Anyone have any experience making or using a trailer for a small (30 lb.) dog ?

I have already googled the idea and looked at all the pre made and ideas for home made trailers. Some of them are just a dog crate on a flat bed, or a frame. Very simple, and easy to make, but not cost effective.

I'm thinking a cheap way is just a kids trailer with some plywood & carpet on the bottom to prevent rips.

We took a kid's trailer apart to the frame, attached a piece of heavy plywood to the bottom of the frame and attached a large dog crate with heavy duty bungee cords. We use this trailer for our 90 lb lab. It is quite a site hauling this trailer behind a tandem!

Cooper (45 pound american eskimo) seems to like his set up. This is pretty much a standard kid's trailer with the seat back supports folded down. The side supports have also been turned backwards to improve airflow.

What is the bottom made out of ? Did you have to change it, to keep if from getting ripped?

Bottom is original material. I thought about plywood and carpet, but thought the ride might be too harsh that way. We have used the trailer for three years as is with no visible damage to the bottom. Rides range from loops around the subdivision to 80 mile single day rides and even parts of the 320 mile DALMAC (Lansing to Mackinaw) tour.

Last summer I saw a bike with a BOB trailer carrying a medium size dog, the owner had just put a pillow in there for it to sit on- the dog looked really old though and must not try to jump out.

He could probably only tow something really light. You're going to have carry the bulk of the load or he'll never keep up. It's not like he's a husky or something.
EDIT: Try here.

Is the bottom just heavy nylon material, similar to the sides ?

I mean put the dog in the trailer, and pull him behind the bike. I realize now my post could be taken either way. oops.

I knew that.

A bit heavier duty than the sides, but yes....... if I remember right, most kid trailers like this (this one designed to hold two small children) are rated at 80 - 100 pounds. I actually had all 3 of my dogs in this trailer for a short ride around a campground one evening. I know I was pushing the load limit (and their comfort level), but we kept the speeds very low, and the ride only lasted 5 minutes or so.

I do inspect the trailer and hitch often. The hitch gets looked at pretty much every time we begin a ride, and at breaks during longer rides. The trailer gets a good inspection prior to longer rides, and a quick glance before shorter rides.

Cooper does have a tether from his collar to the frame of the trailer to keep him from jumping out - he likes to ride, but he likes to greet people (and other dogs) too, and doesn't always think before he leaps.......

Sorry, no first hand experience, but several times during Anchorage Trail Watch partols I have seen a guy on a recumbent with a BOB trailer that he keeps a smal dog in. I talked to him about his rig and he told me that he loves the BOB and the dog likes it, too. The dog was a pug and very well behaved, so I don't think he had it tied to the trailer, but I am not sure about that. He told me he liked the BOB over other trailers because it tracked well and was narrow, so he did not worry about it as much on crowded MUP's in Anchorage.

2manybikes, I realize your post asks specifically about making a trailer, but if you decide to go the purchase route, you might look at these guys:

https://www.xtracycle.com/

Another commuter here at work is having them build a "sport utility bike" (that's their term for these trailered bikes) for him. He hasn't received it yet so I don't know how good their stuff is, but their web site shows pictures of dogs riding on/in their trailers.

I made a trailer out of an old card table frame and some 20in. wheels. It came together great with a little welding. The bottom is made with an old oven rack. You could put a white picket fence around the perimeter with a beware of dog sign for laughs.

Now I 'm going to have to make a wooden dog house with astro turf around it, a white picket fence, and a beware of dog sign !

Maybe a tree or a fire hydrant too ! I could buy some sod, and keep it watered......