Bike trailer
 

I use my bike for commuting and transportation, but have recently decided to get a bike trailer to increase my payload. Since I don't have kids, I don't want one of those nifty trailers with kid seats. I want something that can carry sacks of groceries, a 50lb (and growing!) basset hound or other large items. I also prefer a trailer with two wheels rather than the one wheel model such as the BOB trailer. Also, the trailer will never be used off-road, so would like something with bigger rubber wheels for quiet and smooth running on paved surfaces.

Anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks

Start searching for a Burly, (kid carrier type) & just take the seat part out for the pooch.

http://www.burley.com/products/trail...?p=Flatbed&i=7

nice and cheap and afordable compared to others.

Expect to spend about $200 for a good one.
Or buy a kit and build one yourself.

Wike Shopper
Wike Kit
BikeRev
Bykaboose

There's also the Burley Nomad.

Two things:
- a bigger wheel size is not that important: in fact, the bigger the wheel, the higher the center of gravity you will have, making your trailer tipsy.
- pay attention to the hitch mount: this, for me, is what separates good trailers from bad. I have the BikeRev Shopper and the Wike Premium Double child trailer. Both have unique hitch mounts, but neither of them will fit on my Brompton (the Bykaboose looks like it will, but I'm loathe to buy another trailer). If you ride a regular mountain bike with quick release wheels, then you should be OK.

PurpleK,

I'll second the Burley Flatbed. It's rated for 100 lbs but I've had about 115 lbs for a short distance. I like the Alternative Hitch, two models for either quick release or nutted axles, for a cleaner look IMHO. Plus, I get to answer the question "What the @^%#$ is on the end of your axle?"
http://www.burley.com/products/trail...ive+Hitch&i=11

RLS

Burley Nomad cargo trailer. Review here:


http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=burley+nomad

Bob Yak. Great trailer - I have one, use it for groceries all the time.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...b=wf&scoring=p

Yep, do as I did.....build your own trailer. I used these
plans many years ago using an old oak skid for framing and
left over roofing plywood and some free 20" bike wheels (
20" is way better for both weight and tracking) along with
some left over enamel paint I had. Total cost: $15 for tires,
tubes and hardware.

Now the good part.....This completed trailer tested out as
able to carry 250lbs repeatedly!!!!!!! Sure I was in granny
gear but I NEVER worried about breaking this trailer that is
still in use to this day.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/arc/6552/

A good review from a guy who owned single-wheel and double-wheel trailers is found here and here.

Amongst the Burley trailers, the Nomad is narrower (less wind resistance and goes through narrow places) and has a cargo box, but the flatbed uses 20" wheels.

If you only plan to use the trailer for short distances, I wouldn't dismiss a child trailer, especially if you can get a used one.

Becca, I agree on how great the Bob Yak is, but the man's got a big dog to carry around, so I think he's going to need two wheels on his wagon just for when the mutt shifts its weight about.

The advantage to the kid trailers is you can find good Burleys used because people sell them after the kids outgrow them.

I use a Burley Nomad for the purposes you describe (except for the Basset hound). I am very happy with it. It doesn't feel like it slows me down at all. I find it corners and takes bumps well.

Check out this trailer: http://www.bikerev.com/ (Has two wheels). Even has a kit that you can build on the cheap for $149!

Peace,

Hmmmmm.....now let me see....$149 or $20 or less....the choices one has to make. :) :)

Why do you want one with two wheels? I think the cornering would be worse. I have the Yakima Big Tow and am mostly satisfied. The only problem is the pins on the connectors get bent. I think they have updated the design in more recent models, though. Pricey.

Check out www.bikebox.ca! Excellent quality. 100 lb + capacity and the easy ability to interchange from baskets to pet carriers, to a flat bed. Own and highly recommend.

Have a look at the trailers that Tony Hoar makes. www.TonysTrailers.com

They're designed and built in Canada. Tony is an ex-professional racer and engineer, and he puts a great deal of thought into his designs.

I have three of his trailers at present (a single-wheeler, a grocery-getter and a mid-size cargo trailer). I've used his large cargo trailers several times (including one time that I moved my entire apartment's contents using the trailer--one load carried a double mattress and box spring, plus three full Rubbermaid bins). These trailers have allowed me to livehappily without a car for almost five years.I'm a definite convert.

Allan Dunlop
www.CyclingSolutions.ca

I use a bikerev trailer; the one that looks like a rubbermaid bin on wheels. I can haul about a week's worth of groceries in it. It is covered, so it keeps things dry in rain. It detaches easily from the bike and I can then take it into the grocery and use it as a shoppoing cart. Not beautiful or particularly stylish, but extremely functional. Great thing, I use it far more than I though I would when I bought it. You could take a dog crate (the plastic type), drill a trio of holes in it, and use the platform of the trailer to haul the dog and crate.

I have a Blue Sky trailer that's really bulletproof. I bought it when I moved into my house, and it hauls pretty much anything I need from big bags of pet food to rugs to building materials. They're hard to find but some googling might turn up something. I've seen a few around town but only one in the LBS, which is the one I bought. It's made out of welded steel tubing and has nylon cart wheels with a marine-grade plywood floor. The hitch attaches to the seatpost via a loop of textile-reinforced rubber, like a slice of a car tire. This gives flexibility and durability with a simple attachment. I also use it as a garden trailer around the house, and I'm trying to train the dog to ride along in the cargo bed. It has waterproof side curtains and a waterproof rain fly so the load stays dry.

It was spendy, but it's definitely a car-replacer in terms of capacity and durability. I'll be mighty disappointed if I don't get at least a couple of decades of service out of it.

Cheers!

I'll second going getto and building a trailer out of scrap wood, a BMX bike from Goodwill and a chunk of old tire for a hitch. It's really a fun project and you get a cool trailer for way under a $100. Invite friends! Buy beer! Just use the power tools BEFORE drinking.

Give the new beast a name and snazzy paint job. At least if you get laid off, you'll have the perfect rig for picking cans up off the side of road for extra income

Wow - I had to go back and read it. I *completely* missed the comment about the basset hound! You're right; a single-wheel trailer would be a bad idea in this case.

The least expensive, good trailer is a used Burley kids' trailer. It has walls,so that several bags of groceries can be placed in it. The shape is conducive to stacking lumber. Unfortunately, I sold mine for $75, then bought an inferior product. Most people use theirs, just for giving kids fun rides, so it shouldn't be hard to find a lightly used one.

I will second this. I have Tony's Trayak (a kayak trailer) and I've been very happy with it. Well designed and built.

--J

Yes, why buy what you can build.......cheaply :):)

You can even modify it to suit your needs :)



http://www.motherearthnews.com/arc/6552/

Each year I build a milkcarton boat for our Aquatenial. The "boat" is really a raft with milkcartons for floatation, and some fancy structure on top. The whole can weigh up to 200 lbs. I'd like to put wheels on it and then tow it to the lake on race day. Do you have sugestions for wheels( detachable might be nice) for the wooden frame. I'm also wondering about an effective juryrigged hitch for such a heavy craft. Pelt me with ideas, you brainiacs!