How good (bad) are the kmart bike trailers?
10-28-08, 03:02 AM
#1
shaken, not stirred.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Shaky Isles.
Posts: 5,248
Bikes: I've lost count.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1412 Post(s)
Liked 968 Times
in
388 Posts
How good (bad) are the kmart bike trailers?
I'm looking at getting a bike trailer for carting my groceries and pellet fuel fire (I live less than 2km from both the hardware shop & supermarket). Bike trailer, including kitset trailers are expensive here (roughly $300.00 and up).
I was in K-mart looking at the price of tubes for one of my bikes and noticed that they had bike trailers for $170. It is the two-wheeled kiddy style trailer rated at loads of up to 44 kilos but a maximum speed of only 10kmh. Does anyone have any idea how bad they are compared to a better trailer?
Would this be suitable to use for general goods cartage? Would they be safe above 10kmh? Would it cause problems towing it behind my small wheeled fixie?
Or should I stop buying other old bikes and save up for a better trailer?
BTW, I can get tubes cheaper at my LBS than I could at K-mart, so I'll pick up some tubes from there.
I was in K-mart looking at the price of tubes for one of my bikes and noticed that they had bike trailers for $170. It is the two-wheeled kiddy style trailer rated at loads of up to 44 kilos but a maximum speed of only 10kmh. Does anyone have any idea how bad they are compared to a better trailer?
Would this be suitable to use for general goods cartage? Would they be safe above 10kmh? Would it cause problems towing it behind my small wheeled fixie?
Or should I stop buying other old bikes and save up for a better trailer?BTW, I can get tubes cheaper at my LBS than I could at K-mart, so I'll pick up some tubes from there.
__________________
Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. ~Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
vBulletin: snafu
10-28-08, 05:53 AM
#2
perpetually frazzled
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Linton, IN
Posts: 2,467
Bikes: 1977 Bridgestone Kabuki Super Speed; 1979 Raleigh Professional; 1983 Raleigh Rapide mixte; 1974 Peugeot UO-8; 1993 Univega Activa Trail; 1972 Raleigh Sports; 1967 Phillips; 1981 Schwinn World Tourist; 1976 Schwinn LeTour mixte; 1964 Western Flyer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Thinking out loud, you mightn't want to take it to a club race, but I'd think typical road speeds would be fine for it (i.e. under 15-20 mph), and if it's strong enough to hold a child, it should be strong enough to hold pellets.
Incidentally, is this something like what you were looking at?
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5679648
because if it is, I was thinking about getting one for my own use - 100 lbs? Plenty for me.
Incidentally, is this something like what you were looking at?
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5679648
because if it is, I was thinking about getting one for my own use - 100 lbs? Plenty for me.
10-28-08, 08:42 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: nw ohio
Posts: 563
Bikes: 08 Novara Safari; 06 Schwinn Super Sport DBX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thinking out loud, you mightn't want to take it to a club race, but I'd think typical road speeds would be fine for it (i.e. under 15-20 mph), and if it's strong enough to hold a child, it should be strong enough to hold pellets.
Incidentally, is this something like what you were looking at?
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5679648
because if it is, I was thinking about getting one for my own use - 100 lbs? Plenty for me.
Incidentally, is this something like what you were looking at?
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5679648
because if it is, I was thinking about getting one for my own use - 100 lbs? Plenty for me.
10-28-08, 11:43 AM
#4
shaken, not stirred.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Shaky Isles.
Posts: 5,248
Bikes: I've lost count.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1412 Post(s)
Liked 968 Times
in
388 Posts
Thinking out loud, you mightn't want to take it to a club race, but I'd think typical road speeds would be fine for it (i.e. under 15-20 mph), and if it's strong enough to hold a child, it should be strong enough to hold pellets.
Incidentally, is this something like what you were looking at?
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5679648
because if it is, I was thinking about getting one for my own use - 100 lbs? Plenty for me.
Incidentally, is this something like what you were looking at?
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5679648
because if it is, I was thinking about getting one for my own use - 100 lbs? Plenty for me.
It is very similar. This one has normal spoked 16" wheels.
I'll probably use the trailer as is, until the floor gets a bit worn then put a hard floor in.
__________________
Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. ~Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
vBulletin: snafu
10-28-08, 04:33 PM
#5
Conservative Hippie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Wakulla Co. FL
Posts: 4,271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would think that trailer should suit your purposes. But I also think you might find a used kiddie trailer very similar, or even better, second hand at a yard sale.
Some of the other folks on BF have done some very cool things with used kiddie trailers.
Some of the other folks on BF have done some very cool things with used kiddie trailers.
10-28-08, 06:47 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, ca
Posts: 952
Bikes: RadRunner Plus, Kona Dew Deluxe
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Yeah, the only issue is that the hitch is kind of sucky, so you may need to buy/fabricate a replacement.
10-28-08, 11:59 PM
#7
shaken, not stirred.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The Shaky Isles.
Posts: 5,248
Bikes: I've lost count.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1412 Post(s)
Liked 968 Times
in
388 Posts
__________________
Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. ~Mark Twain, "Taming the Bicycle"
vBulletin: snafu
10-30-08, 12:17 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chi-town
Posts: 487
Bikes: Fixie conversion, a few 10 speeds, a trailer, I GT Transeo for utilitarian riding
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
they have kmart in NZ cool.
11-08-08, 01:43 PM
#9
Bicyclerider4life
I've used a Instep Duo Cruiser kiddie trailer since 2001, bought new at Target. No problems with it (other than the cover rotting away and a few flat tires) I've had well over the 100 pound load limit in it, and have exceeded 10 MPH with it many times. So far have only put 8,000 miles on it. For what it is worth, the polyurethane hitch has been trouble free, no cracks or any other signs of failure.
__________________
"Whenever I see an adult riding a bicycle, I know there is hope for mankind." (H. G. Wells)
"Whenever I see an adult riding a bicycle, I know there is hope for mankind." (H. G. Wells)
Last edited by bicyclridr4life; 11-08-08 at 02:03 PM.
12-28-08, 06:14 PM
#10
Senior Member
i got the same instep trailer, new, off of ebay for $55 shipped. can't go wrong with a price like that. i'm going to remove the fabric shell and put some lath decking in there.
the only thing i don't like is the hitch, which when unattached to the bike wants to rest at a 45 degree off axis from the bike axle. it puts a lot of torsional tension between the bike and trailer when mounted, and i think it contributes to increased drag. a more expensive ball-and-socket hitch would be better. still, at $55 shipped i shouldn't complain.
the only thing i don't like is the hitch, which when unattached to the bike wants to rest at a 45 degree off axis from the bike axle. it puts a lot of torsional tension between the bike and trailer when mounted, and i think it contributes to increased drag. a more expensive ball-and-socket hitch would be better. still, at $55 shipped i shouldn't complain.
