Trailer Trouble

PrettyBoyTim

I had an accident with my child trailer this morning - I got the trailer off eBay for £60, and it connects to the chainstay with a grip that is tightened up by hand. Sadly today I can't have tightened it up hard enough as it came off as I was going up hill. Whether it slipped off or just slipped round, catching itself in the wheel I don't know. Luckily it has a fabric strap as a failsafe, so my son didn't go flying backwards down the road, but the grip got caught up in the wheel and dragged through the spokes somewhat. It ended up lodged between the wheel and the frame. We came to a fairly abrupt and very noisy halt by a bus stop.

As this is the second time this has happened I'm no longer happy to use the trailer as is and i'm now considering the alternatives, which are, as far as I can see:

a) Get a rear child seat
b) Get a front child seat
c) Get a different hitch for the trailer
d) Get a different trailer

a) and b) would be a little easier for me in some ways - much as I like the trailer, it is a pain to assemble and disassemble before each use. Also, it would be easier to talk to my son as I tend to find that I can't really hear him very well from back in the trailer. I would also not need to leave anything at the nursery, which would be convenient for my Wife when she picks him up in the afternoon.

However, I think the trailer options are safer, and has the advantage that I can more easily transport other things with him (like his little balance bike for instance). I think the ideal choice would be a new trailer, as I could get something lighter and smaller, but at the moment all the light, small trailers are too expensive.

Does anyone know where I could get a different hitch for my current trailer? Ideally something that fits on to the bike permanently and attaches with some kind of clip.

baudman

Hey Tim.

I've gotta say, when I first read about your trailer's hitch and your warning in a previous thread, I was a bit worried about it.

No idea if you can get anything aftermarket - but if you're going to put something together yourself, I'd suggest doing something similar to what my trailer has (Link.). It has a bracket that bolts on through the axle, and then the coupling attaches to that. You can't be too careful when there's little ones involved.

Cunobelin

Have a look for a "Weber" coupling.

http://www.amba-marketing.com would be a good place to start.

The problem is however whether the trailer itself is worth upgrading, or looking for a better trailer.

PrettyBoyTim

Actually, I popped into Velorution today to pick up some rainlegs, and on the off-chance I asked the guy there whether they had any trailer hitches, explaining the problem I'd had. As it turns out they had some Carry Freedom hitches, so I've picked one up - I'll see if I can fit it on to the trailer when I get home tonight.

baudman

How'd you go Tim?

PrettyBoyTim

It was fine! I took my son in yesterday and the trailer didn't fall off and didn't get wrapped up in my rear wheel.

However, I would like to know how important it is that the bike wheels align with the centreline of the trailer; It's somewhat off-centre at the moment and I was wondering if that causes extra drag - I suspect it does, in which case I may have to trim the end of the tow tube.

Marc S Taylor

Tim

I've got a Carry Freedon Large Y trailer the hitch is very good. I dont think that the trailor being offline is a problem so long as its travelling in line with the bike. I appreciate it will feel different when cornering from one way to the other as the trailor will already be closer to one side, but for a light load such as a youngster I feel it should not wear the tyres or add undue load to your ride.

Marc

motopat

hi,

what trailer was it you had the trouble with? I have an ebay one for about £60 too. I think mine is an 'Avon'. We have only used it once so far with no problems, so long as you remember the decreased turning circle :oops:

tanks in advance

PrettyBoyTim

It was this one, the problem with it being the coupling to the bike was a hand-tightened clamp, which I found to be unreliable.

I notice that SJS cycles are now selling a very similar trailer on eBay, but it looks like it has a better hitch. Doesn't seem to come with the buggy conversion kit, though. (Not that I've ever used ours as a buggy!)

motopat

thanks Tim. Not the same by a long stretch, but the attatching method does look very similar.

Is there a good way of strapping the little one's in? When I took my then 12mth old out I had to attach his toddler harness to the harnesses supplied (again similar to yours) - which seemed to allow far too much movement and allowed my lad to slip about. We also stuffed a pillow in the seat next to him, and he slept like a baby :roll:

baudman

motopat wrote:

Is there a good way of strapping the little one's in?

Mine has a 5 point harness which adjusts right down to as small as my little girl was at one. Having said that, it's law for her to wear a helmet here in Melbourne :roll: So I ended up having to put a little 'kidney' cushion in behind her, to give her the clearance for the back of her helmet. Now she's a bit older/bigger we can nix the cushion.

motopat

baudman wrote:

clearance for the back of her helmet

tell me about it after less than 5 minutes we took my lad's helmet off - he was then happy.

Before I get flamed :evil: - we were only riding a disused railway line (similar to firetrack) and being a parent I always ensure my lad's safety first. 8)

DaveC2

handy hint to stop the manual wind clamps coming undone - wedge something inthere to make it tighter. I use a laminate floor spacer - its the right size, shape (triangular) and has ridges on it to stop it slipping

stumpyjon

Tim

that looks like a Burley trailer. they make some of the best trailers on the market and usually retail for several hundred pounds. We've got the Burley cub which cost about £ 400.

I have to say we've never had any problems with the hitch mechanism. It did take some figuring out how to use it first time out but it's never come close to undoing itself. I find that the best thing to do is attach it, tighten it and then move it a bit. It is possible to tighten the clamp without it being properly seated. When you move off it settles and is no longer tight. Bit difficult to explain but you do need to make sure it is snug in the rear triangle before fully tightening the clamp.

redbirdo

Just wanted to add - we also have a Burley trailer with a hand-tightened hitch and again have never had any problems with it. From what I recall its not supposed to be really tight. It can be a bit tricky getting the hitch properly seated in the chainstay but once it is fully in it seems very secure and I've never noticed any movement.

We find it a great trailer for us as it has a fabric base (making it very light) and the top rails can be folded down. Its probably getting on for 4 years old now (2nd child is using it) so I don't know if there is a similar current product.

With respect to making the child secure and comfy I find with my little girl (going on two) that putting the 3 point harness through the cosy toes from her buggy and then the lap belt over the top works well.

Vicki

hamstercp

I'd also add to the chorus of approval about Burleys. We have a Bee, which is now just getting too small for two aged 5 and 2.

In our experience cars treat us with a lot more respect when we have the trailer.

Pippen33

you look more like jesus than a pretty boy, but more to the point you get what you pay for - and I certainly wouldn't associate child safety with anything bought from scumbags on eBay - stop being a cheapskate and get quality goods from chain reaction cycles or wiggle

PrettyBoyTim

The trailer meets the relevant German safety standards (there are no re;evant standards here), and it's solidly built. Buying a £350 trailer wasn't an option at the time.

baudman

Pippen33 wrote:

you look more like jesus than a pretty boy, but more to the point you get what you pay for - and I certainly wouldn't associate child safety with anything bought from scumbags on eBay - stop being a cheapskate and get quality goods from chain reaction cycles or wiggle

Friggen hell mate - was that really called for?

FYI, I bought my 2nd-hand trailer on eBay. It's a reputable brand and it hasn't missed a beat.

Yep - there's some crap out there, but hell... there's also some crap in bike stores too.

Cunobelin

There is a company called Weber who make a hitch that is quick easy and secure.



However the diameter of the towing arm is crucial to the fitting

muddymart

wow the thread was going off to the end there !!!
We bought our trailer off ebay too, the hitch could have been better thought of, and it could have been made a bit narrower, as it wouldnt fit through the A bars on some of the tpt gates !!!