Trail-Gator

[pucci]

I was going to buy a pair of pedal trailers so my wife and I could ride with our 4 year-old twins, but the logistics of getting them shipped to Japan is just too much. Now I'm looking at the Trail-gator tow-bar instead. Anyone have any experience with this product?

[scott L R]

I have seen them in catalogues, but never saw 1 in person, am considering 1 now.

[Michel Gagnon]

I have seen it on the road and it doesn't look impressive to say the least. Think about a child bike following the parent, but at a 15-20 degree angle, and it gives you an idea of the lack of stability, and the lack of control you will have.

It also makes a longer, less flexible vehicle than what you would have with a regular Trail-a-Bike or Burley Piccolo. I would definitely not want to cycle close to a car, a curb or between posts that block the entry of a cycle lane when the kid suddently decides to look on your right instead of on your left.

To compare the Piccolo and Addas, see that thread: http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=46100 and my two postings near the end.

So basically, if you want to do very little mileage or roads with very little traffic and where you have ample room to manoeuvre, the Trail-Gator might work, but otherwise, I think it's way too expensive for it's value.

As for shipping logistics, the Trail-Gator bar is pure steel and very heavy.

Regards,

[DieselDan]

With the Gator, the child has a brake! That isn't a good thing in this case.

[pucci]

With the Gator, the child has a brake! That isn't a good thing in this case.

Good point! Easy enough to disable the brake by unhooking the cable-stop, but still...

[DieselDan]

Good point! Easy enough to disable the brake by unhooking the cable-stop, but still...

Not if the child's bike has a coaster brake...