rosalin81

I'm a newly single mom and with two young kids (ages 18 months and 3 yrs) and would normally prefer to hike. However, I'm not going to be able to go hiking with them alone. So instead I'm wanting to get into biking. My bike is a Schwinn mountain bike, I'm not really sure on any of the specifics other than it's about 9 years old, but it works good enough for now. My question is what type of trailer should I look into. My kids are 26lbs and 38lbs but I'm not sure how long my 3 year old will want to sit in a traditional trailer (he has loved it in the past.) I had a cheap safety first trailer I bought used that I biked with my 3 year old until I got pregnant with number two. I loved it, but I'm worried about a bottom of the line trailer not holding up with two kids in it. I've looked at the chariot 525's and 535's since they have two seperate, non hammock type seats, but they are pretty pricey compared to the wal-mart cheap trailer I saw in store. Would the extra money be worth it for the nicer trailer? Would I be better off with the cheap traditional trailer for my 18 month old and getting the 3 yo a third wheel type trailer? My 3 yo loves his tricycle but panics whenever I try to get him on a bike. I'm looking at doing some light mountain biking and then rides around the neighborhood to nearby parks.

robertc3

I would expect that you will want a trail-a-bike for the three year old soon, but not yet if he isn't comfortable sitting on a bike. If the trailer you have can last you until your oldest is able to safely hang on while riding the trail-a-bike it might be best to stick with what you have. Of course you are looking at towing a trail-a-bike and a trailer at the same time which is a huge load. We have our six year old on a trail-a-bike, she started it when she was four, and our two year old in a trailer, but we have one parent towing one kid. If you live where it is flat then you should be ok, but I expect it will be hard to go up hill with that much load because I have found the climbing out of the saddle is really hard if you have a kid in a trail-a-bike.

Biking is a wonderful sport and I am sure that you will love it. Don’t give up on the hiking so soon though. Our oldest was hiking on her own at three. If you can carry your youngest and the oldest can walk you may not go far, but you can get out, have fun and get some exercise.

HardyWeinberg

Our 8.5 yr old was happy in the 2-seater trailer until he turned 6 so you may have more time yet for your 3 yr old.

No trailer is bombproof if the kids are rowdy enough. But 20" wheels are really nice if you can find a trailer that has them. I think that generally equates to brand name trailer (Burley, Chariot). You can be sure that one of those will keep some resale value for when your kids finally outgrow them. If you still have that Safety First one, sure, ride it into the ground.

Our 5 yr old is transitioning out of the trailer to the trail-a-bike, and our 8.5 yr old has pretty much outgrown the t-a-b already. The trailer phase went on forever but now it seems like it passed in a flash.

I would definitely try the trail-a-bike out first before buying. Our kids are wobbly and wriggly enough on them that ours, which clamps to the seatpost, raising the center of gravity some, presents a nontrivial core workout for the parents to provide all the stability the kids are squandering.