[Closed] Bike Trailer: What's goods and what's not!

halfords done my two proud...always fell asleep in it so must of been comfortable.

[i]Are the high end ones really worth the extra cash?[/i]

If you have the cash, yes - it's not just the frame that's better. The seats/harness are noticeably better too.
However, like many things in life, they do cost about twice the price.

Put it this way - I'm a tight arse, and am very happy with our Croozer.

DrP

I had a Chariot and it was great for a bunch of reasons:
The children were able to use it until they eldest was 6 (useful when you have big trips to make)

The solid base meant the floor didn't get soaked in heavy rain. Useful when you are doing the shopping

The solid base means you can also use if for carrying bags of cement when necessary although maybe that is a niche use 🙂

Thanks guys, any more??

Are the high end ones really worth the extra cash?

Yes, to be honest. Haven't heard of a Chariot owner complaining about the price.

We went with Chariot because we wanted suspension, and it was the only one.

They come in two main types - larger more trailery ones and smaller more versatile ones, but still trailers. The former category are the ones that can have a solid base IIRC. My Cougar 2 doesn't, but it's consequently lighter and folds flatter.

Phil,

Your market review looks pretty good there. As ever, you get what you pay for. There's nowt wrong with the cheap ones - they work and seem fine for occassional sunny afternoons out for a bimble. If you're using it more often, or on bumpier terrain, or when its raining, then it'll be nicer for everyone (you, kids, companions etc) if you have a better (and hence more £££'s) model.

Also bear in mind who might use it and how they might use it. My wife has little delicate wrists so as she plans to use it a fair bit the trailer needed to be lightweight (as much to move around getting it in and out of the house as actually towing it). We also have a side passage and gate so needed a trailer that wouldn't be getting stuck all the time.

I managed to tip our Burley solo at the weekend. I had ridden a lot of off camber singletrack and I must say the trailer was SUPERB and tracked so well. How did I tip it? Managed to get unbelievebly stuck on a narrow very rutted descent and saw a nice escape route down a steep bank. The sensible choice was to unhitch and wheel the bike then trailer separately down the bank. Did I bother? (lesson learnt here). No - wheeled both down the bank together and trailer tipped over after gaining a ridiculous steep angle. Amazingly the 11 month daughter didn't even wake up, a testament to how brilliantly comfortable the trailer seat is (and how well designed it is too).

We have a couple of mechanical issues - managed to bend part of the closing mechanism (brute force by some idiot - probably me!) which bent back fine. Everything seems nicely adjustable so a quick nip with the allen key and its tight again. Our flag is coming loose which seems to be a worn flag hole/bracket (oo-er). We're planning to speak to Burley on this.

Worth trying a few if you can - if there's a Forestry Commission cycle hire place near you then they hire them out.

HTH

TM

😯 at rolling the trailer! Worst I ever managed was jack-knifing it wheeling it down a steep bank. It has no brakes!

molgrips - twas a slow speed tip, rather than a full roll (not that makes me any less of an idiot, or feeling any less awful seeing your child tipping over!). It does makes you realise that you do have to be an idiot (including riding quite fast) to get the thing to turn over. I've learnt that I get quite a good workout using the singlespeed towing the trailer so don't need to go too fast.

TM

[i] twiglet_monster - Member

I've learnt that I get quite a good workout using the singlespeed towing the trailer so don't need to go too fast.

TM [/i]

Hauling the croozer and my wee girl on the Inbred is grand on flat tarmac but I have to say its a serious work out on extended climbs and a real ball buster on steeper gravel surfaced ones!

I might stick gears on it after SSWC2011!

Chariot CX1 owner here. it does everything you want of a trailer but you do pay for it. We bought ours second hand but I suspect we'll recoup most of that when we come to sell it on. It is very durable and parts are readily available through the service centre. I got a replacment hub axle for less than £10 when ours failed.

I also must admit to tipping ours on some singletrack. My son did wake up but was back to sleep in seconds after being righted! The harness is excellent and, in the one seater at least, there was plenty of room so that he didn't come into contact with anything, just awoke suspended upside down! Needless to say I am now more careful!

However, I'm not sure a sleeping child in neccessarily a sign of a comfortable one. My son has also managed to fall asleep in his i-bert seat which has little support, he just rested his head on his arms and dozed off looking very awkward as we rushed home a little late for his afternoon nap!

Another Chariot CX1 owner here - over 5 years use/abuse and still going strong onto child no 2. Used off-road (forest tracks) in all weathers, put away wet etc and no mechanical issues at all, no breakages.

Big pluses are the light weight and ease of folding, the weatherproofing (no worries about comfort in tipping rain or snow or sub-zero temps), and the suspension. The third wheel jogger adapter makes it excellent as a big, off-road capable pushchair - very ease to steer and push. We got stroller wheels with it but they're still sealed in their bag!

Whether it's worth the considerable money depends on whether you feel you'll get a good return in use and enjoyment. For us it was definitely worth it, but it's been used a lot and more importantly has allowed us to go riding when and where we wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

And I've rolled it a couple of times... at [i]reasonably[/i] slow speeds. No ill effects 😉

If you want a stroller conversion I don't think you've got much choice other than the high end anyway.

I've got the common Madison supplied £150ish trailer and it's been perfect as a trailer, folds small enough, boys sleep in it and room for luggage. It's just fine as a trailer so up to you if you want to save a bit, or save the hassle of packing a pram too.

EDIT - forgot to add it's a two seater and they are a very different beast to the sleeker Burley/Chariot single seaters - hard work with two toddlers in it, and won't fit down most singletrack. Still fun though, and gets you all out.

Another thing to consider is that the higher end trailers will have a much better re-sale value when you have finished with it