Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite? - Bike Forum

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

murf — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 21:28:24 +0000

I've used both. Borrowed a chariot then bought a 2nd hand Burley.
The chariot I felt had a more comfortable seating system but the burley was more spacious. I wanted to be future proof so bought a two seat Burley even before we planned number 2.

No 1 son loves it, number 2 is 9 months now and going in as soon as the weather starts to warm up.

Once you get used to the extra weight and being slightly less nimble you can have a lot of fun with them!

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

hatter — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 21:10:55 +0000

Off-roading with the nipper is one of life's great pleasures here's one of him having a runaround deep into Swinley last summer aged about 18 months no 'action' shots I'm afraid.

http://s30.postimg.org/xuo3kt13z/DSCN1842.jpg

As regards age; he went in his Chariot in stroller mode with the infant sling at ten days old, very gentle bike use started as soon as he could sit upright with the extra head suporter (7 months ish) gradually trying him with longer and more demanding rides and then venturing offroad from about 13-14 months.

He's almost 2, and everytime he sees me in my kit I get hugged round the legs and "daddy bike ride daddy bike ride" at the top of his lungs.

This summer's going to ace.

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

aracer — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 17:40:06 +0000

We've had a Chariot CX1 for 8 years (gulp), and I've also used a few older Burley versions (without suspension) for carrying two at once.
...
Big tyres + suspension means it handles rough track really well, and I really have forgotten it's there a couple of times, with it ending up upside down as a result!

Chariot here - faultless for us. Suspension worked well. Only flipped it once.

Isn't it compulsory to roll it once? Only rolled mine once as well, and mini-aracer was totally unbothered.

Just on hitches etc - the only issues I've had with the Chariot hitch is with cowled dropouts, as it has quite a large contact area. Fairly easily bodged around using washers etc to space it out.

I attacked the mount with a file to get it to fit in mine - doesn't seem to make it work an less well.

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

Hooter — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 17:14:42 +0000

Postierich, those pics are awesome! 8O

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

postierich — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 12:41:56 +0000

Burleys are rubbish!
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4118/4761208833_b1a2b372c1_o.jpg
Splashdown! by Richard Munro, on Flickr
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2014/2337843423_9f0baa49ac_o.jpg
DSC00155 by Richard Munro, on Flickr
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2370/1525437373_5040e8db0e_o.jpg
DSC00046 by Richard Munro, on Flickr
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3074/2471449103_828c79d5fd_o.jpg
DSC00404 by Richard Munro, on Flickr
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2113/2471428155_e9bdeeb97d_o.jpg
DSC00396 by Richard Munro, on Flickr

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

jonathan — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:39:37 +0000

Just wondering, from experience what's the earliest age/size you can put babies in a trailer, I get the feeling the manufacturers say a year just to cover themselves right?

We started at 8 months with our oldest, younger still with the next one - 4 or 5 months I think. Both with baby support harness and head supporter thingy (old type) in the CX1. With the suspension set as soft as it would go they were both fine - enjoyed it and were comfy enough to sleep. That was on forest tracks mostly and a bit of bridleway stuff.

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

RoterStern — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:35:47 +0000

Also a Cougar 2 user here. We've had it for about 8 years now and it has been great. I don't really have a bad word to say about them apart from maybe the price but you pay what you get IMO. Ours has lasted all four of my kids and indeed we are still using it for our youngest. And as said before the bewildering array of extras you can get for them is......bewildering!

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

djflexure — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:26:51 +0000

Chariot here - faultless for us. Suspension worked well. Only flipped it once.

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

ransos — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:07:55 +0000

I've just bought a brand new D'lite to replace our single Croozer. I'm seriously impressed with the design - despite only being 5cm wider than the Croozer, it has loads of room inside (more than the Cougar 2) and lots of luggage room too (again more than the Cougar I think). Suspension on the latest version is adjustable springs rather than elastomers, which is an improvement over previous models. It got left out in the rain all day last week (parked up at nursery, forgot to put a cover on) and it was completely dry inside. Miss R invariably goes straight to sleep in it so it must be pretty comfy to travel in.

The axle attachment slid straight onto my standard QR without any problems - maybe they've changed the design?

Regarding age, no.1 daughter took her first trips out at 3 months, using a weber baby seat. No.2 daughter should be making her maiden voyage this weekend at 4 months.

Re: Kids bike trailers - Chariot Cougar vs Burley D'lite?

wiggles — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 19:00:38 +0000

Hired a burley for a week and was very impressed but not used any others for comparison