset, the mass-produced variety will continue to fail.

I am opting to keep the 26" wheels and rework the frame since I'm pulling it through rugged terrain that is often muddy.

If you're not expecting such abusive conditions, MTB wheels are likely overkill. Whatever you can find for free then, that will work with your frame design, I'd say is the best choice.

I'm getting ready to build my first trailer with some materials I have laying around but need to get wheels. I would like to hear people's opinions on wheel size. I think a lot of other people would find this topic interesting too.
I would use 20's, for no other reason than the fact that 20" tires are more commonly available.
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