Sirrus Rider

Is that an old Chariot trailer?

Sixty Fiver

It is a repurposed MEC child trailer... reconfigured the internal frame to make a press bar and replaced the stock low psi tyres with Comet Primo racing tyres which makes it roll out much faster.

The tote slips in right between the wheels and frame and is secured laterally in this fashion and the tension off the bar keeps it snug, especially when it is unloaded.

Makes it a 30 second job to remove it and use the trailer as a flat bed.

Lamplight

This is my first trailer, a Burley Flatbed. I got it last week and so far I've only really used it twice. The first time I hauled a pretty heavy load of groceries, and today I used it to ride downtown and pick up a drafting table I'd been wanting. It worked pretty well, although riding through some pretty thick traffic and halfway across town with the oversize load was kind of tense at times.

Can'tStop

Hi there Lamplight,

I find that in the UK, bike-trailers seem to scare drivers and they keep well away from me. Perhaps it's different in the US.
I have a CarryFreedom Y-Frame Large
https://i54.tinypic.com/1o1tw3.jpg

Lamplight

Oh that's definitely the case here as well, at least in my town. I noticed most people giving me a LOT more room, especially when the trailer is loaded. I think it was just tense for me because a) I'm not really used to towing yet, and b) That table is quite a bit large than the trailer, so I was taking up a lot of room. In most places I was wider than the bike lane!

Sixty Fiver

Just scored a Chariot single at the bike co-op in relatively fine shape and it has an older style tubular hitch arm and universal frame clamp that does not use the newer quick release design and square tubing.

So am wondering if this was one of the models that was subject to a hitch recall and if it can be refitted with the newer hitch design which also works with the axle mounted Chariot hitch ?

Will have to take some pictures later... think it may be the ideal light duty / puppy hauling / camping trailer as it is narrower and lighter than my other utility trailer.

Oh yeah... paid $20.00 for it and as the old hitch seems secure will test it on the ride home.

Sixty Fiver

Home... ride was great and the suspension on the chariot really was noticeable as I took the roughest roads I could find on the way home and even jumped a curb or two due to the nature of the tow vehicle.

My other trailer will bounce around a little when it is unloaded but the Chariot just sails over the bumps as smooth as can be... and it is narrow enough to go through a door with the wheels on.

Harlan

I scored one of these recently for $8. No hitch though and I'd like to fabricate one. Ideas needed.

dan42

I found a deal on craigslist for a instep trailer and converted it to a flat bed.



Her she is on her first haul today!

Singlespeed92

Dan42,I just bought one of those too,LOL! (I must have deleted the pics off the hard drive,I'll shoot more soon). Got mine new at...ugh...Wallymart because they had them for $88 or so regular priced,but on sale 1\2 off-wanting an Xtracycle-but not knowing the extent it'd get used (see my user-title under my username....DISABLED Cyclist ),I wanted to see what a c-note trailer looked like now-a-days,and for under $50 new....I couldn't not get it

dan42

Singlespeed92, I have been enjoying mine. I use it more than I thought I would! I also picked up a "tuff box" at homedepot for $13.00 and just strap it down to the bed of the trailer for hauling groceries and what not....I am sure the pricier trailers are nicer but this trailer gets the job done!

Singlespeed92

So far,alls I've done is drug it around town a couple times (once with a couple garbage bags of pop cans recycled)...hard for me to do winter riding when it gets cold (cold-temp-issues with two seperate old injuries),but I'm hoping to go car-lite with it,and am projecting an old Trek frame I've had since new (a 2000 6000) to use as a dedicated trailer rig over the remainder of the coldness*,which if I use it as much as I expect,that Trek will be an Xtracycle next year.

It may be late next month before I can shoot some pics. My old digicam survived a 90% loss (material things,no one was home) house fire back in June,and it's like it knows I'm replacing it with the tax refund,LOL,the closer we get,the less it wants to work-I almost couldn't get it to work today (put some stereo digs on CL),and it promptly quit again after those 3 were shot and uploaded ,I promise though,I have one

(*in reality,sub-freezing temps this winter have been sporadic and not that often,but there's been lots of rain when it'd be nearly freezing temps,but I digress...)

a77impala

A few pictures of my home built trailer. Mostly recycled parts, bought some strap steel and bolts for the mounts.

pick

Interesting trailer build! How does it detach from the bike hitch? Looks kind of permanent like.

a77impala

It takes less than 30 seconds to attach and detach. The trailer drop outs sit on shoulder bolts and are held in place with locking hooks and fastened with allen screws. The bike has mounts placed on the quick release and bolts in the fender mount holes.

oldfatguyonabik

Here is my trailer. It's a cartop carrier on an aluminum frame that fabricated.

dayworks

I got an inquiry to build a custom trailer to haul a 9’ long surfing board. Fine and good until the person tells me they’re worried about turbulence from passing semis on the freeway affecting his ride – which it most certainly would. I didn’t have a good answer for him short of an obnoxious amount of ballast. Should I be so pessimistic? Thoughts?

pick

sweet!!! Nice job man & thanks for the clarification!

Stu In Tokyo

Here is my trailer now, I finally put our shop's name on the side......

.... now I have to be on my best behavior

I daily haul well over 100Kg on that trailer, it is one solid and heavy trailer. By itself the trailer weighs 34Kg. I hope to build a new more robust, but lighter trailer this year.
Cheers!

cyclocello

Here's my trailer, a Nashbar Cargo 2 trailer (poor student I am).

I'd like to get one with suspension to protect my cello as much as possible!

Underground

Thanks everyone, now you have me looking for trailers on Craigslist! Hahahaha My wife won't appreciate your influence on me.

I did find Schwinn trailer locally for cheap. Maybe I could convert that to a flatbed and use it for larger loads, or keep it as a carrier and carry my niece around in it. I'm sure she would have a blast.

CabezaShok

that AND a big fat balloon tire like a Big Apple 16X2.35" deflated to 20lbs.....im guessing a cello is far too light to get any travel out of the Ibis shock's coil.

pick

Very cool...interesting to know how the seat post attachment handles the empty weight of the trailer and the loads you pull?? Don't you get some excessive "push" on the bike from the weight being on the seat post vice the standard axle mounting?

cyclocello

True, my cello with case weighs less than 15lbs. I put very low pressure on tire currently, and it seems to absorb some shock. I'd get a fatter tire for my current trailer if I didn't plan on replacing it soon.

Can'tStop

I used to use a trailer with a high hitch. I found the high hitch led to a 'surging' sensation going down speed humps. It also had a strange effect when cornering. It's really hard to describe the experience.
I now use a trailer with a low hitch that attaches to the rear axle, it's much nicer to use.

I've never carried as much as 100 kg in my trailer, but must have had 50-60 kg in my trailer and towing that uphill is hard, as is repeated stopping and starting. My advice to anyone trying this is to ensure your trailer tyres are well inflated, ensure the load is positioned so that the hitch receives a medium downwards load and btw, keep the speed down, especially around corners. Also read the road ahead and brake gently. You will want to avoid jack-knifing.