Utility Cycling - A package from bikes at work

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It's beautiful, isn't it?

A whole world of self-reliance, independence, fitness, and even cool-ness packaged into one tiny box. What you can haul on that thing is only limited by your determination, creativity, and time.

Enjoy it, it'll serve you well!

congrats!!

post lots of photos!!

verrry excited!

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it is me or is the drawbar supposed to be horizontal not vertical like in the picture? Also I'm curious how long did it take to put together?

it is me or is the drawbar supposed to be horizontal not vertical like in the picture? Also I'm curious how long did it take to put together?

I asked Jim to build me a custom hitch because I wanted to be able to tow it behind an xtracycle with wideloaders installed. The towbar in its normal config wouldnt allow that. I also wanted to be able to make tight turns on both sides and this solves both those problems.

It took a little over two and a half hours to conplete but I did stop a few times to take photos. I think most *of that time was spent unwrapping it though! Every single piece was meticulously (and I don't use that word lightly) *wrapped in newspaper. Seriously, i was so impatient to get building it there were times I shook my fist at BAW for their attention to detail :) I suppose it was worth it though because everything was in perfect shape. I'm extremely curious to know how long it took them to do that. *

The trailer is beautiful. Both my wife and I were very pleasantly surprised (shocked?) *by this. Of the few photos I'd seen of the trailers, none even come close to showing how nice this thing looks. I was planning on painting it black to match my stealth mode bikes but am glad I didn't buy paint ahead of time because it's just to pretty to cover up.*

While I'm at it I also should give Jim a hearty public thankyou for having such great customer service. I'm a picky guy when it comes to buying stuff (everything we own can -and does - fit in a single room, with the exception of bike stuff) and almost without exception will not buy anything without seeing it first. Spending $600 on something I'd never seen or used is a pretty giant leap of faith for me and I pestered him with many an email and phone call. Throughout the process he stayed prompt, patient, friendly and gave me all the info I needed. The custom hitch (which I believe is the first of it's kind) is fantastic and Jim contacted xtracycle with questions as well as tracking down a local xtracycle owner in his process of fabricating it. He also built at least one that didn't work the way he wanted before coming up with the one he sent.*

I will have many a photo to show *but we don't have internet at the house and it takes too much time to upload and format photo posts from my phone. I will be making a run into town later today and will stop by the library to share

I made a floor for mine out of two layers of corrugated plastic. It is working very well - impervious to the elements, virtually indestructible, easy to clean, and it's light.

I have found the Nite Ize figure 9 (http://www.niteize.com/collections/figure-9)s and Nite Ize figure 9 carabiners (http://www.niteize.com/collections/carabiner-figure-9), both size large, to be immensely helpful for securing cargo.

I'm very curious to see more pics, specifically the hitch and how it attaches to your XtraCycle, as I have a BD and have been thinking about the exact same thing.

The hitch is fantastic, I'll get better shots of it tomorrow.



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Well that's kind of fantastic!

I'm super interested in the hitch. I thought Xtracycle advised against putting any sort of significant weight on that rear bar. The fact that he talked to them and apparently got the green light is awesome. I think a BAW might be in my future...

Do it! :) I'm really excited about mine

The rear bar has a 50lb weight limit, and as long as you load your trailer correctly that should never be reached. I loaded hose big heavy plywood bins and a couple big trash bags as well as my computer, camera and some food for the food bank and I could lift the trailer tongue easily with a finger. I don't know if I'd recommend putting one behond a 3 speed cruiser if you have any kind of hills to ride, but I don't and it's been a ton of fun already after a quick 2 hour litter pickup session...

thats some kind of wonderful
no doubt

I've been wanting to bet a BAW trailer for some time
but have always tossed it to the back burner, specifically regarding the hitch/BD interface
the BD would be the primary mover

thats a GREAT setup!!!

I have a feeling that I'm placing an order in the next few months.

more hitch pics please.

thats some kind of wonderful
no doubt

I've been wanting to bet a BAW trailer for some time
but have always tossed it to the back burner, specifically regarding the hitch/BD interface
the BD would be the primary mover

thats a GREAT setup!!!

I have a feeling that I'm placing an order in the next few months.

more hitch pics please.

I will happily oblige in the next few days..

Please correct me if i'm in error, but is that a horizontal pivot hidden inside the tongue?

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Do it! :) I'm really excited about mine

The rear bar has a 50lb weight limit, and as long as you load your trailer correctly that should never be reached....

In my experience, the weight limits are only suggestions. While I agree that if the trailer is loaded correctly, the load will be centered over the axle. Ideally, this would mean a balanced tongue, which is what I strive for. However, I have had over 50 pounds on the tongue with no negative effects.

One of the nice things about the BAW trailer is that it's modular. You can put the axle in the most appropriate place for what your common load is. Don't get me wrong, it would take some time to move it around, so I wouldn't want to be doing it often, but it can be done.

Because the trailer is modular, I'm waiting for someone to build a double axle design... now that would be cool!

I've also had close to 400 pounds on the trailer with no negative effects. So, again, the weight limits are only suggestions.

Actually, the tongue side should have about 10% more weight on it than the back of the trailer.

Actually, the tongue side should have about 10% more weight on it than the back of the trailer.

OK. From my experience, I try to balance the load and it's always worked out just fine. I've even had it imbalanced the other way (more weight on the back than the front) and I still didn't have any problems.

I've even had it imbalanced the other way (more weight on the back than the front) and I still didn't have any problems.Not a condition i'd care imitate or suggest to others.

1.) Most prudent bike riders know the effectiveness of, and use the bike's front brake. However, because of the high CoM (center of mass) the bike normally unloads the rear wheel during braking. If your trailer load is rear biased, this will exacerbate the unloading of the bike's rear wheel, especially under hard braking. And if the bike's rear wheel loses enough grip, you'll immediately 'jack-knife' the whole rig.

2.) Rearward biased trailer loads are also known to cause oscillating along the yaw axis at speed - primarily due to imbalanced trailer loads and insufficient tongue loading. Once this side-to-side 'yawing' (or more commonly referred as 'tail wagging'), begins, it's almost impossible to inhibit unless you take immediate action. Just hesitating corrective action, almost guarantees a pile rubble and skin loss.

I always maintain 8-10% of the trailer gross on the hitch.

this has turned out to be a great thread.

I've had a few trailers in my day, and have always wanted a BAW trailer.
the offering from Surly is awesome, but heck... it doesn't work with a BD.

I keep thinking that its a matter of time before someone makes a hitch that attaches to the top of the VRacks, above the rear axle, or simply into the seatpost/seat tube.

obviously trailer dynamics is a concern.

I had never experienced an adverse situation with any of the trailers I've used. I guess I'm lucky.

check out this video of Goran Kropp
I've always admired this guy, look at the tongue of the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9x1Jkl_680&list=FLI42QPcQgXeN7TZrvPOGmCw&index=10&feature=plpp_video

Do want!!!!

Hitch pics

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I'm so happy with it, BAW made it into our holiday family photo :)


Happy Holidays to you and yours! We here at Litter Patrol/Delivery Dude enterprises wish you all the best and that you have enough happiness to make you kind, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to bring you joy.

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Appreciate the hitch pics BAH,

I'm a little concerned with the hitch design. Apparently, the designer/fabricator thought it wise to pivot the trailer side of the hitch (indicated by the presents of the horizontal pivot pin in the tongue). I suspect this was done because of the arch travel limitations of the Heim joint). Unfortunately, this arrangement allows considerable vertical tongue movement - what is it 1-2" maybe?

You're very observant, PaPa.

Actually, the horizontal pin is not a pivot, but a bolt and a lock nut to hold the stainless steel adapter that holds the hitch pin in position. The ball of the rod end (aka Heim joint) is the part that provides the freedom of rotation around the pitch axis between the trailer and bike.

-Jim
Bikes At Work
www.bikesatwork.com

Appreciate the response, Jim, I do have a question, if you don't mind?


Actually, the horizontal pin is not a pivot, but a bolt and a lock nut to hold the stainless steel adapter that holds the hitch pin in position.What prevents the hitch from rotating on the horizontal bolt?

What prevents the hitch from rotating on the horizontal bolt?

The locknut on the bolt clamps the hitch adapter between the two towbar bushings. The torque on the hitch adapter isn't excessive (<100 in-lbs when the Xtracycle is loaded to its 50# rear weight limit), so with the locknut torqued down the adapter won't rotate around the horizontal bolt.

The adapter might need to be repositioned and the locknut re-tightened occasionally due to creep, but it shouldn't be necessary to do this frequently.

You ask a good question. I was concerned about this, too, when designing it, and was the main reason I wanted to test it before we shipped.

-Jim
Bikes At Work
www.bikesatwork.com

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I really appreciate this thread!
its a good learning experience, and constructive.

Having a great time with it so far!(see two started threads)

PaPa, are you suggesting using an air hose fitting for the hitch coupler? Interesting idea. I wonder what the physical strength of those things is. I've never seen them used in an application where they get much stress.

PaPa, are you suggesting using an air hose fitting for the hitch coupler? Interesting idea. I wonder what the physical strength of those things is. I've never seen them used in an application where they get much stress.The idea isn't original. Bike Friday uses and sells them.

https://www.bikefriday.com/thestore/index.php?osCsid=EhdCNfZ6LQwH2EbB7EFvJ0&cPath=51

Bike Friday suggests a 100 pound trailer gross. However, Bike Friday doesn't specify the 'weak link' that dictates the 100 pound limit - is it the hitch? - the rubber hose - the trailer frame or axle? - the wheels? - or some combination of all?

It doesn't matter what the air coupling was originally designed for. What matters is the anticipated, dynamic loads, and how best to safely exploit its structural limitations.