Bicycle Trailer - Touring

[97CSI]

Anyone out there used a bicycle trailer while touring? Am wondering what exists as I gather the gear for some extended touring. Any experiences and suggestions based on first-hand knowledge would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[scrooge]

I've used a BOB and was very satisfied. I think Yakima used to make something too, but I think BOB's are best...

[willy in pacifi]

Anyone out there used a bicycle trailer while touring? Am wondering what exists as I gather the gear for some extended touring. Any experiences and suggestions based on first-hand knowledge would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I've used the BOB for a couple of trips and I pulled my girls behind the bike in the Burley. The benefit of the Bob is that it will track right behind you so you know where the wheel is. Lately I have seen a few Bob's but I rarely see a Burley used for touring.

willy in pacifica

[mflaherty37]

I've used a Bob as well. One thing I would like to improve is to find a faster slick rear tire. It comes with a knobby (sp?) with a 30psi max. Also, I was gripping the handlebars very tight, fatiguing me. I think it may be important to get the weight on the cart balanced. On the flip side that is true with a loaded touring bike as well.

Anybody found a good Bob tire?

[eddief]

no experience, but I have researched and if I was hitting the road with trailer, I'd consider it:

http://www.extrawheel.com/

[97CSI]

no experience, but I have researched and if I was hitting the road with trailer, I'd consider it: http://www.extrawheel.com/Clever design. I do like that it has a larger wheel than the competition. I don't like what appears to be a higher center-of-gravity.

[Ray]

no experience, but I have researched and if I was hitting the road with trailer, I'd consider it:

http://www.extrawheel.com/
There are entire newsgroups and forums dedicated to the most intricate details of loaded touring. There are always raging debates about the benefits and tradeoffs of trailers vs. panniers. MOST folks seem to prefer riding with panniers IF you have a bike designed for loaded touring. Some prefer trailers regardless. But if you don't have a bike that's set up well for loaded touring and you're determined to do it anyway, trailers are about the only option. The BOB has a track-record and is generally well regarded. From first glance, that extra-wheel trailer looks like it would combine the WORST features of panniers and trailers. If you're already running panniers on your bike and you just need more capacity for, say, a large shopping trip, it might make sense. But for touring, I'd go with a BOB or something similar if I was going the trailer route.

-Ray

[mschol17]

We used a Bob Ibex for a short (120 mi rt) trip. It worked awesome. I have it for sale if you're looking for something...

[old fat man]

I've used a Bob as well. One thing I would like to improve is to find a faster slick rear tire. It comes with a knobby (sp?) with a 30psi max. Also, I was gripping the handlebars very tight, fatiguing me. I think it may be important to get the weight on the cart balanced. On the flip side that is true with a loaded touring bike as well.

Anybody found a good Bob tire?

i toured across the country (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/rosey2008) this summer with a BOB and found it to be quite adequate. i switched the crummy stock tire for a kenda recumbent tire that was pumped as high as 80 psi. i also ditched the schraeder valve tubes in favor of prestas so i could use the same pump for all three of my wheels.

fwiw, i am going to strongly consider panniers on my next tour because i feel i can be perfectly happy with less gear. as others will tell you, the BOB is great because it allows you to carry everything you want. it is also bad because it allows you to carry everything you want.

as another poster mentioned, you should look at some touring forums for detailed pro/con lists.

[RPS]

Clever design. I do like that it has a larger wheel than the competition. I don't like what appears to be a higher center-of-gravity.I'd test ride one before buying. The high CG wouldn't concern me as much as the short distance between the vertical pivot and wheel. I'd want to confirm it was stable at high speed when descending.

[97CSI]

Couple of posters have suggested visiting touring forums. Got any in mind (links?)? Thanks.

[timto]

I love my bob - I can pack enough clothes and stuff for my wife and I (pre twins) and did many several day rides using it. Make sure you use a water tight bag in the back!! I like the low center of gravity - I find it easy to manouver the bike vs one loaded with panniers (done that too).

It feels like less work to prepare and get going too just stuffing one giant bag and plopping it on the trailer vs packing up 4 little panniers and taking time to strap them in etc... so I like the usability as well as the 'ridability'

I'd never go back to panniers unless carying VERY little stuff.

fwiw.

[mflaherty37]

Couple of posters have suggested visiting touring forums. Got any in mind (links?)? Thanks.

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=47

[sg8357]

http://search.bikelist.org/

you can search the touring archives.

Trailer vs. Panniers is right up there with Sunni vs. Shiite.

In certain touring circles riding anything other than a wallmart special
with a milk crate brands you as an elitist poseur, so be warned.

[Ray]

http://search.bikelist.org/

you can search the touring archives.

Trailer vs. Panniers is right up there with Sunni vs. Shiite.

In certain touring circles riding anything other than a wallmart special
with a milk crate brands you as an elitist poseur, so be warned.
Yeah, Campy vs Shimano doesn't have ANYthing on this argument! :cool:

The last point is a good one. For every one person I've run into or known who was touring with a well thought out and well balanced setup, I've run into ten who were carrying all manner of crazy gear on all sorts of ill-suited bikes in the worst ways possible. And they were all having a frickin' BLAST. So, gear matters, but its not the most important thing out there.

-Ray

[fiamme red]

http://luggedsteel.blogspot.com/2009/02/loaded-touring.html