tripdaddy

Another trailer question.... I notice that in alot of pictures people post of their kids in trailers, the top is missing. I would like to hear from anyone that trailers this way.

I'm sure it's cooler on the kids, but what stops rocks, road dust, or debris from kicking up directly in your kids' faces? I'm not preaching, I just want to know where you are coming from. I think my girls would like the extra breeze, but I would be nervous about not using the mesh screen.

masiman

Depending on what speed we are going and where we are going. If a faster longer ride, then cover. Short trip for ice cream, park, playground, etc. It's convertible time. I try to get them to wear sunglasses if topless.

roaster boy

On longer rides, I used to think of the open Burley like a parachute, it was amazing how much easier it was to pull covered.
Plus, if your girls are anything like mine is, that trailer is going to roll at some point, and that cover will help keep limbs safe.

arej00dazed

I never had the cover on mine. looked like too much of a PITA with my kids, who are eager to get in and eager to get out. plus they cant see as much. road debris is a problem, I make sure that they at least wear sunglasses to keep stuff out of their eyes. as for roll overs, yes teh cover could protect limbs, but over all they shouldnt be hurt. and if i crash bad enough to where it would roll over, then I shouldnt be biking.

mamaC

I just rolled the cover back for photos so my family could see my kid's smiling faces. I usually keep the mesh down for rides & the rain cover down for rain/strong wind or cold.

tripdaddy

Thanks for all the great replies!

My girls are currently 15 months, so sunglasses are a negative. We keep trying them, the girls keep throwing them.

It makes sense to put it up for faster rides, but at a leisurely pace, I suppose the crud wouldn't be too bad.

Please explain "if your girls are anything like mine is, that trailer is going to roll". Are your kids able to cause the trailer to tip while you are in motion? I don't even see how that's possible.

arej00dazed

another idea is to buy a rear fender for road debris. I thought bout doing this, but this is prob the last year they (both) will be able to ride in it since they are nearing 50# apeice. plus I was affraid of banging up the fender when I transport my bike.

pwdeegan

+1 on a good fender; you can tow cover-up with a little more safety that way.

what i don't get is why parents don't use a long fender (i.e., fender+mud flap) on their bicycle's rear wheel when towing a child trailer at all times... it's not hard to see how much little (and big) junk gets flung 1-4ft. behind the bike. why the heck would you want to have a kid constantly exposed to that? a rear fender without the additional flap still leaves several inches of tire-spray angle (as tested when riding through autumn leaves last year)---though it's certainly better than nothing; a DIY mud flap i cooked up from a recycled plastic bottle kept the tire kick-back below 3in on the trialer---acceptable, given the trailer widow is at about 8-ish inches.

i personally leave my rear fender on all of the time, but even if i didn't, the 10 minutes it would take to install it before a ride seems worth it, given the nature of the cargo. moreover, even if you didn't have fender mounts, they make fenders for bikes without mounts that at least substantially mitigate the kick-back.

arej00dazed

for instance the removable fenders, they do not go low enough to block and kick up. I tried and would have had to use another half of one as an extension. but yes, a DIY extension or flap is the way to go.

DieselDan

They are your kids. Just one ER visit and run into an overzealous Social Services employee who needs to improve a "Productivity" score...

bikinggrrrl

I would be nervous too. I might flip the cover back in order to snap a photo, but I do not bike without it in place. It is not a risk I need to take.

outdrjunkie

I trailer my dog behind me when I am on flat trail rides and I don't have a problem with flying objects. I keep the top down and he loves it. Try to work on the glasses though, eye sight is a very precision sense.