Trailers: size and convenience

We had a Croozer 737 for a few years. That's the precursor to the current one-seater, but the two-seater models are essentially the same in design - just wider. (It was lent to a friend, and then stolen, so I agree, I wouldn't encourage locking it up outside). The quick/easy fold is to drop the roofline down. This is somewhat similar to a buggy fold, and makes it a lot flatter. The wheels come off reasonably easily and quickly - push a tab/button in on the axle and pull them out.

Both of these operations are relatively quick and easy - although in reality if I had to do it every day, I reckon the wheels would get tiresome - lining them up to click them back in. But, although a little more unwieldy, you can carry it sideways with wheels attached without too much hassle, thru doors or within a hallway.

Attach/detach from the bike is very easy. There's a hitch that stays on the bike (attached through the axle/QR) and then the trailer end of the hitch slips on this, with a pin and then a safety strap. We had two hitches for mum/dad bikes.

Even the conversion from trailer to buggy/stroller is pretty quick. Castor style wheel can live in a pocket in the (quite ample) cargo space in the back - tow bar uses two of the similar pins to the front hitch. Conversion to a jogger takes a little longer, and you can have to realign the front wheel and mounts after a quick test.

I couldn't spring for a Chariot (even the Croozer was a stretch, but got a bargain on eBay) - but I'd expect all of the above but lighter/easier. (But also more expensive. Light, strong, cheap. Pick any two). I'm not aware of any alignment between the two companies.

The plus side... it's just such a great way to get around. Yes, you'll certainly feel it back there - but they do roll along quite well. Hills? If you've got gears, you'll use them, but it was amazing how much I'd get up with really not a lot more effort than doing it myself.

The pro-trailer comment - it's just amazing how much respect and space the vast majority of drivers give you with a trailer. I did avoid heavy roads with my daughter in it, but sometimes with cargo I did not. Claiming the lane is no problem.

Click on 'cargobike' on my sig for what we moved on to. HIGHLY recommend a bakfiets-styled bike. They ride like a bike, so I certainly preferred it to a three-wheeler. The main recommendation, however, is they give you the ability to have your little ones in front of you. Then the conversations flow - "Look at that man. What type of dog is that?" sorta stuff. Love it.

msw wrote:

Thanks - really helpful. The only question now is how happy we are to take it in traffic occasionally. We live in a big city with not great bike lane provision so can't always avoid going on the roads, which argues a bit more in favour of an on-bike solution I think. Looking at http://www.cargobike.co.uk for some options.

Not sure it matters. Yes a driver may hit the trailer but I'd say there is probably just as much chance of a driver hitting the cargo bike. In my experience drivers are generally very respectful of your space when you are pulling a trailer.

Main this against the trailer is that they are wide and for some people's routes this causes issues when navigating through gates/chicanes etc.