I am towing a Bob. This is my first tour with a trailer (all my previous tours were with panniers). I think there is advantages and disadvantages to each. I rode down the Pacific Coast, then east on the Southern Tier, then down to Key West FL where I am waiting for 4 or 5 weeks for winter to go away before riding back to Seattle. One nice thing about the Bob, is that I can load an ice chest and folding chair in it, and go to the beach everyday. I've also used it to haul firewood (when I was camping at BlackJack NF campground in NM)

one thing I forgot to mention. After pulling a Bob from Seattle down to Southern California, I changed the trailer tire from the 1.75 inch wide, 35psi tire that comes stock, to a 1.25 inch wide, 95psi tire..... it felt like the load I was hauling was reduced by 20 pounds

I had to find a bike shop specializing in recumbents to find the tire, but it made a world of difference

Thanks for that. I often wondered about swapping the tyres on my kid's trailer for something harder and smoother, to help it run better.

This is what I don't quite understand. I always thought the downside of trailers was simply the resistance of the extra wheel. I can see that weight is weight, and is neither heavier nor lighter in either panniers or trailer, but the constant theme seems to be that trailers are fine until you start climbing. Why should that be, especially if resistance is actually marginal. Is it the positioning of the load behind the bike rather than on it, oe leverage, perhaps, from the weight in the trailer?

I'm confused.

<aside> nice camp spot!!! </aside>

I found someone who modified their Burly
[the US made Burly Co Op trailer is better for this because
it uses 2 20" front wheels, double axle end support]
is build front drum Hub brakes, into the wheels,
then you can slow down the rig with the trailer brakes
just like real trailers do.

Current off shore, PI, made Burlys have single sided hubs ,
and 16 " wheels so present a different set of modification issues,
Perhaps single sided hubs for recumbent trikes can be utilized,
Ala Greenspeed.

I just received my 2011 Quik Pak trailer. It is an engineering work of art. Very well made and thought out. Psychologically it is scary how big it is but the weight is nominal. The space available means there is a greater danger of packing too much stuff but on the other hand, the trailer is all you would need on a long distance trip. I can't wait to get out on the road now.

I towed a BOB trailer on my cross country +, 5100 mile tour. I road along with many different types of set-ups and my conclusion is that a narrow single wheel trailer like the BOB is more aerodynamic than a bike with 4 panniers on it. So when you on flat ground it is only slightly more work than an unloaded bike, it follows in you slipstream. Then when you hit a hill that aerodynamic effect is over-ridden by the weight your pulling up hill. It seems extra hard only because of how easy it was on the flats.

Finally - a response dealing with wind drag, the overcoming of which which uses up at least half your pedaling power on flat ground. I also have thought for some time that a BOB would be more aerodynamic since it sits behind the bike/rider. Panniers are definitely not - they stick out (and often have random things strapped onto them), especially low rider fronts, which add even more to your frontal area. But a loaded BOB, while aerodynamic, also carries a bit more of a penalty in weight than most panniers, so yeah, it would probably feel even more slow on hills due to the contrast. I've never used a trailer so this is very interesting to me.

Empty I don't notice the trailer , at all . The weight lets you know it's there whether
in your panniers or the trailer
and some stuff just won't fit in the bike bags..
like a Guitar and amplifier ..

I use a Burley two wheel trailer for hauling my kids and groceries around. Aside from the expected weight hit, what I really notice is how much drag it has on windy days. With all the frontal area, it's like carrying around an anchor. I couldn't imagine using it in an attempt to tour.

Additionally, if frame makers can make a full frame set, (for a 200lb rider) that weighs 3lbs, they should be able to make a ultralight BOB (for 40lbs of gear) that weighs 5lbs. with wheel included.
Combine that with a light and fast commuter bike and you have an awesome combo. Great everyday bike and great touring rig. An aerodynamic monocoque shell that is your waterproof container, even better.

There's a lot of other factors to consider. For me, it's easier to operate a bicycle that is towing a two-wheeled trailer than to load a bike with essentially the same gear into panniers. I will actually go faster, even though it's probably a heavier load.

I've toured with a full set of front and rear panniers with my gear and I average about 12 mph on a multi-day tour through the Adirondacks.

I've toured with a BOB trailer with pretty much the same gear but no panniers and I'll average 11.5-12 mph on a multi-day tour in the Adirondacks.

I've toured with a Burley Nomad with pretty much the same gear and no panniers and I'll average 12.5-13 mph on a multi-day tour through the Adirondacks.

Koga Miyata makes a 1 wheel suspended trailer, with fitted bags,
when you park, and put down the stabilizers, unhook it,
it has a chair and a little table top to eat off of.
and may be able to put up a golf umbrella for shade.

http://www.koga.com/us/bike.asp?coll...id=&id=8625300

can i just ask how exactly does that wheel on the trailer work.

Its just another hub brushless motor , there are some small ones made these days.

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...Electric-Bikes

yeah ok but do you buy the wheel as a kit or can it be bought already made up.and how does it work.
as in how do you get it to kick in when your heading for the hills.

BOB,,,,BOB,,,,,BOB,not Bob Dole,,,,,, or what ever, hardly noticeable to me, until I add ,,,,,,,,,,stuff, I tour with my best pal, he has Panniers all over and couple trunk bags and he got nothing on me
But he weighs 60lbs less than me, I think I may have less wind resistance.,....I LOVE MY TRAILERS, especially by BOB. I like Nashbar ones too.

been checking out your utube videos great stuff , but the videos keep breaking up must be my computer.
will you be showing how you set up camp and whats in your bob trailer,.
anyway great stuff keep safe hope the rest of your tour is only fantastic.

Hmmmm....My girlfriend pulls a B.O.B. This might help her. Did you have any experience with the smaller tire on gravel roads? We will have a 20 mile stretch of gravel and 20 or so mile stretch of hard packed dirt during our Montana tour this summer.

WOW LLambb...I could'nt express a more descriptive testimonial...the BOB is indeed a good trailer, when properly loaded. Of course I'm riding a trike and any balance issues don't apply...I think that's why the "E-BOB" works so well for me
ROB

I would be curious if the trailer would have a tendency to bounce more when hitting bumps. I put the stock tire on my BOB up to about 50, rather than the recommended 35 and had that issue.