Bike trailer

[PatriciaK]

Don´t get something that attaches to both sides of the axle. if you have a rear hub motor.This may seriously complicate fixing flat etc. Not familiar with La Free. A post mount can limit the use of a rear rack. I´m thinking
maybe a travois.....I have come up with a way to mount a dbl axle type onto the stays above the axle.

John, my La Free is a mid-drive

 

[PatriciaK]

if this is your bike battery placement get one that attaches to the wheel.
it's the same style of disengage for most trailers and yes they pivot.
if your bike is mid drive even better.

Yep, that's my bike... And it's a mid drive.

 

[PatriciaK]

I like the Travoy, and the faq section claimed it can work on a bike with a rear rack. Also like they it folds up pretty small - that's great! The bags that would make it functional for what I need it for (grocery shopping) are kind of ridiculously expensive though! $90 for the small upper bag and $100 for the main lower one . The trailer itself, at $300, is already on the high side...

I'll check out some rear wheel attach options to compare.

 

[WattsUpDude]

I think we may be overthinking it here. If it’s just for hauling groceries and other bulky items, just buy a used child trailer on Facebook, CL, etc. for $60. On most models, you can take the seats out so that you have a bunch of cargo room and it’s enclosed from the elements. And some even have a front wheel on the boom so you can take it off the bike and use it as a cart.

 

[john peck]

I like the Travoy, and the faq section claimed it can work on a bike with a rear rack. Also like they it folds up pretty small - that's great! The bags that would make it functional for what I need it for (grocery shopping) are kind of ridiculously expensive though! $90 for the small upper bag and $100 for the main lower one . The trailer itself, at $300, is already on the high side...

I'll check out some rear wheel attach options to compare.

Check to see it won´t interfere with access to the rear whl. I´ve built a couple
trailers, but the one I use is mfg, rated to 45 pds, cost $69 off ebay.
That´s okay; I´d rather not lug around more than that. It´s a knock off of a yak.
Didn´t come with pins to lock it, but i made some & added a bit of re-enforcement.

 

[billmeek]

I don't think I can use it on my Rad Rover as there is a Topeak rear rack and bag rig on that one and the bar height of 32" would only barely clear the the top of the rack. I have a Rad Mini on order so it might work with that. I'm going to put a Rad rear rack on it but that bike sits a lot lower so it should easily clear or maybe it could somehow attach to the rear of the rack.

The Aosom Wanderer is also available in a bike hitch model (rather than seat post attached):

Aosom 110lbs Wanderer Cargo Bike Trailer Steel Frame Folding Bicycle Storage Cart and Luggage Carrier with Hitch | Aosom

Our newest model of cargo trailer attaches to most bicycle and has plenty of space for groceries and running routine errands

www.aosom.com

I considered the Wanderer and chose the slighgtly more expensive Wike heavy-duty flatbed trailer for a few reasons. First, the Wike is aluminum rather than steel. That makes it lighter (19 vs 22 pounds) and less likely to rust. The cargo space on the Wike is larger (30.25"L x 22"W vs 28"L x 16.5"W) allowing the Wike to fit two standard Rubbermaid totes (or 4 if you stack them). But one of the big selling points was the Wike uses 20-inch wheels rather than 16-inch of the Wanderer providing a smoother pulling trailer on rougher terrain. Both the the Wike and the Wanderer have generous carrying capacity (125 vs 110 pounds). There is also another version of the Aosom called the Elite with a lower rated carrying capacity (88 pounds) that you can (currently) get for $99:

Aosom Bike Cargo Trailer Elite Luggage Black Steel Frame Bicycle Cart Carrier For Shopping Handy - Yellow covered bicycle trailer | Aosom

The Aosom Elite II Cargo trailer attaches to almost any bicycle and has plenty of space for groceries and supplies. Perfect for commutes or errands.

www.aosom.com

I guess it all boils down to what fits your needs and budget.

 

[Gordon71]

Anyone have any thoughts if there is any difference in handling between the seat post and rear axle mount.

 

[PatriciaK]

I think we may be overthinking it here. If it’s just for hauling groceries and other bulky items, just buy a used child trailer on Facebook, CL, etc. for $60. On most models, you can take the seats out so that you have a bunch of cargo room and it’s enclosed from the elements. And some even have a front wheel on the boom so you can take it off the bike and use it as a cart.

That's true - I'm mainly just looking for something that will handle my groceries and some light hauling to the recycle center. Nothing heavy duty .

 

[Gordon71]

I kind of like this one. For groceries you could just use it as your shopping cart and you'd know for sure when you've bought all you can haul.

Amazon.com

 

[john peck]

I kind of like this one. For groceries you could just use it as your shopping cart and you'd know for sure when you've bought all you can haul.

Amazon.com

Like the cart handle feature,& it likely trails better than my light single whl. It obviously has greater capacity
& weighs more. Looks like a good choice for urban use. Though not especially aerodynamic, it will carry twice as
much as mine.

 

[Dave Rocks]

The Aosom Trailers have a T-Grip handle on the towing arm.
I use my Aosom Trailer as a wheel barrow too.

 

[PedalUma]

I know someone who is burning through hubs including a Nexus 8 and regular freewheel axle bearings because of his trailering habits. I balked at a contract to install a motor on one of his bikes because I felt he would blame me when he fried the Nexus after I rebuilt and fully serviced it as part of the motor install. As soon as he called with a question, I backed out. I uncovered that what he is doing is overloading the trailer and it attaches behind the rear axle of his racks. The seat post concept is far better because it is well ahead of the rear axle for tongue weight distribution. A better idea is a three-wheel trailer with a swivel front wheel. This makes the tongue weigh on the rear axle zero. Then it is just a matter of pull weight. This person has also been burning up trailer wheel bearings and ridding with them shot. I would rather walk from a job than to be involved in a mess. I have not found one yet that is three-wheel and attaches to the seat post. It could be that it would be redundant to do both.

 

[Dave Rocks]

I agree you are straining the bike components.
I pull a load once a month.
But I bought the bike to have at it and if I need to tow something I do.

With a rear hub motor I don't want the trailer attached to the rear axle.

You can easily attach a Mirrycle Mirror to the handle bar end and position it to watch your trailer tow load.
Thats comforting to see as you tow.

 

[PatriciaK]

The Aosom Trailers have a T-Grip handle on the towing arm.
I use my Aosom Trailer as a wheel barrow too.

Dave, does yours fit over the rack on your bike, or is it an axle mount?

 

[Gordon71]

Dave, does yours fit over the rack on your bike, or is it an axle mount?

He answered that earlier in that he removes his rack when he uses the trailer. Obviously you can't do that. Based on the bracket that attaches to the seat post which is illustrated in the latest trailer link I'm thinking your best hope would be to weld a short section of pipe to the top of your rack to attach the bracket to. I'm assuming you don't have enough seat post above your rack for the bar to clear the rack.

 

[PatriciaK]

He answered that earlier in that he removes his rack when he uses the trailer. Obviously you can't do that. Based on the bracket that attaches to the seat post which is illustrated in the latest trailer link I'm thinking your best hope would be to weld a short section of pipe to the top of your rack to attach the bracket to. I'm assuming you don't have enough seat post above your rack for the bar to clear the rack.

Oops sorry - I remember that now...

 

[Dave Rocks]

No I have to remove the rack to use the trailer and remove my thudbuster seat post and replace it with the original seat and seat post that came with the bike. No biggy takes maybe 10 minutes to do. My bike is Hub Drive.

A seat post Aosom trailer wont work I don't think with your Le Free back battery rack.

Your Le Free is Mid Drive this is good for an Axle trailer because your rear wheel is like a normal bike.
the trailers just click attach to the male connector which you can just leave attached to the bike.

 

[PatriciaK]

I know someone who is burning through hubs including a Nexus 8 and regular freewheel axle bearings because of his trailering habits. I balked at a contract to install a motor on one of his bikes because I felt he would blame me when he fried the Nexus after I rebuilt and fully serviced it as part of the motor install. As soon as he called with a question, I backed out. I uncovered that what he is doing is overloading the trailer and it attaches behind the rear axle of his racks. The seat post concept is far better because it is well ahead of the rear axle for tongue weight distribution. A better idea is a three-wheel trailer with a swivel front wheel. This makes the tongue weigh on the rear axle zero. Then it is just a matter of pull weight. This person has also been burning up trailer wheel bearings and ridding with them shot. I would rather walk from a job than to be involved in a mess. I have not found one yet that is three-wheel and attaches to the seat post. It could be that it would be redundant to do both.

My bike is a mid drive, so thinking the hub issue would not be a problem for me?

Also, I'm talking about hauling maybe 40-ish lbs of groceries about one mile up a pretty gradual incline and one short, steepish hill.

 

[PatriciaK]

No I have to remove the rack to use the trailer and remove my thudbuster seat post and replace it with the original seat and seat post that came with the bike. No biggy takes maybe 10 minutes to do. My bike is Hub Drive.

A seat post Aosom trailer wont work I don't think with your Le Free back battery rack.

Your Le Free is Mid Drive this is good for an Axle trailer because your rear wheel is like a normal bike.
the trailers just click attach to the male connector which you can just leave attached to the bike.

Thank you so much for replying (again) - it gets hard to keep things straight after awhile .

 

[Dave Rocks]

Pick one you like with a Wheel attachment. Budget and use. You will be happy.

AMAZON BIKE TRAILERS