Living Car Free - New (to us) Grocery Getter

...and laundry transportation, errand runner etc.

A couple of months ago, just as we were leaving for the airport I checked Craigslist and found an ad for a bike trailer for $20. Asked my wife to go check it out if it was still available when she got back from dropping me off. She called me and said "It looks to be in good condition. Says 'Burley' on it, do you want it?"

Me: "Oh hell yeah! Get it!"

So... after a bit of plywood, paint and hardware:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/Fasteryoufool/downsized_0921010958a-2.jpg

Whoops, almost forgot, also a Sterilite 45 Gallon plastic tub, conveniently Halloween-colored for high visibility.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/Fasteryoufool/downsized_0921010958-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/Fasteryoufool/downsized_0921010956.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/Fasteryoufool/downsized_0921010958b-2.jpg

And it appears that the kitty is interested too. Nice find!

And it appears that the kitty is interested too. Nice find!

Thanks! I couldn't believe we scored a Burley for $20.

The cats have all been offered rides, but have declined.

Very nice!!! Just wait till you start loading furniture on it

Very nice!!! Just wait till you start loading furniture on it

LOL... I've already got plans to make a lumber run when I start construction on our new bed.

I've been car-free for a few years now, I just moved and needed a new trailer.

Nice job.

I have an old Instep trailer. I'm pretty sure I could never strip it down like you have. I think they call the design (politely) "monocoque", i.e., held together by plastic.

Nice job.

I have an old Instep trailer. I'm pretty sure I could never strip it down like you have. I think they call the design (politely) "monocoque", i.e., held together by plastic.

I do as well (an In-Step I got for $30) and placed support (leftover plastic hurricane shutter screwed to the aluminum frame) under the canvas and we load 80 pounds - two dogs.

Nice job.

I have an old Instep trailer. I'm pretty sure I could never strip it down like you have. I think they call the design (politely) "monocoque", i.e., held together by plastic.

My old trailer started life as one of those - I stripped everything off of the fiberglass tub and mounted them on a piece of plywood that I mounted the cargo box on, worked fine. I've actually still got it in storage in California, but the bearing are shot (again) in the hubs, and the polymer wheels have micro-cracks all through 'em, so I don't trust it with a load anymore.

Nice job.

I have an old Instep trailer. I'm pretty sure I could never strip it down like you have. I think they call the design (politely) "monocoque", i.e., held together by plastic.
Huh. I always thought that word was French for "having only one penis."
;)

Nice job.

I have an old Instep trailer. I'm pretty sure I could never strip it down like you have. I think they call the design (politely) "monocoque", i.e., held together by plastic.
I like reinforcement by rubber bungee straps. Trailer cost $10 at garage sale, bungee cords are free from my vast collection of road side treasure.
Schwinn Varsity was $5 at a different garage sale.

Good combo for grocery runs.

Huh. I always thought that word was French for "having only one penis."
;)

Even one on a trailer seems a lot.:)

My old trailer started life as one of those - I stripped everything off of the fiberglass tub and mounted them on a piece of plywood that I mounted the cargo box on, worked fine. I've actually still got it in storage in California, but the bearing are shot (again) in the hubs, and the polymer wheels have micro-cracks all through 'em, so I don't trust it with a load anymore.

I wonder how difficult it would be to find some replacement wheels?

I like reinforcement by rubber bungee straps. Trailer cost $10 at garage sale, bungee cords are free from my vast collection of road side treasure.
Schwinn Varsity was $5 at a different garage sale.

Good combo for grocery runs.

Damn you drink a lot of soda.

That's basically what my current trailer looked like before I disassembled it and took all the fabric off.

Damn you drink a lot of soda.
That wasn't all for me; the 25 lbs of cat litter was for Kitty.

Schwinn Varsity was $5 at a different garage sale.


Those models will still be kicking around 50 years from now. I know they're heavy, but the components and frame are indestructible. Great bicycle for grocery getting... Not sure how long that trailer will make it... though it looks like an upgrade compared to mine.

Those models will still be kicking around 50 years from now. I know they're heavy, but the components and frame are indestructible. Great bicycle for grocery getting... Not sure how long that trailer will make it... though it looks like an upgrade compared to mine.
It was an upgrade from this trailer which was bought newin Germany for either $40 or 40DM. I know it was 40 something before the Euro came on the scene. Used it for ten years or so before the plastic wheel got bent and would no longer keep the 12" tire mounted. The bike (a 5 speed Sachs IGH) was a freebee dumpster find in Heidelberg.

I wonder how difficult it would be to find some replacement wheels?

Because of the weird axle arrangement with that one, replacement wheels I'd probably have to have built... and considering the cost of having it shipped from California, it's just not worth it. The new trailer cost a grand total of $35 and a little sweat.