Utility Cycling - Any other Burley Travoy style trailers out there? Or homemade ideas?

I like the handtruck style trailer idea of the Burley Travoy, but I don't like the price. I was thinking about using an aluminum folding hand truck, but most use plastic parts where the wheels fold and I don't trust it. All I want is to put a suitcase on it for towing behind my brompton. When not riding the brompton is stowed in the suitcase.

Cart style in question...
http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/6f60534fa2ed_B9C6/burley-travoy-trailer-med.jpg
http://blog.nycewheels.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_9393-e1304184397684.jpg

I don't know how fast you want to ride, but towing anything is harder than just putting a suitcase on top of a heavy duty rack.

I'm sure the Burley unit rolls easily enough, but the wind resistance will wear on you a bit.

I don't know how fast you want to ride, but towing anything is harder than just putting a suitcase on top of a heavy duty rack.

I'm sure the Burley unit rolls easily enough, but the wind resistance will wear on you a bit.

I respectfully disagree with the above statements. Putting a suit case on a heavy duty rack makes the bike top end heavy, which makes the bike harder to handle and unsteady. A trailer is a better choice, which you probably know already since you asked about a trailer.

I have a Burley Travoy and the idea of wind resistance never crossed my mind. Theoretically I guess it is there but just never noticed it. Pulling the Travoy never wears me out and I pack it quite full. In fact of all the trailers I have ever had this is the best designed, easiest one to pull. The versatility is great. I just purchased a Brompton but have yet to pull the Travoy but I am sure it will be fine.

Sorry I can't offer anything on an alternative as I really don't know. Though there are features that really make this trailer work well. For instance I actually flipped the trailer last week while riding. I had it packed really weird with weight not centered, coming off a curb, down a hill, around a corner way too fast for the conditions and terrain and the trailer flipped over and my bike stayed upright which was amazing in of itself. More amazingly the hinge didn't break. I was able to stop flip the trailer over and keep riding (much slower this time). This was 100% human error.

The point is the hinge is designed for this flexibility and maybe some other design would have not had this. Other features I really like is how small it folds and how the wheels are removable. It really is a great trailer but I do agree costs quite a bit.

Hopefully you will find a solution to your problem.

I respectfully disagree with the above statements. Putting a suit case on a heavy duty rack makes the bike top end heavy, which makes the bike harder to handle and unsteady. A trailer is a better choice, which you probably know already since you asked about a trailer.

I have a Burley Travoy and the idea of wind resistance never crossed my mind. Theoretically I guess it is there but just never noticed it. Pulling the Travoy never wears me out and I pack it quite full. In fact of all the trailers I have ever had this is the best designed, easiest one to pull. The versatility is great. I just purchased a Brompton but have yet to pull the Travoy but I am sure it will be fine.

Sorry I can't offer anything on an alternative as I really don't know. Though there are features that really make this trailer work well. For instance I actually flipped the trailer last week while riding. I had it packed really weird with weight not centered, coming off a curb, down a hill, around a corner way too fast for the conditions and terrain and the trailer flipped over and my bike stayed upright which was amazing in of itself. More amazingly the hinge didn't break. I was able to stop flip the trailer over and keep riding (much slower this time). This was 100% human error.

The point is the hinge is designed for this flexibility and maybe some other design would have not had this. Other features I really like is how small it folds and how the wheels are removable. It really is a great trailer but I do agree costs quite a bit.

Hopefully you will find a solution to your problem.

Thank you...that was a bit more informative and helpful, lol.

I actually have design I working on should work pretty good for my purpose. It's based around a folding handtruck that I already own. I've found 12-1/2" wheels and tires and plan on using the Burley hitch components for attaching. Axles are my only concern at the moment. I'd like then quick release, but not sure the best method.

Here's a preview of my Travoy style trailer project...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7926790444_c0806a3807_c.jpg

Here's a preview of my Travoy style trailer project...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7926790444_c0806a3807_c.jpg

Great project! Could we have the details plse?? "Before" picture of the cart? Close up of the wheels and wheel atatchment? Would like to know how fast and easy it is to collapse if nescesary.

Don't have a before, but looked like this...
http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/additional_images/23771_2_lg.jpg

Here's the back side. Using clevis pins for a quick release. (Don't mind the washers...used them to figure out spacer size for a tight fit)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8448/7933638206_1e56fd79ab_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8032/7933643214_e460195cea_z.jpg


Wheels and clevis pins removed...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/7933650180_eeb92c4dde_z.jpg


Folded with wheels removed...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7933672230_7c27117e75_z.jpg


Folded with wheels attached for the heck of it...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/7933676390_c93458ce6c_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/7933693014_1506bcd2f3_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/7933697794_23e6b78467_z.jpg


More to come. Still working on the hitch components since Amazon is taking forever with my Burley hitch parts.

Been thinking about this type of solutions for many years. I tend to put wheels on everything :). Bf has got a similar cart that he is not using. I have been eying that for some time now, I`ll show him the pictures.

Update...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/7952190452_87555db1cf_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/7952213302_6d4f115d4d_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/7952208474_0b393cdc53_c.jpg

Burley Travoy seatpost hitch and a round tube trailer flex connector. The tube is a 27.2mm seatpost that I cut and the end clamped to the trailer is the handlebar clamp from a 26mm stem. The seatpost tube is pressed into the stem. I plan on replacing the center bolt with something low profile and replacing one of the stem screw with a knob for loosening for easier folding.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8442/7952195632_df56b3e3e1_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/7952198028_c823ee04aa_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/7952205770_107683c4e4_c.jpg

I still need to figure out a front kickstand, since the bigger wheels make it sit taller. All in all, I'm pretty happy with it...very stable when towing.

Could you say where you found the flex connector that fits into the Burley hitch? I think I found most of the other parts you've used.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200497395_200497395
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_13794_13794
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038LPOD6

I'm very interested in this project, because I like the idea of the Travoy but not the expense. Do you have bags that you use with this, or do you just haul boxes?

Travoy seatpost hitch...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0073RJGJY?dpm=1&qid=1347303518&ref_=mp_s_a_1&sr=8-1

Burley flex connector for round tube(what I used)...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001GSQXUG/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1347303546&sr=8-1

Burley flex connector for square tube...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001GSMUGC/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1347303546&sr=8-2

I'm still in the testing phase. I found a dry bag backpack that fits pretty good and still allows me to use as a backpack.

One piece of advice is to keep most of the weight towards the bottom. I'm trying to figure a way to lock the stem in place when using, to allow more weight up top.

I also modified my original mounting of the axles...using the original hole location caused the plastic to flex with heavy weight. Ill post a picture of this when I get home.

Thanks! I was thinking with the stem, maybe you could drill a hole through the stem and handle and then use a pin to keep the whole thing from rotating under load. That might weaken that area though.

How easy is it to balance? I'd imagine it works best if you can center the load over the wheels, but don't have a feel for how difficult that is to accomplish.

Just found this:

http://www.wike.ca/cargo_speedy_shopper.php

http://i.imgur.com/ySN45.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TCinV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YUGUw.jpg

$100 plus the cost of a hitch (looks like the Burley would work, or they sell one for $25).

Just found this:

http://www.wike.ca/cargo_speedy_shopper.php

http://i.imgur.com/ySN45.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TCinV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YUGUw.jpg

$100 plus the cost of a hitch (looks like the Burley would work, or they sell one for $25).

Yea, I came across this during my research. I just didn't like the idea of the 16" wheels with my brompton. I actually contacted them through email about buying without the wheels, but never received a reply. With the hitch and shipping it's around $150 for this one.

We own Bromptons and want Travoy`s (but not the price) and have done some serious DIYìng in the past :thumb:so we are following your thread closely!

What we are discussing is that we would not be comfortable with connecting the towbar this high up on the B`s. We all use extended seatpost so we worry about them being over loaded already. If you do not need to fold the bike completely every dayyou could slide the hitch down a bit, not sure how much seatpost you need to insert to keep the bike folded.

Is there a way to connect the trailer to the bike instead of to the seatpost?

Do you need to pull the handle all the way out most days? Could you leave that for the days you want to transport something tall (and just secure it with some zip ties or welcro) and take the advantage of a lower and also stronger (and easyer to connect lower- like on the bike) trailer for most days? Just asking.

Really looking forward to seeing your new solution for connecting the wheels.

Years ago there was a product called TrailorOn that I'm certain Burly most have copied the idea. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt by I have one that was made for my Dahon. It works very well but I never really used it. The good thing about the device was that it could use any push cart or even a shopping carriage.

All you need is a farily long PVC pipe and two thick rubber bands.

http://www.rovingfestival.com/equipmentlist/handtruck.shtml