Originally Posted by
huie
For a more thoughtful insight I can say that I traveled with a couple people who pulled trailers and they were always a huge pain. Tires would go flat and eventually wear out. Sometimes the frame of the trailer would break. Try finding spare parts in South America. Not easy. To me a trailer is just something more you have to worry about but if you're staying in Canada or the States it shouldn't be a huge problem. Trailers may not cause any problems but IMO they are more of a hassle than having a nice compact ride.
We have not had ANY problems with our BOBs - those things are rock solid. We do have to carry an extra tube and a spare tire for them - never needed the tire, but don't want to end up stranded. My BOB is not very heavy at all, but hubby carries all our computers and tools in his so is heavy - still no problem after coming all the way to Bolivia from Alaska
that being said, the trailers are hassle in another way. When I want to park my bike, I have to look for a "runway" rather than simply approaching the wall and then making a tight turn right at the end. When I want to carry my bike up to a hotel room on the 2nd or 3rd floor, I have to unhook the trailer and have more "stuff" to store. the trailer itself weighs something like 13 pounds or something.
If I didn't need the capacity, I would ditch the trailer in a heartbeat and go with panniers only. But - with having to carry essentially 4 people's gear on 2 bikes, we need the capacity. Plus, it does get the weight off the bike, which is a good thing in the long run. If you want ALL the weight off your bike and easier maneuvering, get the ExtraWheel.