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IAMAMRA 05-06-14 06:53 AM

Pulling a kids trailer
 
So I have been finding when I pull my kids bike trailer that drivers seem to give me more room. Anyone else experince this? Ever thought to commute with a childless trailer in tow?

WestPablo 05-06-14 06:58 AM

That's just might be the greatest idea ever! :lol:

TransitBiker 05-06-14 07:06 AM

I was carrying a milk crate & handlebar basket (inside the milk crate) zip ties to rear rack from where i found them plus 2 panniers, and people definitely gave me at least a lil more room vs nothing on rack. Been contemplating trailer for this new bike, so this idea of drivers giving trailers more room would definitely push me towards the "yes" camp. Interested to hear input from others......

- Andy

Colorado Kid 05-06-14 07:07 AM

Yes, in most cases, drivers give you tons of room. Make your trailer more noticeable (to even the sleepiest driver) by adding reflective tape and a safety triangle. In the 5 years I've been pulling a trailer, I had no problems, even on busy roads. Be careful, puling a trailer is hard work. Read your trailer's specs. to see what is load limit and follow them.

Eric S. 05-06-14 10:33 AM

I have Wald folding baskets on my commuter. Any single load goes in the left one and I notice that drivers give a little more room, even though though my total width is still no wider than my shoulders.

spivonious 05-06-14 11:00 AM

Since a trailer/panniers makes your profile wider, this makes sense.

There's also "oh, he's just going to the store" instead of "why doesn't he go to the gym to exercise" in the driver's head.

IAMAMRA 05-06-14 11:11 AM

Plus no one wants to hit a possible child.

350htrr 05-06-14 11:23 AM

Yes I noticed that when I have my trailer on, vehicles do give me more room, don't really know why but I suspect it's because I seem to wander more, tho what I am really doing is trying to avoid potholes not just with my bike but the trailer too... ;)

AusTexMurf 05-06-14 02:38 PM

Two wheeled child trailers have mucho drag on windy days !
That being said, I have pulled one many a time, windy or no.
Usually loaded w/ youngling(s).

ckaspar 05-06-14 03:07 PM

I rode with a trailer for the first time on Friday. There is only one spot on my commute where I cross lanes to turn left. Normally I have to 'fight' my way over there. On Friday, as soon as I looked back to prepare to move left, two drivers nearly stopped in the road to let me go. Even though there was plenty of room for them to proceed and for me to fall in behind them.

TransitBiker 05-06-14 05:23 PM

I would definitely be looking at a utility/cargo trailer, not a kids trailer, because i'd need the weight capacity & tie down options of the cargo specific model, but i am very encouraged by what i'm reading here.... I guess i should start saving up!! :)

- Andy

fietsbob 05-06-14 05:41 PM

And , the 2 wheel trailer tends to be centered at the hitch , left axle end, so its on the traffic side
unless in a drive left country .. ..

Saving Hawaii 05-06-14 07:15 PM


Originally Posted by IAMAMRA (Post 16732717)
So I have been finding when I pull my kids bike trailer that drivers seem to give me more room. Anyone else experince this? Ever thought to commute with a childless trailer in tow?

Put a large doll in the back and take the HOV lane?

TransitBiker 05-06-14 08:31 PM


Originally Posted by Saving Hawaii (Post 16735207)
Put a large doll in the back and take the HOV lane?

I'd be wary of instant karma. :injured::trainwreck:

- Andy

wipekitty 05-06-14 10:04 PM

I've also found that drivers give me a bit of space when I have the trailer. They seem less annoyed when I take the lane - it's almost like I'm (gasp) a vehicle! Maybe it's just the giant safety triangle and cutesy bumper sticker?


Originally Posted by TransitBiker (Post 16734922)
I would definitely be looking at a utility/cargo trailer, not a kids trailer, because i'd need the weight capacity & tie down options of the cargo specific model, but i am very encouraged by what i'm reading here.... I guess i should start saving up!! :)

- Andy

Do it!!! I was skeptical at first, but a cargo trailer makes a ton of difference if you want to carry heavy/bulky things with a bike.

Sirrus Rider 05-06-14 10:45 PM


Originally Posted by IAMAMRA (Post 16732717)
So I have been finding when I pull my kids bike trailer that drivers seem to give me more room. Anyone else experince this? Ever thought to commute with a childless trailer in tow?

Yeah It can be great fun.. I get a kick from watching the "blue hairs" pass by with a look of horror on their faces as they pass "Bad Daddy" (Me) pulling his (Imaginary) kids in traffic..:rolleyes::lol:;):twitchy::p:thumb:

anon06 05-06-14 11:57 PM

I think it depends on where you live; drivers in smaller cities and towns might give cyclists with trailers more room than drivers in larger cities. Cjhoyle, from Toronto, said that drivers weren't giving him a lot of room when they were passing him, even though he had a cargo trailer full of groceries.

Picking up Groceries with a Bike Trailer - YouTube

IAMAMRA 05-07-14 06:33 AM


Originally Posted by anon06 (Post 16735776)
I think it depends on where you live; drivers in smaller cities and towns might give cyclists with trailers more room than drivers in larger cities. Cjhoyle, from Toronto, said that drivers weren't giving him a lot of room when they were passing him, even though he had a cargo trailer full of groceries.

Picking up Groceries with a Bike Trailer - YouTube

I wonder though if he had a child trailer if they would? The experience I have had has been with a childs trailer.

casio04330 05-07-14 06:45 AM

I pull a trailer about once a week.. Its good.. but kind of adds more to pull on your legs...

Leisesturm 05-07-14 09:22 AM


Originally Posted by fietsbob (Post 16734976)
And , the 2 wheel trailer tends to be centered at the hitch , left axle end, so its on the traffic side
unless in a drive left country .. ..

ALL trailers are designed so that no matter where the hitch is located, the trailer itself centers behind the bicycle. Exactly behind the bicycle. There are no exceptions.

fietsbob 05-07-14 09:28 AM

Wrong oh blanket generalizing mr know-it-all ..Towing .. centers behind it's attachment point ..

its centered behind the bike CL only if its attached there.



I Have 2 both , the tow center is the hitch point .. to the left of the bike's center line.


you will not get that peer reviewed thesis passed with bad information.

Leisesturm 05-07-14 09:29 AM

I pull a cargo trailer often when shopping. It is obviously not a child hauler. I would not, and could not advocate that one pull an empty child trailer simply to get some peace on the road. Truly, if its that bad where one has to do their vehicular cyclist thing... maybe the takeaway is that one should move to somewhere more bike friendly. The only martyrs that get any respect are religious martyrs. I'd bust a gut laughing if any of my cyclist friends told me that they did or planned on pulling an empty child trailer.

H

Leisesturm 05-07-14 09:32 AM


Originally Posted by fietsbob (Post 16736695)
Wrong oh blanket generalizing mr know-it-all ..Towing .. centers behind it's attachment point ..

its centered behind the bike CL if its attached there.



Have 2 both , the tow center is the hitch point ..

Photo's please. Or the url to the product website. That should clear this up in a hurry. I have yet to see the hitch that didn't curve around so that the trailer tracked behind the bicycle. This should be very educational.

fietsbob 05-07-14 09:38 AM

I need funding for that. :lol:


IT does tow behind the bicycle BUT ,, the center line of the trailer is parallel to the center line of the bicycle .
not in line with it .. exceptions seat post , tow fittings; and a fork of its own
like for the tow fittings of 1 wheel trailers

IAMAMRA 05-07-14 09:52 AM


Originally Posted by Leisesturm (Post 16736700)
I pull a cargo trailer often when shopping. It is obviously not a child hauler. I would not, and could not advocate that one pull an empty child trailer simply to get some peace on the road. Truly, if its that bad where one has to do their vehicular cyclist thing... maybe the takeaway is that one should move to somewhere more bike friendly. The only martyrs that get any respect are religious martyrs. I'd bust a gut laughing if any of my cyclist friends told me that they did or planned on pulling an empty child trailer.

H

First, not everyone has the option to move, so to say that it would be the solution is rather moot. Second, if I can do something that can get drivers to notice me better, than why not do it? Third, I wonder if your the type that laugh at people with reflectors on their wheels or helmets?

I know for me, I want to make it home from every ride alive and in one piece, so if you see a big fat guy pulling an empty bike trailer....

TransitBiker 05-07-14 09:54 AM


Originally Posted by fietsbob (Post 16736732)
I need funding for that.

Oooh, i have an idea for a charity ride............

- Andy

noglider 05-07-14 04:16 PM

Yes, pulling a kid trailer has coincided with drivers passing me with more distance. The kid trailers have been great for me for towing cargo. I still use them, and my kids are now 25 and 22.

Last summer, I took the tops and sides off the trailers so they look like cargo trailers now.

Leisesturm, both of my trailers have curved arms but the trailers are not quite centered behind the bike. I might be able to take a picture this weekend if you like.

fourknees 05-07-14 04:35 PM

I also get more space when pulling my burley trailer. This is also true if I'm fully within a bike lane. I also put the orange flag on the left side of the trailer.

I have a trailer similar to this one: http://www.bikeshophub.com/wp-conten...s/burley-2.jpg

If I drew a line threw the trailer on the line of the bike frame, I'd guess that ~60% of the trailer sits to the left side (non-driveside) of the bike. Is that what is being argued?

noglider 05-07-14 04:49 PM

One of my trailers is that Burley you have, fourknees.

By the way, the most I've spent on a trailer is $90. I buy them used on craigslist and at yard sales.

TransitBiker 05-08-14 03:52 AM

I doubt i'd be able to get a good cargo trailer for less than 150. I'd want the bracket kind, not the single arm tow bar.

And i think the trailers are supposed to sit slightly off to the left, as if you're riding on the right side of the lane, wouldnt you want a narrower profile on the right so your trailer isnt hitting a curb or going into a ditch? Just a hypothesis....

- Andy


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