Utility Cycling - trailer ideas

I'm currently underemployed, so I have some time for hobbies while I build up my business.

I'm thinking of building a trailer. I'd like to drive less and cycle more. Being able to carry groceries etc would be very useful.

It would also be cool to be able to bring my two dogs to the dog park. It's six miles away. The dogs are very big. They are about 30" and 27" tall at the shoulders, so the bed of the trailer would have to be about 42" by 72" for them to lie down together. They do not like to lie closely or intimately together. And they can't sit. Being athletes, they have hard, tight muscles and are not limber. One of them is literally incapable of sitting, similar to the way I'm incapable of touching my toes.

It would also be nice to be able to pick up a visitor at the train station, by putting a seat on the trailer.

OK, lots of requirements. Here are more, and you tell me if this is unreasonable.

I'd like it to be light and cheap. OK, I can hear you laughing. I don't know how light. I pulled a trailer years ago when my kids were little. Giving it away after they got big was the stupidest thing I ever did. I towed as much as 180 pounds once, so I guess weight isn't the very most important thing, but I don't want it to be excessive.

I haven't decided on my budget, but let's say $200.

Ideas?

Thanks!

You must have a greyhound.

There are ready made frames available if you are not above dumpster diving. Check out your local carpet dealers. They often throw out discontinued sample racks. I work for one and I have often thought"what can I make out of these?" They look well constructed, have sides, and could easily be converted.

Ha. I meant to mention that the dogs are greyhounds. Yup, you're right. It feels so stupid to drive six miles each way so the dogs get to run around a bit, while I get no exercise at all. That's why it would be fun to tow them there.

Thanks for the carpet dealer dumpster idea. I'll try that out.

Another option would be get a longboard skateboard and let the dogs race to the park , with you surfing behind holding on for dear life :)

The dogs are quite undisciplined with walking in a straight line. They stop every few feet to sniff or pee. Also, greyhounds are fast, but they're not strong. They can't pull me. And they also have horrible stamina. A greyhound race is one minute long at most. They're a very lazy breed, and they sleep more than other dogs. They are quiet and docile except for one minute a day.

Take a look at http://www.bikesatwork.com/ for trailer parts and complete trailers. I've been using one for years; their hitch is quite sturdy, so you could use that on your custom heavy-duty trailer.

Yeah, it would be about $175 for the hitch, tow bar, and two axles. I'd make the platform. Not a bad suggestion. I looked at that site before, and it all seemed prohibitively expensive, but now I'm glad you pointed me to it again.

You may be able to get some ideas from this site;

http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q=bicycle+trailer&limit%3Atype%3Aid=on&type%3Aid=on&type%3Auser=on&type%3Acomment=on&type%3Agroup=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&sort=none

Been there before, and I'll look again.

Thanks, folks!

Hey, while I'm at it, do you have any suggestions for which kind of bike to use for hauling. I currently have five bikes I call my own. Two are racing style bikes. I have a commuter bike with 27" wheels and upright bars, so that may be ideal. I may want fat tires, though, and 27" tires are getting hard to find, and fat 27" tires may not be available at all. It's a 1971 Raleigh Super Course, and it already has long reach brakes, so converting to 700c may compromise the brakes too much. But there sure are a lot of interesting tires available in that size now.

I could use a mountain bike, of course, but for some reason, I'm never comfortable on that style bike. I can't put my finger on why that is.

I'd recommend looking into why the mountain bike is uncomfortable for you. The reason is that bike will have the gears and brakes for handling the load you'll be pulling, and sturdy wheels.

Any bike can pull a trailer, but the loads you're anticipating are big so you'll need a strong bike. My trailer-towing bike is an old Ritchey Ascent. Gears are great for getting up the last hill after a long day sand sculpting. Brakes are great on the bike path when some kid spins out in front of me. Things are different with a trailer. :)

You only need one axle if that makes getting parts from BikesAtWork more interesting to you, but I don't think they make any long enough to support a 42" wide trailer. I'd think about narrower and longer if that would be OK with the hounds.

I think the parts from BAW (as well as the trailers, as you've noted) are pricey, but they work great. I bought the whole package, but making your own trailer is certainly the way to go if you want to keep the price low. Finding a cheap used kiddie carrier and converting to a larger flat bed would probably be another thing to look at. Good luck!

+1 for trying to get along with a MTB. Old rigid one w slicks adjustable stem and the right bars for you.

Important message: Dogs do not lie down when riding in a trailer, they sit or stand. They use the legs as shock absorbers just like we do. Lying down I think only a wery sick dog would do.

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk51/badmother-bikes/royitrailerfredrfestn09.jpg

Do you own a longtail? If not could you make one? You could put one dog on each side. Much lighter, cheaper and rides much better than a trailer w two big dogs.

I do have an old mountain bike with no suspension. My wife's theory is that the seat is the problem. It's too cushy. She's probably right, so I'll change it and see how that is. It already has slick tires.

When I drive, Red (the bigger, older dog) lies down on the back seat, and Waffle stands up. Sometimes, he sits on Red. This is the only place and time when they will tolerate being on top of each other, and they seem fine with it. I guess they understand that space is cramped, so they tolerate it, and it's worth it, to have a ride in the car.

I still suspect being in a trailer could be different, like riding in the back of a pickup compared to the backseat in a car. Did this some times in Africa, and sitting was not ok, standing was the most comfortable. Still you do not know before yout try. Could you borrow a trailer and try them one by one just to see or would the trailers you can borrow be to small?

Good point and good idea. The thing is, it's difficult for them to stand in the car. They're tall and thin and thus very top-heavy. Red has learned that he falls while riding in the car, and I have to drive extremely gently. When I make a panic stop, he flies through the car. So he'll stand for the first few minutes and then lie down. Waffle is shorter and also more nimble, so it's not as hard for her. Plus she gets more pleasure from riding, so standing is worth the effort for her.

But I'll see if I can find a trailer to try. Waffle might barely fit in a toddler trailer, and I seriously doubt Red will fit. He's huge.

I have no problem finding 27" tires & keep a supply here. Many old bikes are being taken out of garages & put back into service, that use 27" tires. Wide 27" are going to be a problem, though. A hybrid type bike, I think , will serve you well pulling a trailer.
Also, if you haven't done so yet, look at the threads at the top of this forum for trailer tips & ideas.
I thought about building something like this. Maybe substitute cut pieces of aluminum extension ladder for the frame, rather than wood. Then , for the deck, just 1/4" lighter weight treated plywood, & that would cut down the weight a lot.

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Bicycle-Cargo-Trailer

When you said big dogs, all I could think of was my 205 pound English Mastiff...

Heres a frame and metal idea for ya and it's cheap. Ikea Galant table frames. they come in a few sizes and you can make em bigger if to small. also Ikea has an as is section and theres some good cheap stuff there that can be used!

Heres a frame and metal idea for ya and it's cheap. Ikea Galant table frames. they come in a few sizes and you can make em bigger if to small. also Ikea has an as is section and theres some good cheap stuff there that can be used!

+! I built two bamboo trailes around some IKEA boxes, two sizes could be combined for plenty space, one on top of the other.

Now I need to look at that table you mentioned.

Edit: http://www.mahalo.com/ikea-hacks

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=IKEA+hacks&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz

I'm currently underemployed, so I have some time for hobbies while I build up my business.

I'm thinking of building a trailer. I'd like to drive less and cycle more. Being able to carry groceries etc would be very useful.

(...)
Thanks!

Just remember that some Burleys (d'lite ST and solo ST) have been recalled due to an axle breakage problem (cpsc.gov) so if you choose to modify a commercial model keep that in mind. On a hill the strain on those axles might be worse. Why they chose to use the material they did in the design they did seems like one of my rookie mistakes anyhow.:rolleyes:

Good point and good idea. The thing is, it's difficult for them to stand in the car.

This may be true in your bike trailer as well. I have a Bikes at Work 64 AW trailer. It has a 64 x 27" cargo area. A trailer this large has a mind of its own because of the mass and tends to pull and surge a little. So you'd better have a carpet or something for them to brace themselves on. I will guess that because of the openness, they will enjoy a trailer more than a car. So there should be something to keep them from leaping or falling out.

http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/Bike&Trailer1.jpg