A trailer question (or idea)
#1
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Chicago, IL
A trailer question (or idea) - and how to tow a canoe
I like the look of single wheel trailers which keep your cycling foot print low, but I don't like how they all seem to mount directly to your rear wheel axle. Does anyone make a single wheel trailer with a double wheel (BOB) type hitch, where the trailer could be easily detached or in a worse case scenario won't cause you to jack knife? Also, I've read about stability issues with single wheel trailers and the whole wavering thing when going downhill, but would this be solved by having two wheels back there? This is where the idea bit comes in, but I was thinking, how about a long, narrow single wheel type trailer with both a ball type hitch like on the larger BOB type trailers, but instead of having a single wheel at the back it has two wheels so it would be more stable and narrower than a BOB? I'm mainly thinking of all of this because at some point my wife and I would like to do some cycle touring and I'd like to have the ability to bring along a PakBoats PakCanoe which weighs about 50#. I'm not sure what the stowed dimensions of the boat are but I'm sure it's probably more oblong, since most folding kayaks and canoes tend to pack up into similar dimensions. I'm just thinking if the PakCanoe folds down to say 40" or so it might be too long to fit into a BOB trailer and so might be more suited to a longer single wheel trailer design, but then there's the whole attachment and stability issues. I'm all for making my own trailer too, in fact that'd be my preferred method rather than buying something and having to modify it or make it work for my needs. Suggestions, advice?
#3
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
If you can't find what you need,make it.You can make it like a Radio Flyer Wagon if you want.
Nobody said you can't make it long like a single wheel but put 2 wheels on it,so it isn't so tippy.
Nobody said you can't make it long like a single wheel but put 2 wheels on it,so it isn't so tippy.
#5
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From: Chicago, IL
I've seen some photos of what people have done to trailer a full-size kayak or canoe, but in the case of the PakCanoe I'd only be having to trailer the largish luggage-like carrying case for the boat versus a full-on 12-15' boat. Sheesh! I can't imagine having to cycle tour towing a full on kayak or canoe behind my bike!
#6
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Bay Area, Calif.
I've seen some photos of what people have done to trailer a full-size kayak or canoe, but in the case of the PakCanoe I'd only be having to trailer the largish luggage-like carrying case for the boat versus a full-on 12-15' boat. Sheesh! I can't imagine having to cycle tour towing a full on kayak or canoe behind my bike!
Either way I use a two-wheel trailer - mine is a utility type with a flat sheet of plywood between the two wheels and I load the boat on top of that. I have not experienced any handling problems and one of the local lakes involves a climb and descent of over 1000' at about a 7% grade so I go over 40 mph on the way down (and very slow on the way up).
#8
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Fife Scotland
Bikes: Airnimal Chameleon; Ellis Briggs; Moulton TSR27 Moulton Esprit
The best hitch I've ever seen comes with an Extrawheel trailer. This is made of sprung steel and clips to each side of a specially designed QR spindle. Absolute genius.
#9
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Vacouver Island B.C. Canada
Bikes: Catrike Trail/Catrike Expedition
I've had really good success with where I've attached the BOB to my trike. I use a Scram Dual Drive that I really enjoy riding with. I've made my BOB into an E-BOB and the attachment still works fine in this position.
#10
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From: Chicago, IL
It's tough for me to tell from your photos but did you devise some type of quick release mounting option or did you just bypass using your rear wheel axle to attach the trailer?





