Touring - Trailer question

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benajah
04-11-10, 11:19 PM
Okay so I usually tour on a standard LHT and bags, but sometimes I like to ride a road bike with a trailer...does anyone have a handle on the types of stresses a trailer puts on wheels? The reason I am asking is that I have actually rode/toured to a few road races on a racing bike towing a trailer for my camping gear. Now racing wheels are not known for their ruggedness and I was curious about whether a trailer puts a whole lot of stress on wheels?
Just one of those sort of random curiousity questions.

Thulsadoom
04-12-10, 05:43 AM
Any single wheeled trailer will put some stress on the rear wheel, mostly due to sideways torsional stresses from rocking from side to side while standing. But also some stress from the "tongue weight" as well. It's best to have a robust rear wheel when towing a single wheeled trailer.

Most two wheeled trailers are designed to have the load centered over the axle of the trailer and are more stabilized. I've seen people tow two wheeled trailers with racing wheels with no problems.

There are pros and cons either way.