Anyone on here using one of these?

http://amzn.to/Jy8Gbr

Any good?

Excellent. I’ve used one off and on road. Even when fully loaded off road touring

I’ve used one to tow both of my kids (separately) over the last 3 or 4 years the only issue is that its ruined the paint on tne head tube on both of their bikes.

Mmm, anyway of preventing the head tube paint damage?

Yep, used it a lot, even trips round a few trail centres. Just make sure you fit it correctly, seen loads of them fitted badly and the child’s bike leaning to one side.

Used one recently for the first time and thought worked pretty well. Not light mind, but does the job for a pretty low cost.

johnikgriff – Member
Yep, used it a lot, even trips round a few trail centres. Just make sure you fit it correctly, seen loads of them fitted badly and the child’s bike leaning to one side.

Wot he said, but again, we have also used for the last 4 years for kids 1 and 2, and will continue to do so for kid 3 in time. They are excellent, work well in execution. Only downside is finding the right “saddle tilt”, as when the wee one’s bike is hooked up it tilts the whole thing back alot.

Apart form that, magic!

Kev

allow plenty of time to set up – not to be done when trying to pack or set off

I once ejected my kid onto the road when the headtube fitting on his bike wasn’t done up tight enough. Luckily it wasn’t a busy road…

My Trailgator is going spare if you’re down south. Free to collector.

I binned mine, as I found no end of tightening the attachments would stop mini-me from eventually leaning to the side.
For me it seemed more like a case of poor design than being badly set up.

I bought a Follow-Me tandem recently and that is outstanding for towing the little ‘un.
Expensive at £200, but if I look after it, I expect to get get most of that money back when it’s no longer needed.

Yes, no leaning problems yet, old innertube to prevent damage. Little one loves it and I can feel when she’s pedalling. Got ours 2nd hand.

Does anyone know whether they can be used in conjunction with a child seat? I’ve got a Hamax, but with three children (4yrs downwards) and two adults we need to double up on one of the bikes. I’d like to give the 4yr old a bit of freedom to cycle as far as he can, with the option to hitch him up when he’s had enough, but also carry the 9 month old one in the Hamax at the same time

It could work with a top tube mounted child seat but not a rear one as the trailgator clamps to the seatpost.

It’s about 10 years since my youngest was on the back of one of these.
It worked fine and gave the opportunity for the little one to ride unaided for as long as they wanted to, then to be hitched up and towed home when they ran out of steam.
They WILL lean-over though, it’s not poor set-up, it’s as a result of the cumulative effect of the tolerances in all the joints and extensions. Off-putting but not a big problem.

Cheers all, most helpful.

Bit of a PSA, bought one before Easter for half price from Rutland Cycles. Not sure if they still have them for that price.

I found no end of tightening the attachments would stop mini-me from eventually leaning to the side.
For me it seemed more like a case of poor design than being badly set up.

This. Proper tag along is much better, they work!

@ecky-thump. Glad you said that because as far as I can tell mine is set up as well as it can be but there is definite lean on the kid’s bike. The attaching bracket seems to have a mm or so of give and that is enough to cause a lean. Mine has always done this. Maybe @johnikgriff has some words/tips about how he avoided that.

Impressed that there are people having good results with these, I’ve never seen one that looked even slightly reassuring. Although I’m assuming that the people I see towing bikes with stabilisers just haven’t read the instructions 😉

I’ve seen some right shoddy set ups. Get it all aligned right, do all the bolts up TIGHT, & they are excellent. Used ours for the daily commute for year or two. In fact I only took it off for the final time last night.

We used ours for a couple of years with our nephew, then sold it on. However hubby always took his allen keys on any trip just to tighten things up if needs be.

Yes it did have a bit of lean.