solidfish

Sorry this is a double post as I originally posted this question under the utility thread.

I recently purchased an InStep single child carrier. Its very light and we like it very much. But one concern I have is that the bottom part of the trailer is just cloth. So if we hit a bump or something, the child could get hurt since they are just sitting on top of cloth/fabric material.

Has anyone ever bottomed out their trailer? I know it sits fairly high so it is unlikely to happen. but I'm thinking about attaching a thin board or something beneath it just in case...

maximumrob

Yep, we've bottomed out. I even have a small hole in the fabric, but it's no big deal. If I hadn't dropped them off a few curbs then it wouldn't have happened.

I've since stopped going off curbs and stick to the bike paths and sidewalks. Have never dragged since, though I'll occasionally graze the front of the trailer on steep transitions.

SonataInFSharp

Yep, another reason that I spent the money and got a Burley. It doesn't bottom out (the hitch will bottom out first), but if I did for some reason, the foot well is hard.

I am not being snarky; I am just trying to help spread the realization that we have to remember that we are actually carrying children and not regular cargo in our trailers. Imagine a sharp stick getting tossed into the cloth footwell and poking through into their feet...

neoz

The only time that mine has bottomed out was when I attached it to the back of my other child's trail-a-bike, which has a lower chain stay. I simply attached it to the seat stay instead and the problem was solved.

I did get a small hole in the bottom canvas from that one too-low ride, though. I've been thinking about how best to patch it.

Never had any trouble going off curbs or anything. Bottoming out is an easy problem to avoid if you remember to be mindful.

solidfish

hm.. thanks for all the info. I'm thinking maybe putting something under there to protect them a bit.