Tandem Cycling - trailer choices

I'm going on a trans-america tandem trip (woohoo!), and am looking to purchase a trailer. What does everyone think about the Yak BOB vs. the DWBent...one wheel or two? The DW is about 1/2 the price, which is intriguing, but if its going to hit the fritz halfway through I'm not interested. Let the knowledge sharing begin! thanks!

I just bought a nashbar BOB clone. A friend has one and said it works fine. Its still in the mail, so I have not used it yet. At $99, I decided to give it a shot as I plan to use it for mtb trail maintenance to carry tools,chainsaw, etc.

BOBs work and have a history of trouble free performance.

For touring I'd never use anything but a BOB.

For in town grocery trips I sometimes wish we had a 2 wheel trailer but out on the road BOB rules.

BOBs work and have a history of trouble free performance.

For touring I'd never use anything but a BOB.

For in town grocery trips I sometimes wish we had a 2 wheel trailer but out on the road BOB rules.


I agree, I use my BoB Ibex for MTB offroad tours, road tours and the shopping. I use it with solos and tandems and have found the single wheel great for handling.

Two wheel trailer exponents will argue that:
1: You can carry more with 2 wheels......Why would you want to?, touring is about a minimalist approach, the Bob's capacity is more than enough, plus, you want to enjoy the tour by not dragging too much around.

2: 2 wheels are easier to park....True, but I've never not found something to learn the outfit against, anyway a good quality kickstand solves that problem.

3: They won't tell you that the handling with 2 wheels is terrible at speed when cornering!!

If you are road touring, the BoB Yak is the ideal choice.

The arguement for two wheels is the lack of load shift. The bike will handle almost as if unloaded, especially while standing. But that probably isn't an issue on a tandem.

I've a nashbar trailer and for the price I can't imagine spending any more than what I did on another trailer. A two wheel trailer would help with stability while parked, but while your moving I fail to see a difference. The effect of the load is minimal. I suppose I would have to compare riding with the one wheeled trailer to riding with my daughters two wheel trailer. The effect of either is minimal whether on the tandem, my cruiser, or commuter. Really...it's a trailer...it has a wheel and connects to the rear of the bike...how many problems can you have out of one? The only real difference that I would take a look at is load capacity.

Not wanting to be perdantic or offensive........a single wheel trailer actually tracks far better than a two wheel trailer, there really is NO valid argument to say any differently. :)

Not wanting to be perdantic or offensive........a single wheel trailer actually tracks far better than a two wheel trailer, there really is NO valid argument to say any differently. :)


When you say that a single wheeled trailer "tracks" better, what does that mean? Does it pertain to whether the trailer sways back and forth behind the bike? Does it pertain to how the bike handles with the trailer behind it? Because in my own experience, a single wheel trailer exerts lateral forces on the bike waaaay more than a two wheeled trailer.

I've toured with a loaded bike with pans/racks, and I've toured with trailers, both a BOB and a Nomad. Before I got the two wheeled trailer, I used to hate to get out of the saddle, since the bike would shake and wobble. I felt like I had to drive the bike, rather than ride it.

What is your definition of "tracks"?

So it sounds like a single wheeler trailer is the way to go for touring. Does anyone have any additional kudos/gripes for/about Bent or Nashbar?...they are considerably cheaper than BOB

When you say that a single wheeled trailer "tracks" better, what does that mean? Does it pertain to whether the trailer sways back and forth behind the bike? Does it pertain to how the bike handles with the trailer behind it? Because in my own experience, a single wheel trailer exerts lateral forces on the bike waaaay more than a two wheeled trailer.

I've toured with a loaded bike with pans/racks, and I've toured with trailers, both a BOB and a Nomad. Before I got the two wheeled trailer, I used to hate to get out of the saddle, since the bike would shake and wobble. I felt like I had to drive the bike, rather than ride it.

What is your definition of "tracks"?


Again, no offence meant and I do understand what you mean by "Driving". What I mean by tracking is how well the BoB handles behind the bike, IMHO. I've charged down frightfully fast mountainous single track, and tarmac and found the BoB to be quite stable. Maybe years of road racing has made me a smooth rider?

Again, no offence meant and I do understand what you mean by "Driving". What I mean by tracking is how well the BoB handles behind the bike, IMHO. I've charged down frightfully fast mountainous single track, and tarmac and found the BoB to be quite stable. Maybe years of road racing has made me a smooth rider?


No offense taken, and I didn't mean to come off too strong.

I agree that the BOB will handle great behind the bike while off-road. I've descended at over 50 mph with one behind me on the road and it does great. I've also descended at high speeds (on the road) with a two wheel trailer, with no problems. I believe that the Trans-Am route, that the OP is referring to, is on the road.

Anyways, I always defend the two wheeled trailers. I like to stand occasionally while riding, and I hate it when the bike shakes and feels heavy. I like to feel like I'm riding a bicycle, instead of driving a semi truck, while I tour. In my own experience, the two wheeled trailers work much better for touring and should be considered. Even if they aren't as popular.

No offense taken, and I didn't mean to come off too strong.

I agree that the BOB will handle great behind the bike while off-road. I've descended at over 50 mph with one behind me on the road and it does great. I've also descended at high speeds (on the road) with a two wheel trailer, with no problems. I believe that the Trans-Am route, that the OP is referring to, is on the road.

Anyways, I always defend the two wheeled trailers. I like to stand occasionally while riding, and I hate it when the bike shakes and feels heavy. I like to feel like I'm riding a bicycle, instead of driving a semi truck, while I tour. In my own experience, the two wheeled trailers work much better for touring and should be considered. Even if they aren't as popular.

We have a Burley (originally for kids). This is two wheeled, and with a single or single-and-insta-tandem/tag-along, it worked fine for us, except (and this may have changed in the nearly 20 years since it was made) that the spring attachment creates a bit of a strange forward and back when you start. Meaning that starting doesn't feel, well, instant.

Also, (and this is specific to this model of Burley), I suspect it won't mount in the presence of a hub-mount brake (disk or drum), based on the nature of the hitch - connecting to the corner of the rear triangle. Don't know whether this has changed, and haven't had the chance to try to see whether they can be made to play together. Will probably check next spring.

So not a two-vs-one wheel question, but I'd look for something with a hitch that doesn't involve a spring (possibly a good thing when there are kid in there, but not so much when there's "stuff"), and doesn't connect to the rear triangle, potentially interfering with hub brakes.

You guys are a friendly lot, we can have a differing of opinions and still keep it nice, maybe we should invite certain posters from the road cycling forum here, to learn some decorum :roflmao2:

We have a BOB, and have had a Burley (mostly for pulling kids.) I really like the BOB. Once it's up to speed you hardly notice that it's there.

You guys are a friendly lot, we can have a differing of opinions and still keep it nice, maybe we should invite certain posters from the road cycling forum here, to learn some decorum :roflmao2:

The we would lose the flavor that makes the road forum what it is. If you want a civil road forum go over to RoadBikeReview. :):thumb:

What trailer is better for offroad?
What trailer is better if I have to push the bike uphill?
Does anybody do something like this?

What trailer is better for offroad?
What trailer is better if I have to push the bike uphill?
Does anybody do something like this?

I have a BoB Ibex, which has the adjustable suspension, it's ideal for off-road touring/riding, and for narrow single track I would recommend it first. Some BoB owners have replaced the rear coil shock with a rear Rockshox unit from a Cannondale Scapel MTB.
As for pushing a bike\trailer uphill...is that offroad? Because the range of gearing with most MTBs would mean you shouldn't need to do that. However, I concede that a 2 wheel trailer would be more stable for that arduous endeavour.

I've only used a 2 wheeler. But I've not noticed any problems whatsoever with handling or stability. However, I wouldn't even think of using it on single track, but for pavement and hardpack it's quite good.

Several years ago tandem friends did a fully loaded expedition across the Australian Outback with C'dale tandem and Bob trailer . . . successfully.

Several years ago tandem friends did a fully loaded expedition across the Australian Outback with C'dale tandem and Bob trailer . . . successfully.

Was that Jean and France?, if it was I stopped them on a major freeway near Sydney and had a chat, very nice people.

Not wanting to be perdantic or offensive


I think it's impossible to be pedantic when you misspell pedantic.:) (Sorry, couldn't pass up the cheap shot)

I think it's impossible to be pedantic when you misspell pedantic.:) (Sorry, couldn't pass up the cheap shot)

Hay there, I'm an Aussie......you kno.....the place where England dumped their illegit....illiterate crimiminals...an yoo eggspek me too spill corewreckedlee???? :twitchy::twitchy:

Hay there, I'm an Aussie......you kno.....the place where England dumped their illegit....illiterate crimiminals...an yoo eggspek me too spill corewreckedlee???? :twitchy::twitchy:
That's funny in any dialect of english :roflmao2:

That's funny in any dialect of english :roflmao2:


Funny thing is, I don't even know what "pedantic" means.......it just sounds intelligent... ;)

My partner and I have had two TW Bents for over two years. They do the shopping every week and they've been touring over some pretty rough ground and performed admirably. Before we had them we borrowed a BOB Yak and a BOB Ibex for a trip which also included some rough roads. My partner had the Ibex and considers the suspension probably isn't worth the extra cost and complication. My things certainly didn't suffer in the Yak.

Earlier this year we broke a skewer on a trip in Tasmania, but that was only because we'd overloaded one with extra water for a dry camp. Stick within the design limits and you won't have any problems with them.

My partner and I have had two TW Bents for over two years. They do the shopping every week and they've been touring over some pretty rough ground and performed admirably. Before we had them we borrowed a BOB Yak and a BOB Ibex for a trip which also included some rough roads. My partner had the Ibex and considers the suspension probably isn't worth the extra cost and complication. My things certainly didn't suffer in the Yak.

Earlier this year we broke a skewer on a trip in Tasmania, but that was only because we'd overloaded one with extra water for a dry camp. Stick within the design limits and you won't have any problems with them.

Good advice Helen, and as I know both of you have a lot of touring experience, (especially your partner, who I call "The wiskered one"), and
he looked after my Ibex with TLC. ;)