Trailer on a folding bike
 

I know that I am talking about a folding bike, and an electric one at that, but the salient part of this question is about towing a small trailer with a folding bike, so I thought I would put it in the touring section.

I going to either put a small hub motor in the front of my Dahon (economy option) or a 500 watt hub in the rear (power option) In either case I am going exceed the weight capacity of the bike...actually, if I eat one Frito I will exceed the capacity, never mind the motor, controller and battery :) The motor/controller/battery combo I am thinking of will check in at about 25 pounds. I have been looking at luggage carriers to use to help me carry my dahon through subway and train stations...As I was pondering this problem I realized that if the luggage carrier had larger wheels, I could use it as a trailer to carry the battery, and then put the folding bike on it (folded up) and use it to tote my bike around. Will the objects put on the trailer be considered a part of the weight of the bicycle? Any ideas about this? It sounds like it would kill 2 birds with one stone...or luggage carrier, I should say.

Of course Bike Friday makes their own towable trailer that works very well as a tour trailer. Check out this link to a journal on Crazy guy on a bike who successfully completed the TransAm trail last year.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/BT2010

I rode with them for a few days. They did just fine in the stability and speed areana.

I have a Brompton , and a carry freedom city trailer. a beautiful combination.
both fold, and the trailer does not prevent the rear fold
from taking place on the bike, it's kickstand.
I can carry that bike , folded up, on that trailer.

Bike Friday uses a High pressure air powered tool hose quick connection .

for their trailer hitch .. ran lots of those tools in the shipyard..


would be easy to make a mount for one in most any welding shop,
to fit your bike.

Made some trailers for our folders this spring/summer. Two "suitcase trailers" w 12,5" wheels. One flatbed normally used w 20" wheels for this trip converted to 12,5" wheels. Posted it in the foldingbike forum. No interest for it there.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...rips-w-folders.

I have a Bike Friday with suitcase trailer. Works great at 12 lbs. Probably about 8 lbs or so more than racks and panniers. I did have a challenge on the C&O towpath where the two tracks were wider than the tracks on the trailer. A single wheel trailer would have worked better, but haven't looked into how those hook up to the bike friday.