BoiseShwin

I just got a burley flatbed this weekend and have a question. The wheels on mine are angled downward, is that normal? I would have thought they should be at a 90 degree angle with the frame but they are not.

Thanks!

Gustavo

Congratulations! Do you mean that they are angled inwards, so that the axles point downwards rather than outwards? There should probably be some slight angle there, to compensate for them sagging when you load it up, but then again probably not too much of an angle. Post a picture, or compare your trailer with a picture on the website. You can probably also tell from the look of your trailer if it has been damageg, if the axles are bent etc.

Allen

I haven't used mine much since I got the Xtracycle, but I think mine are 90º the the frame.

Pedaleur

Do you mean 'splayed'? Bottoms out and tops in? That would give it a wider wheel base and make it more stable.

BoiseShwin

Yes, this is exactly what they look like. They are not bad unloaded but when it's loaded up with about 75 lbs, they are easily evident. I only question this as our Burley D'Lite never 'splayed' like this that I recall.

So this is normal and part of the design?

Michel Gagnon

Note : I assume here that the wheels are on a quick release system that is similar to that of the Burley Nomad.

I'm not sure exactly what's the problem, but I would suspect that one or both of the wheels are loose. Remove the wheels and check that the quick release clamps tightly. If not, you may need to tighten the bolt that is behind the QR, at the end of the axle stub.

And just in case, you might want to turn the Flatbed on its back and check the axle for any kind of cracks in it. A fractured axle would be more flexible and show the kind of behaviour you see.

CommuterRun

On a car this is camber. Negative camber is when the top of the wheel is positioned inward of the bottom of the wheel.

The wheels on my Burley Flatbed have negative camber. I don't remember them ever having zero camber. But this trailer is a few years old and has definitely seen it's fair share of loads.

With a heavy load on, these trailers, all trailers really, unless it's so over-built you wouldn't want to pull it because of the trailer weight, will flex a little. Should flex a little. I don't really think it's a problem to worry about as long as neither wheel has any noticeable toe.

Pedaleur

Well, without pictures, it'd be hard to tell if it's normal or not. I don't know how it is 'supposed' to be, but I would expect it's part of the design. For what it's worth, my 2005 Burley D'Lite _does_ have splayed (cambered) wheels.

gosmsgo

I own two of those trailers and I think what you are describing is normal.

I tell you what you should do though......

There is a bolt that holds the plastic part that connects the tongue to the front of the trailer. Its a long bolt about 4 inches long. Take it out, put some lock tight on it, and put it back in.

It fell out of both of my trailers within the first 1,000 miles. I bought the trailers 4 years apart. I suppose Burley does not know about it?

Edit - I just called burley and mentioned it. Anyone else had this?

Allen

Put mine together today, had to wash off cobwebs--shame on me, and it does have negative camber.

BoiseShwin

Being the great company that they are Burley is sending out a new frame to replace the one that I have. Pictures were sent to them by my LBS and they agreed that the camber was beyond normal. This is why I always buy Burley Trailers...well 2 so far (A 7 year old Burley D'Lite and this new Flatbed). =)

You can't beat a great product and GREAT customer service.