[Closed] Bike Cargo Trailers

Not so much for bikepacking and you may be looking to spend more money but...

[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cargo-trailers-at-the-cheaper-end-talk-to-me ]Clickety click[/url]

@Kayak23 - thanks for the link. Was thinking of splashing a bit more cash more along the lines of

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

Whilst I've pulled a two-wheeled trailer over rough stuff, I feel a single-wheeled Bob Yak style trailer would be preferable (though no experience). I was looking at a fat bike on eBay a while ago and the guy was selling it with a custom fat-tyred Bob Yak. Much want.

If you are just setting up base camps could you do it with rack and panniers?

I can carry camping gear for two, inc three man tents, tarp, duvet for two, food for a couple of days, maps, tools, cooking gear, umbrella, changes of cloths (only for one person) with load capacity spare on a bike with f+r racks and panniers (I run a platform front rack to keep panniers higher). Could carry more if I wanted to and wanted to set-up a "base camp" with extra food etc.

Lots of experience of touring with a trailer. I agree generally with the pros mentioned in that article and can dismiss a few cons too. We've toured around the Cairngorms a couple of times, as well as throughout the Western Isles, all around Ireland (tandem + trailer) and many weekends away. A sensibly loaded trailer will follow you down anything you can reasonably ride on a good burly steel hardtail, mine has coped with that beautiful rocky singletrack of the upper Tilt gorge, for example. We've tested the extra wheel back to back with a bob style and prefer the latter; they both work well, but on balance (literally), the bob style wins. These can be found on-line for around £100 with a simple and perfectly adequate dry bag. Always double wrap your kit and avoid trying to run a trailer on a full suspension bike; the twisting forces will kill your frame pivots. Into a headwind, a trailer is much better than panniers plus manoeuvring is quite straightforward. On the flat, it's as quick as a solo bike; downhill is fast and steep ups will be a bit more of a chore, so if you can, choose your gearing to suit the trip.
Extra wheels are good but loading is finicky and they affect your balance nearly as badly as panniers do.
Bobs are very expensive and not as well made as the price tag suggests; welds fail.
The original Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op trailer has been the best on balance, robust, spacious and killer value. Still available on E-bay, looking like a good copy of the Bob.

@highlandman ... thanks, good advice. Any views on axle or seat post connections. I think I'd prefer a seat post connection.

If you are just setting up base camps could you do it with rack and panniers?

Definitely axle fit; simpler, stronger, tracks the line the bike takes much better and balance is way better. Keeping the weight low and onto the back wheel gives you traction up hill when off road. Helps a surprising amount on gravelly climbs, you can sometimes out climb a solo bike on loose stuff.

Bob style trailers usually come with a replacement rear QR to fit through your hub and dropouts. Simply put, this longer rod supports the trailer arms and allows secure pivoting up and down as well as sideways. This keeps all the weight low down and makes the trailer wheel track very closely to your rear wheel.

@highlandman ... thanks ... good advice from someone who’s obviously used one! I’ve got DT Swiss bolt through axles on the rear though. Is there another option?

I was looking at a fat bike on eBay a while ago and the guy was selling it with a custom fat-tyred Bob Yak.

Scotroutes?

I’ve got DT Swiss bolt through axles on the rear though. Is there another option?

looks interesting;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adventure-CT1-Folding-Bike-Cargo-Trailer-Assembled-but-Never-Used-/262453674197?hash=item3d1b7540d5:g:U4UAAOSw7ehXRbIW#ht_513wt_959

any thoughts from experienced trailer users?

Have a look on the SJS site

I was looking at a fat bike on eBay a while ago and the guy was selling it with a custom fat-tyred Bob Yak.

Scotroutes?

I don't think so, it was in Dunbar and I think Scotroutes is Cairngorm-based(?). Wouldn't surprise me if it was someone on here.

Helps a surprising amount on gravelly climbs, you can sometimes out climb a solo bike on loose stuff.

Interesting, makes sense with the load being in front of the trailer axle. I remember trying to walk my bike and fully-loaded double-wheeled trailer up a 25% gradient. Whilst the load was centred fairly well over the axle on the flat, the gradient tipped it off the back and I had to actively push the back wheel of the bike into the ground. Turned out to be less work riding. Surprisingly it is possible to pedal a 30kg load up a 25% gradient with the right gearing.

Yes, that's the old Edinburgh bikes design. If you wear that out, you'll be doing well. If you're using that in rough boulder terrain, add a couple of alcathene hosepipe rocksliders to the leading edges of the base. It does use the fairly standard QR long axle design though, so you'll need to resolve that problem first!

Thanks for all the advice. The Adventure CT1 on ebay is worth a punt at that price and I'll just have to see if I can solve the QR axle issue or just stick it on the back of my wife's bike and she can lug the load!!

I always liked the extra wheel design, dead simple can take a couple of big old dry bags.