Trailers - general info and opinions

[rifraf]

Pic above from "http://forum.dahon.com/lofiversion/index.php?t5427.html"

Just thought I'd add a specific thread on trailers.
We've commented on some of them in other threads but I thought a Trailer specific thread hosting links to
common brands and with the wealth of experience here in the forum, opinions and personal experiences, pics
and even links to particularly good reviews (or entertaining bad ones.
A few links to your favourite movie clips or U-tube type clips might be good.
This might help those who come along after us with purchasing decisions and more.
I'm not sure how best to format it so maybe someone could rearrange it at a later date?
Anyway heres hoping it helps someone.

http://www.adventure-cycling-guide.co.uk/trailers.htm

http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/bicyc ... -trailers/

http://www.bikeshophub.com/blogs/bike-trailer-blog/

http://www.carryfreedom.com/Y-Frame.html
http://www.saltdoco.com/

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/ted_trailer

http://www.extrawheel.com

http://www.bobgear.com/

http://www.burley.com/

[rifraf]

Heres some insights into the carry freedom trailer from our Member to Member For Sale forum:
http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewt ... 25&t=41089

[}SkOrPn--7]

Need threads like this for other gear as well Might have to redo and give a more in-depth review of the Y-frame rather than that rambling I gave you and include the K-mart trailer.

Ricky

[}SkOrPn--7]

You could add one more web site to the Trailer list.

http://www.topeak.com/products/trailer? ... 4oc3q80nb5

[rifraf]

Need threads like this for other gear as well Might have to redo and give a more in-depth review of the Y-frame rather than that rambling I gave you and include the K-mart trailer.

Ricky

Hey! Ricky your rambling was good enough for me to look a little more in depth to make a purchase decision
which no LBS has been able to do so dont sell your rambling short.
When you've time I'm sure everyone reading the thread will enjoy perusing your coming in-depth review of the two trailers.
Dont worry - we'll remind you should you forget
Thanks for the offer of input!

[RonK]

Trailers - general info and opinions

Sorry, but I just don't get the whole trailer thing, everything I need fits easily in four panniers and a rack bag. Maybe if I was touring somewhere really remote - but in reality if a trailer is a necessity then I probably don't want to go there. My opinion...

[rifraf]

Trailers - general info and opinions

Sorry, but I just don't get the whole trailer thing, everything I need fits easily in four panniers and a rack bag. Maybe if I was touring somewhere really remote - but in reality if a trailer is a necessity then I probably don't want to go there. My opinion...

Hi Ron,
plenty of room for all opinions here - thanks for sharing yours.
My plan is to try to relocate carrying everything I own on my bike and a trailer and seeing some of the country whilst I do it.
No plan set in concrete currently but an ideal of destination being WA - I like lots of sunshine!
I've no where I consider safe to leave my gear, much of which I've scrimped and saved over the years to acquire.
The idea of using a storage facility and then flying return whilst having to put the bike and gear in storage at destination
whilst I recover the stored stuff doesn't really appeal.
I'm hoping to get down to what fits on my bike for day to day on the trip.
The trailer will be my two alloy camera boxes with gear (probably inside a large plastic lidded container attached to trailer).
On top of the box will be my Cascade backpack with some clothes suitable for job hunting etc.
My paperwork (tax file info, passports, citizenship papers, birth cert etc)
A few tools including my new vernier set and about four books.
Obviously I'm currently trying to ruthlessly deplete what I have so to lighten the load.
The other option appears to be dump everything, have nothing except what will fit in the panniers.
I'm a little reluctant to pursue that option at this stage but it could happen.
I'm single and not broke so I could do it but like you observed in my choice of stove,
I form purely sentimental attachments and am a retro-grouch
I like what I have and would like to find a way to hang on to it.
The trailer may be a way to do that.
Thats my reason - Others may just not like panniers and what it does to the handling to a bike.
I've met people with that opinion and I say more power to them.
One of the beauties of a trailer is that you dont need to worry about racks etc - everything can be carried on the trailer which
gives a certain extra scope with the choice and versatility of what bike to own.

[}SkOrPn--7]

Sorry, but I just don't get the whole trailer thing

You will one day Ron...

I hear you Ron on the no trailer needed but I'm getting too old myself and the once light packer and brutal decisions to living on bare minimum are over so when touring I now live in comfort and in order to have that change in touring life style a trailer is needed. No matter where I go I'm fully self supported hence a bit more gear but the trailer does have a function as a great soft road side seat for making that brew. I'm in no hurry and never have been when touring so hauling a trailer isn't a big deal when at the end of the day comfort is always with me now.

Ricky

[rifraf]

One thing I found interesting about the Carry Freedom Y-frame trailer is its ability to double up.

Pic curtisy of a Yahoo Moulton Forum member who I understand helped pioneer the Y-Frame Trailer
Cheers
Aidan

[il padrone]

My plan is to try to relocate carrying everything I own on my bike and a trailer and seeing some of the country whilst I do it......

.....I'm hoping to get down to what fits on my bike for day to day on the trip.

You've just struck daggers of fear and confusion into me

(Confirmed hoarder)

Thats my reason - Others may just not like panniers and what it does to the handling to a bike....

....One of the beauties of a trailer is that you dont need to worry about racks etc - everything can be carried on the trailer which
gives a certain extra scope with the choice and versatility of what bike to own.

I love my panniers. I've also used a trailer for a couple of more remote tours, where carrying capacity was required. Once I used a BOB for a short tour with the MTB dually. My son has used the BOB more than I have - I prefer the Extrawheel.

I can honestly say that I'd be much more worried about the handling of a bike with trailer and no panniers at all. The heavy weight of the loaded trailer tends to drive the bike (especially on descents and gravel roads) leading to understeer and at worst, the trailer jack-knifing as it tries to overtake the bike . Using a trailer with a pannier-loaded bike produces no such problems; even just running front panniers with the trailer makes it a much better-handling ride as the front panniers anchor the front wheel to give you better steering and braking traction. My tip - avoid using the trailer alone if you intend going into rough/steep country.

I think many people unhappy with panniers have only used rear panners - this is almost as bad as only using a trailer. Balanced front & rear panniers, especially with front low-riders, make for a tremendously stable bike to travel on; uphill or down, rough roads and smooth.

[il padrone]

but the trailer does have a function as a great soft road side seat for making that brew.

Family table

[rifraf]

Great pic IP !!!
If you find the time and/or inclination a couple of your extrawheel pics would be great.
Cheers
Aidan

[rifraf]

A very short little movie clip showing a loaded freedom trailer thats worth a peek
from perspectives other than just potential purchases - have a squizz
http://www.saltdoco.com/
Its got some Aussie flavour

[il padrone]

Lunch in the creekbed - road to Arkaroola




Loaded bikes - stopped on the road to Maree





In Maree




Bare landscape near Beresford, Oodnadatta Track




Rest and refreshments at the William Creek Hotel

[rifraf]

Thanks IP,
Magic - nothing like a few pics "in the field" to liven up a thread
and create interest.

I too looked seriously at the extrawheel trailer but was once again stymied by the
clickbox gearchange on the outside of my IGH axle which also saw me having to look
for an alternative to the Bob Yak.
I was also put off by how low to the ground the panniers would be if I used one with
a twenty inch 406 wheel to match whats on my bike (which is one of the selling points of the
extrawheel being that you've an emergency front wheel should you damage one away from home)
Didnt think the available mudguard would suit the smaller wheel too much either.

I did think it was a fantastic option for a larger wheeled bike however and one would be my choice in that instance.
As I enjoy my bike so much I dont want to have to swap it for something more suitable for a particular
trailer type.

[}SkOrPn--7]

One thing I found interesting about the Carry Freedom Y-frame trailer is its ability to double up.

Pic curtisy of a Yahoo Moulton Forum member who I understand helped pioneer the Y-Frame Trailer
Cheers
Aidan

The B-Double of the bicycle world........ I have never seen there hitch system for duel trailers must look it up Aidan.

Ricky

[}SkOrPn--7]

Luv the family table IP I guess if your towing a trailer it could have 101 uses.

[rifraf]

The B-Double of the bicycle world........ I have never seen there hitch system for duel trailers must look it up Aidan.

Ricky

Listed on their Accessories page
http://www.carryfreedom.com/Y-Frame.html#5
under "Trailer Snake" and described:
"Trailer Snake We can supply a bracket so one trailer can tow behind another. This allows the one tow bike to pull unlimited numbers of trailers. "

also included on the page is:

"Hand Cart Handle:
A simple handle that pins to the right hand Y-Frame arm. This allows you to walk with the Y-Frame while keeping the load bed level. It does not need removed for cycling.

Extra long handle:
Got a kayak, or canoe that you need to tow? We can make longer towing arms to extend the distance between the trailer and the bike. The longest we've made allowed a Y-Large to tow a 17ft long Kayak."

Quite the little workhorse

[Aushiker]

Hi

Another double-B option



Andrew

[il padrone]

Build your own ??





It sure does merit a "long load" sign

[rifraf]

More links with some trailers

http://www.bikesandtrailers.com/bike-tr ... index.html
and
http://www.trailer-man.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.bikeshophub.com/wandertec/bo ... -trailers/

UPDATE:
I suggested the extrawheel trailer wasn't compatible with a bike with a Sram Dualdrive.
I may have been slightly hasty - http://www.extrawheel.com/en/3/instructions_voyager/
The forth video clip down shows the nuts mounted on what appears to be either a rack stay or mudguard stay.

It was nice (for me) to see extrawheel recommending Carry Freedom for loads above 35kg.
This is on: http://www.extrawheel.com/en/3/voyager_trailer/
in the third box down headed "Only Extrawheel".

[RonK]

I hear you Ron on the no trailer needed but I'm getting too old myself and the once light packer and brutal decisions to living on bare minimum are over so when touring I now live in comfort and in order to have that change in touring life style a trailer is needed. No matter where I go I'm fully self supported hence a bit more gear but the trailer does have a function as a great soft road side seat for making that brew. I'm in no hurry and never have been when touring so hauling a trailer isn't a big deal when at the end of the day comfort is always with me now.

Well I'm no spring chicken myself Ricky, but when I say I can fit all I need in four panniers and a rack bag (which are not at all full), I do mean fully self supported, and prepared for whatever weather conditions may eventuate.

[RonK]

I think many people unhappy with panniers have only used rear panners - this is almost as bad as only using a trailer. Balanced front & rear panniers, especially with front low-riders, make for a tremendously stable bike to travel on; uphill or down, rough roads and smooth.

+1

[Aushiker]

Hi

I have used a trailer behind both my Surly LHT (have used panniers with it too) and behind my Giant XTC 2. Originally brought for the Giant XTC 2 as I wanted to keep it for mountain bike duties as well.

As to the Surly, I am happy to go with either option depending on the circumstances of the ride. For example on the Dreaming tour I will be carrying up to 30 litres of water at times plus around 14 days of supplies. I have no desire to load up four panniers to do all that.

So for me I don't judge others choices; each to their own.

The only issue I have had with the trailer has been on the last ride with it where I found the weight was lightening the front of the Giant XTC 2 more than I liked. Wasn't an issue previously but, then then I didn't need to carry as much either.





Andrew

[RonK]

So for me I don't judge others choices; each to their own.

I believe the OP asked for opinions...