Author Topic: Cargo Bike Trailer vs Kid Bike Trailer  (Read 4663 times)

elai

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Cargo Bike Trailer vs Kid Bike Trailer
« on: May 07, 2012, 11:07:54 PM »
I've looked at cargo bike trailers, and so car there doesn't seem to be any advantage to them cargo wise.  You can't carry nearly as much stuff it seems with typical cargo trailers since they're pretty short.  Both types seem to fold flat, so there doesn't seem to be much of a storage advantage either.  It seems the biggest difference is that cargo trailers don't stand out as much.

Anybody else gone through shopping for one think otherwise?

Matt K

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Re: Cargo Bike Trailer vs Kid Bike Trailer
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2012, 06:26:12 AM »
It really depends on the brand.

Bob makes really good cargo trailers that have the advantage of being a single-wheel design (Yak). They are narrower and have less drag. They are a staple for people who chose to ride cross country with a trailer. These last life-times, which is more than can be said of a kiddie trailer purchased at Walmart. But like all quality things, you pay for it.

Wike Bike (made in Canada) has a number of cargo trailers (including ones for canoes and kayaks - try fitting those in a kiddy trailer!). The most Mustachian of which is actually a build kit for a DIY cargo trailer. They supply the wheels and connections, you supply the aluminum square tubing and make it whatever size/length you need.
http://www.wicycle.com/cargo_diy_kit_bicycle_trailer.php

They also have a heavy duty landscaping trailer intended for carrying lawn mowers and yard tools. http://www.wicycle.com/cargo_park_pioneer_bicycle_trailer.php

Probably the biggest advantage of Bob, Wike, and also Chariot and Burly, as compared to the Big Box cheapy kiddie trailers is the availability of parts. If anything breaks on any of the above brands, I can go to the website and get a replacement part quickly and easily. I almost picked up a 10 year old Yak, and found that I could still get all the parts I would need to rebuild it. I have a friend with a CCM branded kiddie trailer, and he's SOL for a few parts he needs, so he has to kludge something together (Thankfully he's just using it for gorceries, so safety isn't a concern to him).

If your goal is groceries, then a kiddie trailer is sufficient. If you want something truely utilitarian, whether it be to ride across the country, take a boat to the river, or run a truck-free landscaping business, specialty bike trailers exist to do it.

manchops

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Re: Cargo Bike Trailer vs Kid Bike Trailer
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2012, 02:57:55 PM »
I have this: http://www.amazon.com/M-Wave-Foldable-Luggage-Bicycle-Trailer/dp/B001NGD4XA/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1340917018&sr=8-12&keywords=bicycle+trailer

I use it for grocery shopping every weekend. Its carried 2x 20 pounds of dogfood and a week of groceries for 2. Built pretty well too. I'd recommend it.