Bike Trailers: A Review

Bikes trailers are very useful for transforming ordinary bikes into serious load carrying vehicles. Bikes can tow a remarkable amount of weight. Loads in excess of 880 pounds (400 kilograms) have been hauled behind bikes along flat surfaces. Generally though, 300 pounds (140 kilograms) is considered the upper threshold for hauling. Full-sized refrigerators or couches that won’t fit in a car can comfortably be pulled behind a bicycle with the right kind of trailer.

Let’s take a look at the various types of bike trailers available:

One Wheeled Trailers

For small-sized loads you can try something like a B.O.B trailer, which is a single-wheeled trailer that attached to the back of most bikes (see picture above). These are practical trailers that are good for carrying light to medium-weight loads (up to 77 pounds or 35 kilograms). Having only one wheel reduces resistance and allows for narrower riding surfaces, so they are a popular choice for long-distance cyclists. When overloaded the single wheel trailer transfers too much weight to the bicycle and riding becomes unstable. Additionally, heavily loaded trailers can cause frame or hub damage to your bicycle due to the torsion forces transferred through the unidirectional pivoting hitch.

Two Wheeled Trailers

Two wheeled trailers have the potential to carry more weight because they create a more stable platform, and the weight can be distributed right over the trailer wheels, taking the burden off your bicycle. Two wheelers also utilize multi-directional pivoting hitches (since they don’t rely on the bike to keep them upright) which don’t transfer torque through to your bike frame.

Some trailers which are used primarily for carrying children and groceries are made by: Burley, Chariot Carriers , Schwinn and InStep.

^{Pictured above is a two-wheeled trailer from Chariot Carriers}.

There are also two-wheeled trailers available which can carry loads of 260 pounds (120 kg) or more. A company that makes heavy-duty trailer is Bikes At Work.

There are also more simplistic trailers make to smaller loads: Carry Freedom Y-Frame and Cycle Tote.

You can buy most of the trailers listed in this article from BikeTrailerShop.

The Bike Trailer Blog is a blog devoted to nothing but bike trailers.