Beths43angels

Hi! I am currently looking for a bike trailer for my 6 month old daughter. Any suggestions on the best brands or types??? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

DCCommuter

I bet you're itching to get out on your bike, but six months is a little young, most manufacturers recommend at least a year, when the neck is strong enough to support the head. Some people put a carseat in a trailer at that age; I'm not qualified to comment on that practice. Under a year means a rear-facing carseat in the car, so I would imagine rear-facing carseat in the trailer as well if you decide to go that way.

Kids rarely stay in the trailer for more than a couple of years, so there is a thriving used market in trailers. Check ebay and craigslist.

I would say Burley is the market leader. I'm very happy with my Wike trailer (www.wicycle.com).

Beths43angels

thank you very much for your insight. we were a little concerned with the age limits, but the car seat idea does seems pretty good. thanks again.

DogBoy

Same warning about ages. Once old enough, the chariot cougar is also a nice high-end trailer.

ashy92

i agree with the chariot carriers. i looked all over for a good high quality trailer and finally decided on the cougar 2. i ordered mine abou ta week ago and should be in today, i ordered the bike kit and jogging kit to go with it.

currently the 2005 cougar 2 is on backorder for several weeks but they do have a couple 2004 left and are giving a good deal on them. the only difference in the 2005 and 2004 is the 2004 the padding in the seat is not removable, but for $60 savings over the 2005 it doesnt matter

expect to pay for a chariot carrier though but the price is worth it.... my 2004 cougar 2 with bike kit and jogging kit was right at $425

PaulH

Our daughter's pediatrician said no bike or trailer riding until at least one year of age. We were offered a good deal on a discontinued InStep Turbo Elite. I think we paid maybe $100 for the thing.

We have put thousands of miles on it, taking her to restaurants, school, and day camp. This unit is clearly a bottom of the line trailer, but it has stood up to a lot of year-round hard use.

Paul

dirtbikedude

Weather or not you child can ride in a trailer will depend on their development. The biggest concern is if they can support their head or not. I have seen some kids that are not strong enought to ride in a trailer until 1 1/2 yrs and others who could ride in a trailer as early as 5mo. Our daughter was already on trail with us by 9mo but she was walking by 6 mo and had a lot of strength as well as ballance and coordination by then. (proud dada braging )

As for a trailer we use the Chariot Cougar We opted for this one because of the accessories and the fact it has a working and adjustable susspension. It is also ranked high in safty. The only prob with it is it is on the expensive side.

dirtbikedude

One other thing worth mention, we also like the Chariot because you can lay your bike flat on the groung with out affecting the trailer and you can run disk brakes. It comes in handy if you have to change a flat or for some reason you fall over (usually if riding clipless)

cdnguy

I recently purchased a trailer and I have to say it has been a great investment. I have three boys all under the age of five and I found it hard to get away from the house for any length of time to enjoy a ride. Now I just load up whomever is standing close by and away we go. My oldest is a little big for the trailer (as he is tall for his age) but he meets the weight requirement and enjoys a good ride. I hope to next buy a trailabike, which I think will better suit him. I have had my youngest (seven months) out in the trailer sitting in his car seat which was belted into the trailer. He seemed to enjoy it, but I didn't feel the safest and have not had him out since. I figure when he can really support his own head well and can sit all on his own I will bring him out in it again. I have heard, in a related thread, of some people pulling a trailer behind a trailabike. I at first criticized this (for which I now apologize) however the idea seems to be growing on me. I just wanted to read what everyones opinion was on this (without starting another thread on the subject)

PaulH

I think that is a characteristic of bike trailler hitches generally. Our InStep Turbo Elite allows this, too.

Paul

ashy92

i got my chariot today !!!!!!

it is awesome! so much beter than i had even thought it would be

caloso

Ashy92:

I have a Chariot for hauling my 14-month old twins. It was spendy but well worth it. I have the jog kit and most Sunday mornings, I'll take the twins in the jogger with the dog leashed to my waist and go on a nice 5 mile run, leaving Mrs. Caloso the Sunday paper and a temporarily quiet house.

ashy92

been using the chariot for a few weeks now and just love it. the wife uses the jogging kit and i use the bike kit. pulls great and can hardly tell its there until the kids start screaming LOL

i actually ordered 2 cold cathode tube kits for bicycles this week that i will be mounting on the trailer. i have 3 12" red cold cathodes that i am going to mount 1 on each side on the bottom and 1 on the back near the top as a tail light the run off AA batteries but i am going to rig them up to run off a 12v rechargable battery and should make the trailer easily seen at dusk and later nights and i can use them for the bike and the wife will be very easily seen when she takes a late night walk