Anyone make a bike trailer?

Hey guys I have decided that to help save some money and to help kick my chunky butt into shape I need to start riding my bike more. I would like to actually be able to use the bike to go get groceries and the like as well and thought about getting or building a little trailer setup.

I checked my local craigslist and there was one list for $100 that I am fairly sure cost that much to begin with. It had the benefit of being one of the little kid hauler type so it was all enclosed and would be decently water proof. However I am not about to pay new prices for something used especially when I am not willing to shell out the cash for new right now.

This got me thinking maybe I can build something which of course brings me to this home of misfits. I know there has to be at least one of you guys that has built your own bike trailer. So who has done it? Lets see some pictures or if you followed some plans online lets see them. I have found a few online but I would love to get some first hand info from you guys if you have it.

I would just make / look up some baskets (fixed saddle bags), my father had a metal set back in the day and they worked well for small loads.

I think the trailer you are talking about might cost a lot more than a hundred dollars, I seem to remember them closer to $250.

Paul B

I have thought of doing that myself.. but I have stuck with my expandable bag that is velcroed to the rack.. just means I have to make multiple trips to the store during the course of the week

our LBS bought one from someone local who was moving (one of the guys who didn't own a car and used his bike for everything)...

he'd built a trailer out of one of those racks that slides into the reciver of a trailer hitch that you see on the back of SUV's sometimes... something along these lines

he ran it lenght wise, put some wheels from a wheel chair or something like that at the 1/2 way point... is what I don't recall is how he built the bike mount.... but there was a good thread about that on MTBR not long back... i'll see if I can't dig it up

You know, I'll just leave this here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php/261-Utility-Cycling

Thank me when you come back up for air....

U built one with my dad when I was younger we used for paper routes. It was a pair of front tires and some 3/4" conduit. I'll draw up some plans later.

I've built 6 of them, mostly welded conduit until I could weld aluminum. My brother still has one that is a pair of front wheels and tub built to match the top of a car-top carrier.

For a hitch I used a 1" sway bar trailer ball mounted to a custom bracket on the left side of the frame by the rear hub. Might have some pics somewhere.

Look around for a used kiddie trailer, if you really want to go that route. Easily converted to a utility trailer. It's a lot of drag though. Far more than you get carrying the same load on your rack and saddle bags.

foxtrapper wrote: Look around for a used kiddie trailer, if you really want to go that route. Easily converted to a utility trailer. It's a lot of drag though. Far more than you get carrying the same load on your rack and saddle bags.

True, the burley trailers can hold a fair amount (what does 2, three year olds weigh?)

I built one out of 1x4 oak stock that I had left over. Basically, it's a large fruit-crate looking contraption that has a metal plate bolted to each side with a 20" wheel from a scrap kids bike mounted to the plate. the wheel axles are higher than the cart sides so it's not tippy. The front has kind of an arched piece of 1x1 aluminum stock that clears the rear bike wheel and attached to a seatpost mount. I used a QR airhose fitting as a quick-connect hitch and have had great success with it. I built this for grocery runs, and it's not terribly light weight but it does tow well. And it looks pretty nice. I scrounged a piece of coroplast for the floor and made a canvas bag that matches the load area and has a drawstring top to contain the groceries. I've tested it hauling 90lbs of dead weight, but it's not really designed for that.

Finding a used kiddie trailer is the easiest, quickest route. The namebrand ones (trek, burley, etc) sell for 250+ new, so people will want $$ for them used. You will have better luck finding a department store version for cheap at a yard sale. the less expensive ones don't warrant the effort of a CL ad to most people, but they'll let them go for $25 at a yardsale.

The kiddie trailers also have the added benefit of catching motorist's attention. People see them and think "oh, kids" so they give you more room. The don't realize you're hauling steaks and beer.

I could probably design simmering pretty quick. The tricky part would be making it big enough and light enough at the same time.

N Sperlo wrote: I could probably design simmering pretty quick. The tricky part would be making it big enough and light enough at the same time.

Yeah this seems to be the big trick in building one of these. I have seen a few designs people have put out where the trailer weights more than the thing could haul some how.

I did see one where they basically seemed to slap wheels and an arm onto an old cooler. Kinda limited capacity though it would keep things relatively cool on the way home from the store.

Seems like the most robust options would be the kid hauler or one built from conduit.

I think in the mean time I will get some racks and bags for the bike as I can scrounge up the money.

Do some searching. They make collapsible rack panniers designed to carry grocery bags.

Ditto looking for a used kiddie-trailer. Hell, I have one of these that's never been used... (too embarassed to say why...) I'm sure I'm not the only one who's bought one and never uses it. Unless you already have the materials, I'm not sure how you could replicate one for less than even a new one. Did I mention it folds flat for easier storage?

Before you spend a lot of time and effort, here is the official version to compare against

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_171082_-1___202374