My Xtracycle (a couple months old now) is on an aluminum TREK,and I've had no issues what-so-ever,hauled up to 75-ish pounds of groceries/misc,and 102 lbs of teenaged daughter once. Like mentioned above,being aluminum,I would check it every-so-often,but once per week sounds excessively excessive having been using mine for going on 3 months. I would definately "take a fine toothed comb" over it before using it as a donor,make sure there is no damage from the get go.

I have the free radical conversion (which,like they said,came with everything I needed to convert),v-brakes (using stock 2000 Trek 6000 Bontrager Corvair wheels for now as well,though a 48 spoker rear is in it's future),and a hodge-podge of parts scavenged everywhere here (including bars/stem and drivetrain off of my only remaining mtn bike,LOL,THAT'S temporary ). I bought a Snapdeck,which is technically compatible with my setup,if not optimum,and a Hoodie (that's why it isn't optimum,very tight fit underneath,and if not hauling kids or lotsa weight on the deck,I found,it's not needed). That Hoodie is an amazing investment,IMHO,for only $60...it swallows a weeks worth of groceries (ok...I piled some 24 packs of drinks on the deck,but still...),camping gear (tent,sleeping pads/bags for 2,etc)...let your imagination go wild,they're huge! My original plan was "buy the kit and Hoodie with deck,upgrade to the freeloaders later,and a pair of Wideloaders". Now,the Longloader is not compatible with the Hoodie,but the Wideloaders (on my to-buy list) will work fine. I can see hauling larger or oddly shaped loads with Freeloaders,and I may yet upgrade next year,IDK,but one wouldn't "have-to" to get great useage out of their rig with the Hoodie.

I say DO IT,Brother! Like troysmith80 said,it will change your life Then you'll wind up like me,daily Googling "Xtracycle" to find more bits to read and pics of things to haul,LOL