Recumbent - Recumbent Trailers......

Does anyone have an opinion or a personal preference about bike trailers for recumbents ???. I was considering buying one for my RANS Rocket, in order to do some camping this summer.... So far I've only looked at the B.O.B. Yak Plus... Any help would be appreciated....

Does anyone have an opinion or a personal preference about bike trailers for recumbents ???. I was considering buying one for my RANS Rocket, in order to do some camping this summer.... So far I've only looked at the B.O.B. Yak Plus... Any help would be appreciated....
I would not go with a singel wheeled trailer go fo a double wheeled one here is a link to differnt trailershttp://www.workbike.org/makers/search.php?region=any&types=trailers&submit=search thisshould give you an idea dude Cheers :) Steeker

I would not go with a singel wheeled trailer go fo a double wheeled one here is a link to differnt trailershttp://www.workbike.org/makers/search.php?region=any&types=trailers&submit=search thisshould give you an idea dude Cheers :) Steeker sorry this one works http://www.workbike.org/makers/index.html

Hi,
I use a BOB with my recumbent and it it works great. I have a short wheelbase USS recumbent. I dont know where people get off saying not to use a single wheel trailer, they obviously have not travelled 12000 miles with them. bicycletrailers.com has a sale on the bob right now. be happy.

mj

Hi,
I use a BOB with my recumbent and it it works great. I have a short wheelbase USS recumbent. I dont know where people get off saying not to use a single wheel trailer, they obviously have not travelled 12000 miles with them. bicycletrailers.com has a sale on the bob right now. be happy.

mj DUDE it is not a point of getting off:eek: it is what I have learned and am told by lot's of other trailer owners two wheels carry more and heavy loads than a single wheeled tralier and are safer
I use a two wheel trail but to each his own :beer: Steeker

Tayman,

Check out Burley's Nomad or Flatbed at:

http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/default.aspx

Also, consider their alternative hitch. I think that it works better with a recumbent trike than their regular hitch (which I also have). You should be able order a trailer with the alternative hitch for nothing extra.

I have the Flatbed trailer which is rated for 100 pounds. For my uses, it's more flexible. I've carried camping gear, recycling bins, small loads of lumber, a large cooler (full of frosty drinks), and, don't tell Burley, 114 pounds of teen age son.

Ron

I certainly understand the one-wheel, two wheel debate.

Two wheel'ed designs (I have a heavy two-wheeler that I retrofitted with the Burley alternative hitch) are usually capable of carrying heavier loads, but they have a couple negatives. Look at the ratings. I think the BOB has a pretty impressive capacity.

First, they have higher drag coefficients.

Second, they are heavier.

Third, and most important (!), they are a bigger tipover risk. You may think two wheels is more stable than one. However, you now have three lines to track in your brain instead of one. If you hit a bump, curb or drop off the road with one of the trailer wheels and flip it, it is taking you with it.

That said, I have the two-wheeler to carry my twins side by side. I am not in a position to go out and spend $300-$400 to get a trailer just for touring. The negatives are not enough to get me to buy a different trailer just for touring. Besides, although they are a tipover risk while travelling, loading and unloading is a breeze because they balance on the wheels and hitch to make a tripod. No moment applied through the kickstand.

All said, if you are doing just touring, I'd go with the BOB because they have less drag, less weight, good load capacity and are skinny enough to almost be able to forget you have one.

If you want something you can also use as a utility trailier, go ahead an find a two-wheel design. There's lots more of them out there and some are really cheap. Don't scrimp.

I hope this helps
Paul Podbielski

I used the Bob Yak on my Streetmachine GT, short wheelbase, underseat etc, and had some great rides with it and no problems.
Getting another SMGT in a couple of weeks and I think the Yak will soon follow again!

From respective websites:

Burley Nomad weighs 14.5 pounds

BOB YAK weighs 13.5

One thing that I have never figured out is why people with two wheel tailers don't complain about them tracking one wheel on the gravel shoulder on a paved road. I use a BOB and it track directly behind my real wheel. I ride near the side of the road when I tour, no room for the second wheel.

One thing that I have never figured out is why people with two wheel tailers don't complain about them tracking one wheel on the gravel shoulder on a paved road.
The same problem (three wheeltracks) doesn't seem to bother tricyclists.

I have a BOB Yak. I have never pulled it behind a recumbent, however, I have pulled it behind a Cannondale touring bike. I would not recomend it for a recumbent due to ballance problems. I also experienced broken spokes in my rear wheel. I agree, get a two wheel trailer for a recumbent.

Does anyone have an opinion or a personal preference about bike trailers for recumbents ???. I was considering buying one for my RANS Rocket, in order to do some camping this summer.... So far I've only looked at the B.O.B. Yak Plus... Any help would be appreciated....

You will run into trouble if you use a single wheeled trailer with a bent that does not have a rear triangulated stay. If you do have a rear triangle, either a single or double wheeled trailer will work. Single stays twist too much to handle a single wheel trailer.

Try a search through several of the forums. I've read quite a bit about various trailers from the touring forum, check the picture threads too.

I get a ltitle bit of sway from my burley flat bed. not sure if this happens with a single wheel. I had 127 pounds of lumber on it monday nad evey little down slope gave me a nudge forward. now that sure felt wierd (G)

I dont think you need a single-wheel trailer unless you are narrow trail riding, it also still puts a lot of its weight on the rear axle and the idea should be to take the weight on the trailers wheels too avoid overstressing your tyres and frame.
I like the "QuickPak" trailer, it is the most expensive but has many unique features including being foldable for shipping or bussing, quickly + easily connects and wont make your bike fall off the stand like single wheel trailers do.
There is a whole lot of info out there on trailers Vs panniers but the Trailers always seem to come out ahead.

BTW nobody I know who actually uses a 2 wheel trailer has complained about one wheel being in the gravel, some trailers are designed offset to prevent this.
I think it is a myth perpetuated by salesmen who want to sell firstime buyers a single-wheeler.
Probably because that's what they have in stock at the time.

Also I notice from reading many, many posts and articles on this subject that some riders are just plain stubborn anti-two-wheel positionists. The same way some riders are anti-trailer or anti-recumbent.
Whatever works for you.

One thing that I have never figured out is why people with two wheel tailers don't complain about them tracking one wheel on the gravel shoulder on a paved road. I use a BOB and it track directly behind my real wheel. I ride near the side of the road when I tour, no room for the second wheel.

Unless you're riding so near the edge of the road you're in danger of falling off it, and unless you have a very wide trailer, forget it. I have a two-wheeled trailer. In practice, it only makes the whole rig a couple of inches wider. Remember, YOU occupy quite a width: your shoulders and elbows will be almost as wide as the trailer is.