BigBlueToe

Greetings all. I just returned from my first tour pulling a BOB trailer. I thought I'd share my impressions. These are strictly anecdotal and not based on scientific facts and figures.

My route included the North Cascades Highway - Rainy Pass, Washington Pass, and Loup Loup Pass. I quit in Omak, partly due to the heat and the fact that I had two more passes to climb in the next two days (it was forecast to reach 102 degrees the next few days), partly due to my worries over the limited services on the next few days (I'm a diabetic, and mini-marts don't have many suitable food choices), and in large part due to the fact that I had a friend in Omak willing to take me and my bike back to my starting point in Edmonds, where I could pick up my truck. If I had continued I would have had to find some way back, like the train - finding a box, boxing my bike, boxing my trailer, etc.

If I had it to do over again I would not have used the BOB trailer, due to the weight. My understanding is that the trailer and yellow bag weigh around 13 lbs. That's a lot! I thought it would help me worry less about broken spokes, but in hindsight I wish I had taken my rear panniers and taken my chances with the spokes.

On the flat and mild hills the trailer was great. It handled like it wasn't there (in fact I'd usually check my rear view mirror for the flag to make sure the trailer was still attached.) However, as soon as I started up any kind of a slope, it felt like I had an anchor dragging. (In fact, that's how I started referring to it in my mind - "the anchor".) I carried about the same load I've always carried with panniers. The only major difference between this experience and previous tours was the trailer. This was particularly irksome on this trip since I had so many steep passes to climb. The North Cascades was torturous, which added to my disdain for the trailer, and started some pains in my knees that I haven't experienced before.

I'm sure a bit of the drag was from the added rolling resistance of a third wheel - with only 35 lbs. pressure (? That seems pretty soft to me, but it's a small tire. Does that make a difference?) There was also the added weight of a different size spare tube. If I had been really worried I would have carried two - plus two spare regular tubes starts adding up.

It was also a bit of a drag that the trailer tube had Schrader valves and my bike has Presta. I had to carry two pressure gauges, and when I pumped my tires up in the mornings I had to switch the pump from Presta to Schrader (it's an old Zefal HPx) and back again.

I think if I was on a flatter route and had a ton of weight to carry for some reason, I might consider using the trailer again. However, I think I'm going to stick to panniers in the future, and save the BOB for trips to the grocery store.

quester

Thanks for the impressions. I also worry about broken spokes a lot, and had considered the bob, but have so far resisted.

The Figment

I run my BOB tire at 65 Psi...35 is way too soft!!!

wallace125

My bob is great. I never carry a pressure gauge, I just put air in the tire. It still has the same tire and tube from 10 years ago. It goes up hills and down hills. I use a rubber maid box with it instead of that heavy yellow bag. It has never let me down.

jibi

Which BOB?
I run with an IBEX, as the suspension helps a lot on the rougher surfaces.
and I have about 60psi , and would be reluctant to go back to panniers

george

valygrl

I hate bob. hate hate hate. bob threw me into a ditch.

plus all that other bs, extra tubes, extra rolling resistance, pain of parking, can't back up, can't take an elevator, attachment cotter pins that kept going missing.... blech.

vik 

I have and use both a Bob trailer and panniers. Panniers are ideal for moderate/light loads and mobility on tour. Bob is ideal for heavy loads, offroad tours and hauling cargo around town.

Different tools for different jobs...

gregw

Poor ol Bob, everyone talking about him behind his back. Bob's a good friend of mine, followed along with me on several journeys (including all of the Northern Cascades), never complained, always did as I asked, I can't complain.

Tuffwolf

sounds like you didn't have enough pressure in the tire... 35 psi is what i run in my car tires i would think it should be 60-65 which is pritty much the norm on a 16-20 in tire

BigBlueToe

35 psi is what the tire recommends on the sidewall. I obeyed. Could I be an idiot?

Mine was the BOB without the suspension (Yak?) It worked fine; I just felt that it was slowing me down up hills more than my panniers would have.

NoReg

"35 psi is what the tire recommends on the sidewall. I obeyed. Could I be an idiot?"

That may well be the recomended weight for the tire when it has a person riding on it... Also, expedition weight racks are pretty dang heavy also. Alloy racks with light weight panniers are going to be lighter than any bob though and they hold up just great if one can live without all the zipper polution.

chrisch

Thank you for your account of the Bob trailer. I also toured with both, but greatly prefer the panniers for of the reasons you outline. My Bob Yak is now for sale. Anyone? chris

becnal

I only tour with my Bob Yak when I go with my wife. The yak lets me carry all her stuff, as well as mine, and take the gigantic tent too. The "hotent" provides her with that little amount of luxury that makes camping enjoyable for her.

Yesterday alone, I used the Yak to carry a ton of food shopping, the teams football gear (nets and stuff), two cases of beer and juice, an old computer monitor and a TREE. I looked pretty funny with a tree chasing me around the Frankfurt city center.

When I go touring alone, I pop my Hennessy Hammock in a pannier and head out.

Fredmertz51

Bobs are tolerable with a long wheelbase bicycle and light weight. Short bicycle and heavier weights are horrid. I bought 2 for my wife and I. Traded one for 2 cases of beer. Haven't pulled the other one for years, its hanging in my garage.

FlyingAnchor

I plan on using a Nomad for my cross country next summer, My agio doesn't look like paniers will work and my preference.
Keep talking about Bob, "What about Bob" do you say?
Steven

Rogerinchrist

Spokes? Never did believe spokes break more with or without a trailer. Either way the spokes need to move & stop the same gear.

chrisch

You know, I never thought of that. I pulled the Yak behind a mountain bike with a short wheel base, and perhaps that's why I disliked it so much. No matter now, all my gear fits in my front and rear panniers of my second bike. cheers, chris

jibi

I felt my BOB Yak would bounce behind me with every bump in the "road".

The BOB Ibex is quite a different beast, the suspension works more like a damper ( shock/coil) on a car, reducing the bounce.

The trailer behaves itself and follows much smoother.
So on tours my friend BOB comes too

To reverse, I lift the front wheel off the ground and he goes back straight. To park I just "fold" the bike and BOB together.

george