JeffOYB

I use an old Burley to get groceries and haul boxes to the PO, 5 miles each way.

I've removed some of the fore/aft wind/rain-shelter fabric while keeping a large cargo bay.

I'm often hauling a full load of boxes or bags so getting a totally aero load is not likely -- except for the haul home (re: PO) or the haul there (re: grocery).

But I'm looking for more SPEED if possible.

These old trailers seem nice'n'light at 18 lbs. -- The newer smaller Burleys are folding and heavier, listed at 20#, anyway.

I'm wondering if a tire upgrade makes sense. Mine has ancient 35psi rib-tread items from the early 80's.

The whole thing is kinda wearing out, so I wouldn't mind getting a replacement. It would have to be cheap -- meaning, available now'n'then on 2nd-hand market/ebay. But I want it to be FAST.

I could maybe search out some fast, light 20" wheels/tires via some crazy HPVers I know...

How to best to achieve my thrifty speed mission?

Gareth

Change the tyres first. My trailer has 16 inch wheels and was shod with knobblies rated at 40 PSI for 9 years, when I changed them for Schwable city jet slicks rated at 65 PSI they made a significant improvement in handling, cornering and speed. I can haul 80-100 lbs now and it feels like hauling only 20-30lbs on the old tyres.

purplepeople

Schwalbe are fast, but expensive. If you have 406mm rims, you get better bang for buck with high pressure BMX slick tires. Danscomp has a large selection on their site you can use to compare with your LBS.

:)ensen.

memnoch_proxy

I'd think you'd have more improvement upgrading to a BOB trailer: one wheel = less rolling resistance. Getting a quality tire for it (something <= 80lbs psi) would certainly have a minimum of rolling resistance. Check out 20" tires used on recumbent bikes, they'll get to 100psi.

AdamDZ

How fast do you want to go? Hauling a trailer kind of implies going slower.

TurbineBlade

+1 on the tire advice.

Also +1 on Adam's comment -- this question borders on something like asking "Hey, what's the lightest downhill tires out there?"

badamsjr

I would not recommend it as a normal routine, but after doing a 'shakedown run' with my home-built two wheeler near Death Valley last January, I took it down a six mile downhill (straight as a string) at just under 40mph (39.6 max according to my Astralle 8). It was as stable as I hoped, but it is a seat post mount, so in-line with the tow bike--I do NOT think I would attempt it with my 'sidewinder hitch' cargo trailer.

Note the 203mm disc and booster equipped v-brake for 'haul-down'! I have Marathon's on the bike (100psi), and 16" Marathon Racer's on the trailer (85psi). I had previously had Kenda Kwest 16" tires on the trailer, but they did not seat evenly on the injection-molded rims, and caused an uncomfortable 'wiggly' feeling to transmit up to the seat post.

StephenH

A couple of years ago, I got industrious and built a trailer. I had in mind a particular camping trip, which was cancelled due to lack of interest. I rode the trailer around the block, and that's as far as it ever got. I'm not sure how worthwhile the idea was. But the point was to make it more aero. This uses a couple of cargo tubs from Walmart.


If anybody here locally wants the trailer, it's free, minus the cargo tubs, which will run $20 each at Wallyworld.