Deltarootoo

Greetings. My wife and I plan on dong the Katy Trail in Missouri in October and I've been looking inot getting a trailer to pull "behind" the trikes for our extra clothing, toiletries etc. Does anyone on here have any input as to which trailer might be the best and can you also tell me how they would attach to the rear of the Sun USX?

I've written emails to a couple manufacturers stating the "exact" things that I did above here and I swear that those people cannot read...as both companies representatives told me that I should check with Hollywood racks or my local cargo trailer dealer for a way to "haul" my trike.

So I've looked at the B.O.B. and not certain if the single wheeled trailer would work for me. Looked at the Croozer and the Burley. Would be nice to find something that is not real heavy and that is waterproof. Definitely would be nice to have same sized wheels on the trailer as that I have on the trike (20") only have to carry one sized tube.

So any input would be greatly appreciated. Pros and cons as well.

Thank you in advance.

Deltarootoo

Sayre Kulp 

OK - I can maybe help here. I had the same problem. After several exhausting months of searching, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I took a standard "baby" trailer and built a bracket to attach it to my trike. It is solid, durable, and cost me around $5 total parts from Lowes.



All it is is 2 brackets, 2 bolts, and a half dozen 1/4 inch nuts & washers. Beyond that, the trailer itself cost about $100, but it is very lightweight and weather resistant. You just need to attach the part that would normally fit on the rear axle of a DF bike into the homemade bracket and tighten it up. I have used it to carry my 1 year old when pulling her around the neighborhood, but I have also used this setup to take camping supplies / toiletries on day trips and even to go grocery shopping.

I know what you mean about having the same size tire for the trike & trailer. I have the same trike, but the tires on the trailer are only 16". Still, I know there are 20" trailers on the market.

gcottay

It's sorta off topic, but aren't Sayre's 2010 accomplishments awesome?

Nice hitch design too.

countersTrike

Great job! I had no idea that trailer would work on a USX. I have the same trailer for my tadpole and it was just a matter of clamping on a pipe to hitch on to. How tightly can you turn left with that adapter?

Deltarootoo

WOW Sayre...awesome accomplishments by you this year. You SHOULD be very proud. Bet you feel a whole bunch better as well? Myself, I'm a thin fella, well my arms/legs are thin, but there's this thing in the mid section that I'm working on shrinking. I was no where near your weight, but still when I bent over to tie my shoes, I was uncomfortable. Joined Weight Watchers and have so far lost 12 pounds. So WE both have a goal.

Thank you so much for your reply. You don't know how many people I had discussed this very thing with...even went so far to write to SUN and they came back with the thingy about going to Hollywood Racks or checking with a local cargo trailer company. Just shows me that most people don't completely read emails...just skim over them and go. Heck most companies do not reply at all...even if they have a "contact us via email" on their website.

So now I have to find a trailer. I don't believe the B.O.B. is the correct trailer and doesn't seem like it would hold much. I have no kids, so the Burley that you have won't work either. Maybe their Nomad trailer.

So Sayre, I will ask the same question counterstrike did...how's the turning radius, especially when turning left? Do you notice any shifting of the brackets on the rear when going over rough roads or traveling down limestone paths?

I'm so glad you responded to my query. I was beginning to think there was no hope left and I can tell you, I have exhausted my sources for tag trailers....and boy Burley sure is proud of their trailers...have you seen their prices? I WILL be doing some more shopping around.

Thank you again for responding and I look forward to your responses to my other questions.

Deltarootoo

Sayre Kulp 

I can do about 96% of what a normal left turn on that trike is. The trick is because the trailer arm is not only centered, but also extended a little further back, thus allowing more clearance of the rear wheels.

Sayre Kulp 

Thanks guys - I do feel pretty good about what I've been able to accomplish so far. I'm not about to stop yet, so with any luck by this time next year I'll be less of an uber-clyde.

I already answered the question about turning radius. As for the brackets shifting, nope - no problems. By locking them in front and in the back, they stay put.

The Burley Nomad does sound like a pretty good fit for what you're looking for. Although like I said, depending on price, don't count out the baby trailer. Since they're made for hauling children, they're more than capable of hauling stuff.

jagraham

My husband has been looking at ways to carry gear on his Sun EZ-3 USX as well. It seems that a BoB skewer will fit in between those seat brackets on the back of his trike, but he really isn't interested in towing a trailer. I thought about using some PVC as reinforcement between the bracket so that the bare skewer isn't just hanging "out there". He's looking to build a small platform to haul a pack with an external frame...

Sayre Kulp 

I think if I get really hooked on touring, I may try to build some kind of bracket that allows me to mount a hiking pack to the back of my seat. It just has to be quick-release so that I can take it with me when I lock up for the night. That'll probably take a little time to work the kinks out of. Right now I just have an old backpack zip-tied to the seat frame.

VegasTriker

Have you considered fitting out your trikes with a rack and panniers instead? I did a self-supported tour years ago with nothing but what I could haul in two such panniers and a rack bag on a road bike. With two trikes and 4 panniers, you should easily be able to haul enough stuff for the two of you. I frequently use my panniers to bring groceries home. They can hold an awful lot of stuff if packed carefully and they would probably be more efficient than hauling a trailer - little extra weight and no additional drag from the trailer wheels.

Deltarootoo

Okay, yesterday I picked up four brackets to make the trailer hitch, but not certain how long your brackets are. Seems we both have the same trailer and with a side note here, I'd much rather have spent $145.00 on this trailer as to spending almost $400.00 on a Burley trailer.

Anyway, back the the set-up. Could you please share with me the length of the flat bar? I bought 12" brackets as I can always cut them down. Would greatly appreciate your assistance. Getting my trikes and the hauling trailer ready for our adventure beginning next week. Going to trike 169 miles of the Katy Bike Rail-To- Trail in Missouri. Also working on the interior of the used 6'x12' v-nosed trailer I bought to haul the trikes.

Look forward to your response. Willing to bet other may be interested as well.

Jerry

Deltarootoo

Problem we would have in using panniers is that I have sleep apnea and there fore have to carry a CPAP machine with me, and although it is small, it is still something that would not fit in the pannier. Plus I have no clue how much stuff my wife plans on bringing...no offense to the women on here, BUT there is no such thing as bringing "just a little" . I don't feel the drag of the trailer will be a huge issue as this will be a trail and not the roadway where there would be numerous hills and curves to deal with. We do have baskets attached to the rear of the trikes and those will hold water/food/quickie essentials so that we don't have to rifle through the trailer to find something. Mainly trailer will hold stuff such as rain gear and overnight things. I do thank you for the alternative suggestion though. :-)

Jerry

Bluetrane2028

Just an FYI, Sayre is currently on a mult-day tour without internet, so he might be a day or two (or three) getting back to you on the mount issue.

Sayre Kulp 

I've tried. So far I have yet to find panniers that will fit correctly on my trike. It's no exactly a normal size frame (too thick) or wheel (too small) for the typical touring crowd.

Sayre Kulp 

I just disassembled the whole bloody thing because I have some major repairs to make after my tour this past week. I apologize if this information misses you. As Bluetrane said, I was touring this past week and did not have access to the web all week.

To try and answer your questions: I only used 2 brackets. I believe I use 12" brackets to give myself a little extra clearance. Truth be told, if you bolt them to the forward-most seat brackets, they won't stick out very much. Then you just thread the bolt through the middle with the trailer arm assembly attachment and lock everything in place with nuts and washers. It's a strong little contraption and should serve you well.

Deltarootoo

Sayre,

Thanks for your response. I finally got the hitch together after a second attempt. First time around I thought about using aluminum flat bar, but after assembly I decided that was not going to be strong enough. Crazy thing is I bought 12" mending bar brackets two different times. First time before the aluminum thought popped in my head and second time after I gave up on the aluminum.

Went back to the drawing table and decided that I wanted to drill my own holes in the flat bar, so I went and bought 24" of 3/16" flat bar and utilized "both" frame bosses on the rear of the trike. I also put a metal "sleeve" over the 3/8" bolt that spans the upper bosses for more rigidity.

I would love to post photos, but as of right now due a computer problem I cannot. Following our vacation I will get the computer repaired and then post photos. Will be back end of October.

What happened to your trike on the tour Sayre? We are going to do the Katy Trail in Missouri beginning next week. Will only be doing 170 miles of it. Next year we'll tackle doing it round trip. One way is 225 miles. Get a chance Google it. We will begin in St. Charles, Mo. and end in Boonville, Mo. Friend will be driving truck/trailer over to Boonville to meet us.

Hopefully we will not have any break downs OR flats. :-) Good thing about this trail is that there are many wineries along the way at just about every town. :-) Ya'' havce a good week and I WILL post photos upon my return UNLESS I can squeak some on here vis a different computer.

Jerry