Parcel trailer?

Hi,

Mike Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
Seen those around, look highly functional. However, no gottum bucks for
new trailer. Must save pennies and purchase used. Kiddie trailers are
commonly available in these parts in used condition. So my question
relates to practicality of modifying a kiddie trailer to carry the load.
Sturdy enough to support 80 lbs? Enough room for 24'' square parcel
between the wheels?

The BOB trailer is probably one of the best for long-distance touring,
even all-terrain-touring. For a quick trip to the post office it might
be overkill ;-)

Have a look at the Carry-Freedom Trailer (something like this). It is
supposed to be really good, although some say you have to replace the
coupler.

With a similar approach (and a lot of extra wishes) I've built my own
trailer and it performs quite well. Basically I got two wheels for a
child-buggy (click-on-10mm-axle type). Next I got myself the
corresponding axle (was a bit of running around, though - check out your
local kids stuff stores). Place the wheels on the axle to identify the
size of your loading platform and build a sturdy wooden (or else) box to
fit. I built that box with low side-walls so that my load doesn't shift
into the wheels. The axle is easily attached to the box with some sheet
metal (prefabricated from the local DIY store with pre-drilled holes).
An aluminium pipe and some more of that sheet metal stuff make a nice
handle to which the coupler attaches. The "handle" is attached to the
box with two scrap pieces of wood, so that it's quite stable. I've built
mine with the wheels far back, so I can also use it as a hand-cart. In
the current configuration I've transported loads of ~35kg (over 70 lbs,
though I think I could improve on this with better axle attachments).
It's quite a hazzle to get all the parts, but the assembly is simple.

Be sure to understand the different methods of attaching the hitch to
the bike, some trailers attach to your seat post and others attach to
the left side of your rear wheel. The latter is mostly regarded as
"better", because it has less influence on bike handling...

Have fun...

On 11/13/2008 8:17 AM Bernhard Agthe wrote:


Be sure to understand the different methods of attaching the hitch to
the bike, some trailers attach to your seat post and others attach to
the left side of your rear wheel. The latter is mostly regarded as
"better", because it has less influence on bike handling...

Hm. Left side of the rear wheel could get crowded, already having a kick
stand back there. I'll need to study this whole trailer idea some more.
Maybe handy plans on the interwebs.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
Bend, Oregon

Mike Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
On 11/13/2008 4:53 AM !Jones wrote:

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:07:57 -0800, in rec.bicycles.tech Mike Rocket J
Squirrel wrote:

Every so often I have to haul a parcel to the post office. Smaller
parcels fit into my handlebar basket, but I have these larger ones
that occasionally need a lift. They are 24'' square and about 15''
tall. Weigh about 80 lbs.

I'd like to find a little trailer for this. Used kiddie trailers are
frequently craigslisted around here, but I dunno how easily one could
be modified into a flat platform, whether they are hefty enough for a
load like this, or, with the tent top removed, are commodious enough
for a 24'' square box within.

Has anyone here on this NG invented this wheel already, or has a bike
shop that sells Burly or similar that might be able to advise?

My favorite is BOB. http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/

Seen those around, look highly functional. However, no gottum bucks for
new trailer. Must save pennies and purchase used. Kiddie trailers are
commonly available in these parts in used condition. So my question
relates to practicality of modifying a kiddie trailer to carry the load.
Sturdy enough to support 80 lbs? Enough room for 24'' square parcel
between the wheels?


I have a BOB, I don't remember the max load, I use it to carry a car
(marine, actually) battery. At 50 lb I think this is pushing the envelope.

I built a trailer from wood scraps and a couple of 26" front wheels. I
lag bolted a frame from 2x3's (rectangle with 2 cross members for "wheel
wells"), used HW store perforated angle stock to act as dropouts, made a
"Z" shaped tongue (2x3 gusseted), and used a piece of PVC slipped over
the seatpost bungee'd to the tongue with innertubes.

I use this trailer to pull a 10.5' rowboat, total payload over 150lb.
Made it in a couple of hours with drill/screwgun & hand/hacksaw.

http://tinyurl.com/69hule

I'm sure it would be practical to modify a kiddie trailer to carry
cargo, but knocking one together from scratch isn't very hard.

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:57:15 -0800, Mike Rocket J Squirrel
wrote:

On 11/13/2008 4:53 AM !Jones wrote:

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:07:57 -0800, in rec.bicycles.tech Mike Rocket J
Squirrel wrote:

Every so often I have to haul a parcel to the post office. Smaller parcels
fit into my handlebar basket, but I have these larger ones that
occasionally need a lift. They are 24'' square and about 15'' tall. Weigh
about 80 lbs.

I'd like to find a little trailer for this. Used kiddie trailers are
frequently craigslisted around here, but I dunno how easily one could be
modified into a flat platform, whether they are hefty enough for a load
like this, or, with the tent top removed, are commodious enough for a 24''
square box within.

Has anyone here on this NG invented this wheel already, or has a bike shop
that sells Burly or similar that might be able to advise?

My favorite is BOB. http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/

Seen those around, look highly functional. However, no gottum bucks for
new trailer. Must save pennies and purchase used. Kiddie trailers are
commonly available in these parts in used condition. So my question
relates to practicality of modifying a kiddie trailer to carry the load.
Sturdy enough to support 80 lbs? Enough room for 24'' square parcel
between the wheels?


Here is pic of my dumspter trailer that I turned into a grocery
trailer:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=wv34b4&s=4

Here is picture of the hitch I married to the old trailer:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2ah5iyh&s=4

This is where I was able to purchase the hitch:
http://www.biketrailershop.com/catalog/index.php

I found the kid trailer in a heap of trash and stripped it down so it
was just a square platform with wheels. This trailer did not have a
hitch when I found it so I took one of the canopy support arms and cut
it to size and attached to the left side of the trailers with bolts.
I then bought a very safe hitch system from a company on the internet
and attached it to the trailer and bike. The hitch is very important
safety item for any bike trailer. I also had to add a flex connector
to the hitch. The hitch and the flex connector are made for burly
trailers and cost around 35 dollars. Dont skimp on a decent hitch
and flex connector.

Then I bought the plastic tub and lid from Homedepot for about $12
bucks and some bunge cords to hold it on.

Works great and easily holds 80 to 100 pounds of stuff. I know that
I have filled it with groceries and a few times and pulled it with not
much problem.

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:57:15 -0800, in rec.bicycles.tech Mike Rocket J
Squirrel wrote:

So my question
relates to practicality of modifying a kiddie trailer...

Well, my answer did not address your question. I don't sell BOB
trailers, so I'm over it. Plywood is pretty practical; thus, grab one
and put it to the old "acid test"... then let us know of your
experience. Was it good for you, too? My guess is that it will work
well enough to get a package to the USPO... and, if not, then I'd
*really* like to hear about why not.

Jones

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:17:03 +0100, in rec.bicycles.tech Bernhard
Agthe wrote:

The BOB trailer is probably one of the best for long-distance touring,
even all-terrain-touring. For a quick trip to the post office it might
be overkill ;-)

BOB is great... once you're underway. They suck when you're loading
them. If you're going to load once, then carry a distance over any
terrain, you can't beat 'em.

Dynamic stability - BEST!

Static stability and maneuvering - they suck grommets!

Jones

On 11/13/2008 2:31 PM !Jones wrote:

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:57:15 -0800, in rec.bicycles.tech Mike Rocket J
Squirrel wrote:

So my question
relates to practicality of modifying a kiddie trailer...

Well, my answer did not address your question. I don't sell BOB
trailers, so I'm over it. Plywood is pretty practical; thus, grab one
and put it to the old "acid test"... then let us know of your
experience. Was it good for you, too? My guess is that it will work
well enough to get a package to the USPO... and, if not, then I'd
*really* like to hear about why not.


You betcha.


--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
Bend, Oregon

Chalo wrote:
gnu / linux wrote:

Mike Rocket J Squirrel

I'd like to find a little trailer for this. Used kiddie trailers are
frequently craigslisted around here, but I dunno how easily one could be
modified into a flat platform, whether they are hefty enough for a load
like this, or, with the tent top removed, are commodious enough for a 24''
square box within.

Bob caus... works 4 me

Hr u go: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=18733

Chepr thn bob.

How does that attach to the bike?

I was expecting to see a BOB-style skewer, but the Nashbar pictures
look very, very weird.

Hi,

Mike Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
Hm. Left side of the rear wheel could get crowded, already having a kick
stand back there. I'll need to study this whole trailer idea some more.
Maybe handy plans on the interwebs.

Dont worry about the left side getting crowded as long as you only have
a kick stand and a trailer hitch. Imagine having a stand, two hitches
and a coaster brake ;-) It worked fine for me, until my bike managed to
break the kick stand (trailer was not attached) - and now I have a
massive two-leg stand ;-)

Look out for Carry Freedom (something like that), they should have a
manual "how to build your own trailer" and google for "bamboo bicycle
trailer".

Have fun!

On 11/13/2008 10:25 PM wrote:

Chalo wrote:
gnu / linux wrote:
Mike Rocket J Squirrel

I'd like to find a little trailer for this. Used kiddie trailers are
frequently craigslisted around here, but I dunno how easily one could be
modified into a flat platform, whether they are hefty enough for a load
like this, or, with the tent top removed, are commodious enough for a 24''
square box within.
Bob caus... works 4 me

Hr u go: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=18733

Chepr thn bob.

How does that attach to the bike?

I was expecting to see a BOB-style skewer, but the Nashbar pictures
look very, very weird.

Yeah. One closeup shows attachment to left side of rear axle, but others
show what appears to be a second arm reaching up to RD. Puzzling. Anyway,
the trailer is only rated to carry 45 lbs, I need to carry close to twice
that. Otherwise, looks like a nice little trailer.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel"
Bend, Oregon