BigPolishJimmy

Question for you clydes who tour. What trailers have you used and why did you like or not like them?

I want to go bike camping and I'm too big to fit into the little backpacker tents, so a trailer seems in order. Mainly I need to choose between building a one-wheel design and a 2-wheel design. I'm leaning towards the 2-wheel trailer because it's easier to design so you can pack a load over the axle to lighten the tongue weight. As a clyde I'm already putting a ton of weight on my back axle, I'm afraid a single-wheel design would just add to it, but I've read that single wheel trailers track better?

Thanks in advance.

Neil_B

The conventional wisdom is that single wheel trailers like the BOB and the discontinued Yakima Big Tow track better and are a definite plus off-road. For instance, the C & O Canal Towpath is often just two strips of dirt with a grassy 'median'.

However, double-wheeled trailers have been used successfully off-road, as Mr. Stormcrowe demonstrates from time to time. And the double-wheeled trailers are plentiful and often available cheaply second-hand.

-holiday76

I've toured with a BOB. It's great for flat rides, like "down the beach" .

You have a tendency to overload the thing. The first time I used it, maybe 10 years ago, I rode 300 or so miles with it, then sent 25 pounds of stuff home that I never used. A lot of that had to do with my inexperience in touring at the time though.

So for flat, it's great.

Hills? I hate it. Not because it's hard to ride uphill with, but because on several occations it tried to pass be while going downhill. Luckily for me there were no cars coming the other way or I might not be here today.

This has happened to me both on a long wheelbase recumbent, as well as on a Upright Litespeed, so I came to the conclusion it wasnt happening due to the geometry of the bike.

My bob trailer sits in my bike shed hanging on the wall and has done that for the last 6 or so tours I've been on since I rarely seem to tour in the flats.

For off-road or on a canal path or something it's probably perfectly suited though. If I ever due that type of tour maybe I'll just break it out again. I just personally find that type of tour pretty boring.

Anyway, I'd suggest trying one out, just don't go 45 mph down the side of a mountain with it...

Neil_B

My Yakima likes to 'take charge' at about 34-35 MPH.

Wogster

I don't have a trailer, but would like one, so I have done some research.

Single wheel trailers can lean with the bike, so the hitching system is solid. However you need to make sure that the load can't shift around, and that it's well balanced side to side. Otherwise if something heavy shifts while your leaned, it can go right over and take you and the bike with it. Trailers tend to be longer and narrower, so with a long bike, like some recumbent bicycles, you need to be concerned with the overall length.

Dual wheel trailers use a hitch that can twist, so the bike leans but the trailer doesn't. A load shift from side to side, isn't going to create an issue. Depending on where the wheels are though, you want the load balanced front to back, with heavier items in front of the wheels. Plans for various dual wheel trailers can be found online if you want to build your own. If building your own it can be as long as you like, but wheel placement and load balancing front to back becomes an issue. If the wheels are too far forward and the load has heavy items behind the wheels, it could lift the back wheel off the ground, probably not an issue when riding, but when stopped, it could make using a kickstand difficult. This is why commercial ones tend to be shorter and wider.

You may be able to find an old dual wheel kiddie trailer, that was used for hauling rug rats around, then just make a few small mods to it, like removing the seat, and adding some thin plywood to the bottom and get a quite serviceable trailer. People might think you have kids in there and be less likely to run it over as well. Either way, you need a flag and pole for it, so that people are aware of it as most bike trailers are close to the ground, and not visible over the hood of a car.

bigfred 

I've used two different single wheeled trailers. A BOB and a home built. If you're going to encounter any sort of logging trail or other single track trail, they are the way to go. If you're only going to see improved trails that would work for a two wheeled trailer my first inclination is to go for some overbuilt wheels and conventional panniers and racks.

mtnbke

I'd just buy a Wike.

They make the best trailers going.

I've owned a Chariot, Burley, and Joyrider. For various reasons I wasn't impressed with any of them, and don't consider Chariot, Burley, or the Joyrider to be safe for any kiddies. However, for cargo, there are different considerations.

If you want to build you own trailer you can get a kit from Wike, or you can buy one of their preconfigured designs.

Also not all connection points are the same. On a cargo trailer look for a torque neutral hitching mechanism, one that doesn't only connect to the bike on only one side, especially if going with a one wheel design.

scrapmetal

I built a trailer while ago for local shopping needs. Trailer.

Max mileage-pounds was 160 pounds 12 miles from Costco. I used free wheels I had in my storage and electrical conduit welded together.

bautieri

Check out Raiyn's old thread, Rehabbed a kiddie trailer

BigPolishJimmy

These are fantastic! Ok, I'm going to go with a 2-wheel design because it looks easier to build and for the camping trip we'll either be on paved roads or a crushed slag/limestone trial that's 10-ft wide. If I find a kiddie trailer for the right price in the next week then I may build off it as a base. But I've got a few kids bikes out on the junk bike pile that would love to donate their wheels. I've also got a few old aluminum lawn chairs out in the barn that might find a new life now that we've all gone to the new-style collapsible camping chairs. Building it is actually part of the fun for me. I enjoy the puzzle of putting it together, as well as re-purposing material that has lost its original value. Having said that, I still like seeing the new trailers people use because the designs are so well thought out and nice looking.

Thanks again,

Jim