jawnn

I was getting a inquisitor that ask me why are the cycle trucks better than HD bikes with HD trailers.

I have had a bit of experience with my trailer yanking my bike around when it was really heavy. has any one else had this?

What other reason are there that the long nose Box bikes are better than a trailer?

wahoonc

If you are referring to the ones from Workcycles with the large box on the front, they carry the load down low, lowering the center of gravity and making it very stable. If you are hauling pets or people it is much easier to keep an eye on them (especially munchkins) as well as carry on a conversation. The only advantage to a trailer for similar use is the lower cost.

Aaron

fietsbob

Ask the Danish .. the Long John is an Old design , was Produced , there.. the Bullitt a new one , Danes design, TW manufactured.

BakFiets in Dutch ..

qclabrat

almost everyone uses the front loaders in Holland and Belgium.

don't think I've ever seen a rear child trailer the 3-4 times I've been over there

Cars get pretty close to the bikes, I'd also prefer them over trailers for the little ones in a city setting

StephenH

The terminology is confusing. "Cycle Truck" = Schwinn term for a low gravity bike- bike with small front wheel, and big basket or box over the wheel. See the Worksman version.
"Long" sounds like you mean a bakfiets, with the wheel out in front of the load, with linkage from the handlebars to the front wheels.
Both are trying to get the load a little lower and allow larger capacity than a standard bike. If you don't see a need, then don't get one.

Advantages: You can see the load, for one thing, helpful if you're hauling kids. Can possibly make the bike narrower as well. Low-gravity bikes and longjohns, are still 2 wheeled, so wheels track in a single line, unlike a trailer or cargo trike.

jawnn

see my avatar, I built it my self. My over sized load

the other day I was hauling an over sized load, and going down hill the front end started to wobble side to side. I thought I was going to loose control, but when I applied power to the pedals it stopped.

I have not asked the people that I know that have large trailers and haul about 400lbs with a total combined weight of about 600 to 700LBS If they have any problems.

jawnn

I do not want to be limited by the strength of the bike, so I designed this one. But I need a grant to built it.

fietsbob

Hope you dont hold your breath waiting for for that free Lunch..

existing https://cetmacargo.com/pages/bikes , Developed with the help available here . https://hpm.catoregon.org/?page_id=7

He was already making and selling Racks ..

jawnn

so what do you mean? are you saying that my design is not stronger? I think the wheels are the weakest point and i do mean the spokes. I intend to use steel rims with 11g spokes. and disc brakes.

but doesn't any one know some that had problems with trailers?

fietsbob

It's just a Picture .. added some truss triangles .. Produce it and submit it to Destructive testing to get actual Data.


Think Moped and Motorcycle rims. perhaps?

lancekagar

For the record: CETMA Cargo bikes were not developed with help from CAT.

Read about the origin of the CETMA Cargo bike: https://www.bikeforums.net/utility-cy...argo-bike.html

Read about CAT's "help": https://www.bikeforums.net/utility-cy...go-bike-4.html

wahoonc knows the story. Thanks for the support all these years, Aaron!

fietsbob

Found Jan in Eugene, helpful to me when he moved there and started the thing in 90 I thought moving there then back away

a conversation at least on cargo bikes May have taken Place ..

jawnn

if you find a photo of a cargo bike with bricks on it, post it here.

the moped wheels i have seen use the usual BMX rims.

theery

I don't like trailers because:

- They are behind me, and I can't see what's going on with them. Especially annoying if I have kids in them.
- If I do have kids with me, it's hard to talk to them as opposed to them being up front.
- Trailers are not part of the bike, and therefore tug and pull and bounce independently of the bike. When the two fight each other, it makes for a less comfortable riding experience.
- While bike trailers are fairly common now, cars still aren't used to them, or expecting them. So, if you're crossing a street, cars may see you but not expect your trailer, and end up cutting it too close. For this reason, many people put tall orange flags on the back of the trailer.
- Trailers can get stolen fairly easily.

I prefer cargo bikes with integrated front bins for several of the reasons implied above:

- You can have a removable canopy to protect the contents (or kids) from the elements, or take it off for the summer.
- While cargo bikes like this do get stolen, they're generally more difficult to steal if locked properly. It's certainly not easy to just pick one up and run off with it.
- Easier to communicate with kids up front, and they everybody can now enjoy a nice view, instead of them looking at your butt.
- I simply find it easier to control weight that's on part of my actual bike, than something I'm towing.


Please keep in mind, this is subjective, and others may have varying opinions. Do whatever works and makes sense for you. I know many people that agree with me, as well as many others that prefer their long tails, and some that are happy with their trailer.

salek

All of this is pointed to the front loader. I will break the thread slightly by commenting that the Big Dummy handles a good sized load quite well. My kids are in college so I'm not pumping them around. But, as a grocery getter, I'm putting loads on the BD that I had to split between the bicycle and the trailer on its predecessor. Oh, and the handling is surprisingly good provided that one does not raise the Center of Gravity.

I-Like-To-Bike

Not my experience in NL. In my experience, the type of bikes pictured below are far more typically used for transporting children in NL.

qclabrat

none you have posted appear to be trailers, I was referring to bike attachments like the Burley

fietsbob

Hi, Jack ..

Plenty of Bike trailer threads already running , maybe start your own

The Bike As More than a sports toy for the weekend , sort of thinking is slow to get a foothold in the Country rebuilt around the automobile ..

rather than the 800 year old city centers in Europe where they were well laid out when the Horse was how you pulled things around.

jawnn

This alone is a good enough reason not to use a trailer: Boxes stacked on a two wheel trailer will not corner well, the top boxes will try to slide off.

FBinNY 

There's more than one way to skin a cat, and the various commercial and home brew cycle trucks, and bike/trailer combinations prove this. I don't know that any one design is vastly superior, though I suspect there are a few dogs out there.

If I were hauling goods or kids everyday, and had a dedicated bike for that purpose, I'd lean toward the rear drive, mid load designs like those used in Denmark and Holland. They have lower centers of gravity, more load stability when stopped, and afford the opportunity to watch kids or cargo when riding. OTOH they don't ride like a bike, and it takes a bit of getting used to having the front wheel so far forward of the rider. Plus they have the turning circle of a small bus.

If hauling were only an occasional thing, then some kind of low trailer rather than a single purpose bike, might make more sense.

BTW- it also depends on where you live, any kind of load is a bear if you have to climb hills.

In any case, there are plenty of options already on the market, so pick one that suits your wishes. (then con the wife into being the family trucker).

2:01

Really depends on your uses in my opinion (maybe just preferences). I've got a trailer and a long-tail (not long-john). Trailer is useful in some ways. Kids are enclosed if riding in inclement weather. I seem to be able to stack odd-sized objects better on them. Plus, it's the cheapest option, not to mention pretty versatile. It has drawbacks. Biggest annoyance for me, is the yo-yo/tugging effect. It's also wide, limiting access to some trails and worries of accidentally running over a curb, rock, debris, etc. that may damage or flip the trailer.

The long-tail (Big Dummy) offers a better ride. No tugging from the trailer going up a hill or around a corner. Riding over rough ground feels better as well. The kids are right behind me, so I can talk to them. We can take the single track back home (maybe you can also do this with a one-wheel trailer, too). To me, this bike is much more versatile and fitting for my uses. Besides, if I wanted, I can always hook up a trailer to the long-tail (which I've done). Best of both worlds.

fietsbob

someone who has no clues about tying their load down this may be true . but anyone with a little thought and some Knot tying skills

and this is not an issue. Trucker's Hitch | How to tie a Power Cinch Knot | Boating Knots

jawnn

so what is the big deal about front loading cargo bikes? just better to keep an eye on the kids?

fietsbob

The way you get the answer to why something was invented is to Interview the inventor
Expect they dont read this forum probably being Dead or not online.


Kids are not = to cargo .. you looking for a Kid hauling Bike? How Many?

& in the same Theme Answer: whats the big deal about football?

if you are really not just being time hoover posting , go ride some and see..

1st hand experience trumps vague Opinions .

Darth Lefty 

The best reason I've seen to use a trailer rather than a cargo bike is that they are cheap. The one my wife bought because it was top-rated on Amazon was $90. For a better version, a Burley that's equivalent and well-built and six pounds lighter is still only $300. It's rated for 100 lb. Since most people only use trailers for a few years until their kids are on bikes, they are all over Craigslist, too. I don't know what a Workcycles costs by the time you get it to your driveway with all the accessories but I'm betting it's north of $2000. That's about the price for a Surly Big Dummy, too.