Utility Trailers

[Will Neide]

I've got some ideas rolling around in my head (along with some marbles) of a utility trailer that I want to make. Mostly just to haul stuff, maybe yard debris, groceries, trips to the store, etc. I'm not a hippy, and there is nothing wrong with hippies, but I sometimes go through an "anti-car" phase. I'm just curious what some of you folks have built, or seen, that you thought was interesting.

[Too Tall]

Heavy-Duty Bicycle Cargo Trailers | Bikes At Work <<< That. I've been using this for almost 5 yrs. and it has no flaws. If you are handy there is no reason you could not make this. The universal joint is brilliant, lets you lay your bike flat on the ground and trailer stays on two wheels. I despise single wheel trailers, been there and hated it.

[bencooper]

I've built a few - double-sided wheels are stronger, but wider than stub-axle wheels. Old wheelchair wheels are good. Chariot make excellent hitches.

[Alistair]

I've got some ideas rolling around in my head (along with some marbles) of a utility trailer that I want to make. Mostly just to haul stuff, maybe yard debris, groceries, trips to the store, etc. I'm not a hippy, and there is nothing wrong with hippies, but I sometimes go through an "anti-car" phase. I'm just curious what some of you folks have built, or seen, that you thought was interesting.

Here's what I made for myself a couple of years ago, partly as a TIG practice exercise and partly because I was fed up of having to drive when picking up heavier/bulkier items,





Here's an example load,




If it helps, here's the Flickr set that shows the basics of how I built the thing.
Trailer. - a set on Flickr


Alistair.

[jitahs]

Longtails. They ride like bikes. Depends on what you want to haul, how often, terrain, width of path, etc.
Two wheels, not four. Add sidecar for 3, folds up.

[Martin T]

Not mine, but I like it just because.

Swiss Army bicycle / bike trailer / cargo bike / fahrrad, cot and anhanger Schweizer Militärvelo - Ordnanzenrad by Velo abzug, on Flickr

[bencooper]

High attachment points are usually a bad idea - they make the bike behave oddly, and especially under braking with a heavy load can be dangerous. Much better to attach at the axle.

[datas_brother]

I'm also working on one to haul frame boxes to the post office. Although the above is making me think, I'm pretty much settled on a Bob-Style design since the bed will have to be at least 75cm wide and 90 cm long. I'm curious why these are all two wheel instead of single wheel. What are the pros and cons of the two designs? Width is obvious and why I chose single wheel but what else?

[sk_tle]

I'm also working on one to haul frame boxes to the post office. Although the above is making me think, I'm pretty much settled on a Bob-Style design since the bed will have to be at least 75cm wide and 90 cm long. I'm curious why these are all two wheel instead of single wheel. What are the pros and cons of the two designs? Width is obvious and why I chose single wheel but what else?

A two wheel trailer is nice when you don't want the trailer to fall on the side once you detached the trailer from the bike. I would go one wheeler for light load and two wheeler for higher load with a foldable stand to allow it to stay level while you are loading.

[datas_brother]

I was planning it with a 2 legged stand for that reason.

[Too Tall]

I was planning it with a 2 legged stand for that reason.

That's a good idea however the whole rig wants to jack knife every time you come to a stop if it is not plumb and square! I am NOT a fan of single wheel designs...they have a purpose in life for dragging behind you on rough surfaces and for that they rule all.

[datas_brother]

Funny, I just read the instruction manual and they call that the parking position. Bike and trailer co-support themselves without a stand. I should mention that I'm making mine for a MTB for use on tractor trails. Only occasional pavement.

[Will Neide]

Not mine, but I like it just because.

Swiss Army bicycle / bike trailer / cargo bike / fahrrad, cot and anhanger Schweizer Militärvelo - Ordnanzenrad by Velo abzug, on Flickr

Aside from the mounting point, that's pretty cool!

Alistair, yours is pretty much along the lines of what I had in mind. Although I was thinking wood planks for the bed and maybe some removable rails for the front and sides.

[Alistair]

I'm also working on one to haul frame boxes to the post office. Although the above is making me think, I'm pretty much settled on a Bob-Style design since the bed will have to be at least 75cm wide and 90 cm long. I'm curious why these are all two wheel instead of single wheel. What are the pros and cons of the two designs? Width is obvious and why I chose single wheel but what else?

Can't speak for others but for my tastes the Bob style trailer starts to negatively affect handling in a troubling way once loads get above 40-45 lbs. Below that weight, of course you notice the handling difference of the bike, but you get used to it.

I towed a Bob trailer loaded with all the necessaries for a self supported tour from Wash. D.C. to San Diego some years back. It worked well and I got very used to the handling (to the extent that when I rode the bike without the trailer I was weaving all over the place for the first few miles, compensating for a load that wasn't there anymore).

Later, using the same trailer for some over sized grocery and errand type runs with much heavier loads, got me in some trouble on a couple of occasions. It just loads the rear triangle in way that it's not really meant to be loaded, setting up a weird oscillating torsional spring like effect.

From this experience, when it came to building something that can handle a couple of hundred pounds, going with a two wheeled solution made sense for me.

Alistair.

[Jim N]

If you were going to design a bike specifically to haul a trailer, what changes would you make?

Do you FBs integrate trailer hitches into your frames, and if so, what do they look like?

[Alistair]

Do you FBs integrate trailer hitches into your frames, and if so, what do they look like?

I'm not convinced that integrated hitches are the way to go, but I did built one for testing purposes to try and help me make up my mind on the matter. Still testing it, but so far so good.





Alistair.

[jitahs]

Inglis built this cool rig to carry bike boxes to the shipper: Retrotec hauling frame box! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[bentcyclist]

A fairly easy repurpose: A smaller conversion of an aluminum ladder to bike trailer is quite feasible.

[datas_brother]

A fairly easy repurpose: A smaller conversion of an aluminum ladder to bike trailer is quite feasible.

ya but then it's not made of carbon!

[Will Neide]

Driving past an Amish farm yesterday I saw a really old utility tricycle. It had an extended flat bed and everything. Maybe make one of those with some freakish fat tires just to haul some stuff around. Definitely an eye catcher!