Commuting with an Automotive Mechanics Toolset?

[Rian]

Hello everyone, I've been commuting on a regular bicycle for a couple of years now but my circumstances have changed that make standard bicycle commuting no longer fun for me. Therefore, I'm looking to upgrade to an electric bicycle.

I no longer work, instead I am a Automotive Technology student at a college roughly 5 miles from my house in Colorado Springs. Despite being right next to the mountains, the terrain on my commute is only moderately hilly. The big kicker is that I have to haul my tools back and forth between school everyday, on a trailer. I'd say the trailer and tools weigh 250lbs or less.

What I'm looking for in an ebike is the ability to attach a trailer and pull the 250lb monster. But I don't want the bike to do all of the work. I've read some things that say some ebikes will just crank out power, helping you to whatever speed they're governed at, then allowing you to do some of the work after they've reached peak speed. Is that how all ebikes operate where it's basically an electric motorcycle that allows you to spin pedals for no reason after you get going?

I have test rode a Gazzele Arroyo C8 HMB and liked it a lot. However I am not sure that the step through frame is strong enough for long term towing. And with such an upright seated position I'm going to experience even more drag and top of towing such a large load.

I have looked at various Riese and Müller ebike models online and like them a lot. I'm going to test ride some on Sunday. I like the Bosch Performance Line CX motor since it has such a high torque figure. I also like the dual battery system R&M offers. However, I don't want a Packster or Load model because I don't think they'd be as fun on days of riding where I don't need to take my tools.

I would also like the ebike to have a rear rack to attach my panniers whenever I don't have to be towing my toolset.

Would you all please help me out and give me some recommendations?

 

[ebikemom]

You say you don't want a cargo bike, but that may be what you need because of the amount of weight you want to carry, and you may also find that it is plenty of fun. I just tried a cargo bike and it handled really well in a suburban street and trail riding context.

Since you are able to go and test-ride bikes, it would be great if you could bring along the trailer and tools and if the dealer would allow you to test-ride with it. I hope that they would allow that. It might be worth inquiring, at any rate.

 

[Oldbkr]

Hello and welcome...It looks that you are shopping around which is wise. Frame wise you will have to see what YOU have faith in. Motor wise I'd think you'd need some help from someone with similar experience. 250# is quite a bit and I don't even know if it would be wise. I wish you well and keep us posted on your progress, Good Luck

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Finding any bicycle trailer with more than 100lbs of capacity is going to be a serious challenge. Most top out at 50-70lbs.

The other challenge is that very few electric bikes are compatible with trailers in the first place. For the amount of weight you are carrying you'll need a pretty beefy hitch system that attaches to the axles, and that further restricts your options.

Having said that, I'd really like to get this trailer to work with my bikes.

 

[indianajo]

Stopping 250 lb behind you on a bike trailer is going to be a big safety hazard. Look up jackknife accidents for gruesome pictures. You need to get the load low, in front of you, and stopped by the main bike brakes.
See this thread about front load cargo bikes:
https://electricbikereview.com/forums/posts/161812/
I hate the small wheels, but 250 lb up high is going to be a handling problem starting off. I have trouble starting over 70 lb on my 26" wheel cargo bike. A pickup tire on the back rack was a real nuisance. Look at those decks 8" above the road on the drop front bikes and think about the center of gravity.
Any hills at all, a 420 lb cargo (including you) is going to exceed what any bike battery or motor can support. Think thermal cutout of the motor. Enormous cargo bikes are popular only in pancake flat Amsterdam and similar terrain. You're probably better off with a gasoline vehicle like a Cushman box truck , Harley 3 wheeler, or horrors, a car. Not many subcompact cars will handle 250 lb in the trunk. My Cobalt wouldn't have done it, nor my Chevette.
Security is also an issue with tools. I lost a $250 tool box at a job interview when I was your age. There is a reason workman carry around those heavy gage jo-boxes with the buried locks that can't be cut with a torch or grinder. In the back of a pickup, or van. Those boxes are so heavy they have to be moved with a forklift. A busted window to take a tool box out of a car is nothing. Most handy theives can pry the window out of the rubber gasket anyway, silently.

 

[CodyDog]

Rad Burro.

https://www.radpowerbikes.com/pages/commercial-radburro

 

[rich c]

I can't even guess at pulling a 250 pound trailer filled with tools 50 miles a week. What I do know, you will need hearing protection since the tools bouncing around will be deafening! I've never seen a bike trailer rated at 250 pounds, though I've never researched that.

 

[larry-new]

Rad Burro.

https://www.radpowerbikes.com/pages/commercial-radburro

Ditto.

 

[ebikemom]

Such good points raised here. How about dividing the 250 pounds of weight across a trailer and the bike's cargo area, using a cargo bike?

 

[Rian]

Thank you all for your replies.

The trailer I'm looking to attach is the Surly Bill Trailer, which is capable of hauling 300lbs.

What makes attaching a trailer to an ebike so difficult?

 

[indianajo]

So last year a lady ran a stopsign in the rain and I ran into the side of her car (with rim brakes). Imagine doing that with a 250 lb trailer behind. You're not going to stay straight. Your leg might hit the car or be whacked by the toolbox. Downhill makes it worse.
Radburro looks doable but very single purpose.

 

[ebikemom]

By all means give it a try in a test ride. ? Let us know what you learn. ?