I'm mostly curious about this, not really planning on getting a trailer in the near future. My wife and I sometimes discuss getting one as a utility type thing rather than touring. But anyway, I read a post somewhere that a stiff frame is better for pulling a trailer than a typical steel road bike that would be lighter and have more flex.

I was under the impression that one of the strengths of the trailer is that it doesn't matter what kind of bike pulls it. The stiffness and strength of a touring bike is for the weight the bike is carrying. Would this also aid in pulling a trailer with comparable weight?

I can only speak from pulling kids in kid trailers or one wheeled bikes. Specifically iwth trailers, Ive pulled them with both a steel framed touring bike and an alu framed mtn bike that has a much stiffer rear end of frame. Cant really say Ive noticed a diff, as the main feeling I recall is the push/pull of a trailer. Others may have diff experiences but Id have to say given the diff characteristics of my two bikes pulling stuff, I cant really say there is much of a difference. (mind you, Ive never done a back to back test, this is just from recollections)

i suspect the difference with a stiffer bike is always going to be how with hard pedalling, a stiffer frame will not have the "give" of a softer frame. Pulling stuff or not, but one will be working harder with pulling something as opposed to unloaded, so one will feel this effect in any case, trailer or panniers.

More, with a single wheel trailer.. at least the rear triangle stays..

i've pulled a loaded bob with a steel 700C and alu MTB. not enough of a difference to prefer
pulling with one bike rather than the other.

you'll probably find it makes more of a difference depending on the trailer attachment. bob
uses a skewer attachment, so weight is equally distributed side-to-side, low attachment point.

i suspect the feeling would be very different with a single arm on one chainstay, or an attachment
point high on the seatpost.

Many moons ago, I pulled a BOB trailer cross-country behind an aluminum road-race bike. I used some high-spoke-count wheels but did not yet realize the importance of a quality rims.

The handling of my setup was pretty floppy from the start but I didn't know any better so I kept going. The cause was discovered in Ohio where my rear wheel gave up the ghost. The stronger replacement rear wheel cleaned up the handling and that was the last I thought of it on the trip.

I never used that bike with a trailer again but did break the chain-stay within a couple thousand miles of finishing my tour. I'd guess the events to be connected but that particular frame had a reputation for breaking chain-stays so, who knows?

When I think about riding that floppy wheel up and down the Appalachians... Thank you, Lord!

So, to summarize:

1. I'd want a frame that is not weakened by flexing.
2. The rear wheel is at least equally important.
3. Pray regardless.

That's some really good info and I'm happy you lived to tell the tale. My wife and I were toying with the idea of using our present bikes with trailers to save a chunk of money right off. I have an old Cannondale 3.0 frame from the early 90s and she has a Univega Via Montega from 2001. Both aluminum frames. I would trust hers even less than mine. I had forgotten that about aluminum. Steel frames either way, then.

Thanks!

I've pulled chainstay hitch trailers with steel frame mountain bikes and "Walmart" beach cruisers, no problems with either. The trailers have had up to 250 pounds on them, even though they are rated for 100 pounds. (boat anchors can be heavy ...)

I jackknifed a single wheel trailer I was pulling with my aluminum cyclocross bike on the Oregon Coast. As I was diving wildly from edge to edge of 101, I got a quick glance back at my rear triangle visibly twisting side to side. I thought I was going to buy a section of the Pacific Coast Bike Route. I have never used a trailer since.

JWK, I'd feel okay pulling a trailer behind my tourer or mountain bike, both aluminum, but I'd worry about the robustness of my roadies. That said, cyclists have pulled trailers with roadies without any problem. Fully rigid mountain bikes from the late '80s and early '90s are available on craigslist, ebay, etc. inexpensively and they can tour with panniers or pull a trailer.

Brad

If I was prone to "diving wildly from edge to edge" of the road, while looking behind me, I wouldn't tow a trailer either....

LOL.

I think he meant the trailer caused the event. I've read 2-3 other similar reports, Valygrl had a bad experience, see #2 and #8:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...u-and-your-BOB

Most people don't have this experience, but some do.

Real Trailers would have their own brakes , just for that reason.

as someone who when the spirit moves me really enjoys a good bomb down a hill and around corners, I would be very hesitant using a trailer given examples such as Valygirl's (even if they are far and few between).