Advise on hauling pet supplies
#1
Thread Starter
2k miles from the midwest
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 944
From: Washington
Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...
Advise on hauling pet supplies
After finding a malnurished and flea covered kitten in a flowerpot outside our front door, I'm now caregiver for 6 cats. Between food and litter, I'm rarely making it two weeks before I need to make a run.
My preferred hauling bike has blackburn racks on the front and rear, so I'm wondering about just throwing a couple of 20lb bags over the rear rack, add bungees, and hope for the best. Maybe a platform to better support the bag?
Does anyone have any advice?
My preferred hauling bike has blackburn racks on the front and rear, so I'm wondering about just throwing a couple of 20lb bags over the rear rack, add bungees, and hope for the best. Maybe a platform to better support the bag?
Does anyone have any advice?
#2
You might be able to find a front rack that would take one 20 pound bag, for better distribution of the weight. Also, would a container (tub or milk crate) on the rear rack make life easier than messing with bungees?
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#3
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
I've done the rear-rack thing, but it was more than 40lbs (more like 60-80) and it was horrible. Everything was too flexy. I made it home, but I immediately looked on craigslist for a used kid trailer.
I now tow the trailer for pet supplies. It's much easier.
I now tow the trailer for pet supplies. It's much easier.
#4
#6
Thread Starter
2k miles from the midwest
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 944
From: Washington
Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...
The first two were just normal animal shelter rescues for my wife's valentines gift last year, Ghani and Leto. A few months later, our bad neighbors adbandoned their house and cat, who took a shying to me and became Jessica. Then a few months ago, a co-worker surogated a small litter of feral kittens, of which we took two, and then the new kitten. Still need to figure out more Dune names for all the kittens.
I ended up carrying a 20lbs bag across the rear rack and a 12 lbs bag in my front basket yesterday. Yes, it was somewhat squirrely. My wife reminded me that I have a pair of old plastic Burley trailers that I bought a few years ago to try to build a kayak trailer out of. I think I'll see how one of them does next week.
I ended up carrying a 20lbs bag across the rear rack and a 12 lbs bag in my front basket yesterday. Yes, it was somewhat squirrely. My wife reminded me that I have a pair of old plastic Burley trailers that I bought a few years ago to try to build a kayak trailer out of. I think I'll see how one of them does next week.
#7
The first two were just normal animal shelter rescues for my wife's valentines gift last year, Ghani and Leto. A few months later, our bad neighbors adbandoned their house and cat, who took a shying to me and became Jessica. Then a few months ago, a co-worker surogated a small litter of feral kittens, of which we took two, and then the new kitten. Still need to figure out more Dune names for all the kittens.
I ended up carrying a 20lbs bag across the rear rack and a 12 lbs bag in my front basket yesterday. Yes, it was somewhat squirrely. My wife reminded me that I have a pair of old plastic Burley trailers that I bought a few years ago to try to build a kayak trailer out of. I think I'll see how one of them does next week.
I ended up carrying a 20lbs bag across the rear rack and a 12 lbs bag in my front basket yesterday. Yes, it was somewhat squirrely. My wife reminded me that I have a pair of old plastic Burley trailers that I bought a few years ago to try to build a kayak trailer out of. I think I'll see how one of them does next week.
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"Think Outside the Cage"
#8
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
I just finished my pet supply trip. 38.5 lbs of dog food (35 lb + 10% more?), 20 lbs of cat litter, and 10 lbs of cat food. It was in the trailer, so total trailer weight was just over 100lbs. It was about 3 miles from the pet supply store to home... but I pulled the empty trailer to work this morning.
#9
I just finished my pet supply trip. 38.5 lbs of dog food (35 lb + 10% more?), 20 lbs of cat litter, and 10 lbs of cat food. It was in the trailer, so total trailer weight was just over 100lbs. It was about 3 miles from the pet supply store to home... but I pulled the empty trailer to work this morning.
I know you had a good reason to take the empty trailer to work, but I dont know what your reason was?
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"Think Outside the Cage"
#10
Fat Guy Rolling
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
It's not a big deal if I actually PLAN AHEAD, which I didn't. I buy enough so that I only need to go every couple of weeks. I think I'll start making it a Saturday trip so I don't have to bring the trailer to work.
#11
Senior Member

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
From: Texarkana, AR
Bikes: 2016 Giant Escape, Univega Viva Sport, Centurion Sport DLX, Trek 420, Schwinn Sierra, Schwinn Hurricane
The pet supply store is very close to work. I didn't want to ride home and pick up the trailer first. They also have limited hours, so if I would have attempted it, they might not have been open by the time I got back.
It's not a big deal if I actually PLAN AHEAD, which I didn't. I buy enough so that I only need to go every couple of weeks. I think I'll start making it a Saturday trip so I don't have to bring the trailer to work.
It's not a big deal if I actually PLAN AHEAD, which I didn't. I buy enough so that I only need to go every couple of weeks. I think I'll start making it a Saturday trip so I don't have to bring the trailer to work.
"How come you have an empty trailer?"
Me: "I'm going grocery shopping on my way home from work."
Them: o_O






