Buying a bike trailer

Tigerandahalf

Hey all

Looking at buying above that could fit 2 kids.
2 options on halfords site I am looking at.

This Bellelli priced at €260

Or

This Halford's brand at €125

The latter seems the most popular but am wondering how waterproof it is. I know the bottom of it is not solid.

Any recommendations.

Thanks

jimmyging

I got one from wiggle.co.uk last year , lovely bit of kit

saccades

Had the halfords one (actually bought from sjs cycles and had wheel bumper things I removed) for 8 years. Used for 2 kids (upto 5 & 8) before the 8yo was too big and moved to trailgators for both.

It's not waterproof, more really water resistant - I covered the bottom in some fabric waterproofer. However I can't remember the kids ever giving out over soggy bottoms and we'd go all over the show with it from quiet roads to almost mtb trails. Got caught in a downpour one afternoon on the way back from the pub but the kids were protected, misted up a bit with the rain cover on. Stored camp gear in it overnight and everything was still dry after regular rain through the night.

Downsides - the non-solid floor/seat means little kids will slip down a little when they sleep on the way home (they always fall asleep on the way home) and you have to pack the boot properly to make sure then is nothing spiky to push through the cloth seat into their backs.

Upside - real quick to build/store, only 6" high when all folded. Rear boot space is really handy size and v easy to get to.

You "could" fit 3 small kids in but 2 was always right for us.

This was summer 2015, penultimate use before the wild camping trip.



Actually got around to hosting a camping trip one.

Tigerandahalf

What about attaching it to the rear axle?
Is there room to attach with the quick release lever or did you just tie it on?

check_six

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

What about attaching it to the rear axle?
Is there room to attach with the quick release lever or did you just tie it on?

The tow hitch dealie will go onto the quick release skewers under the lever or under the screw on end. I had replaced the QR skewers with hex-nut versions on my tow bike. What is really handy is that you can get extra tow hitch dealies to make multiple bikes capable of towing the trailer.

We used the Halfords trailer and found it great. We got two of them in the end as we used them every day and they did kind of 'wear out' with little rips appearing in the fabric, etc.. A more robust heavier trailer would have lasted a bit better maybe, but we got full value for money for the constant use we got from our trailers.

This trailer will pack down very small for transport if you are bringing the bikes away somewhere too.

That price that is advertised in your link jumps up and down all over the place regularly. Check it's favourable before diving in.

Tigerandahalf

check_six wrote: »

The tow hitch dealie will go onto the quick release skewers under the lever or under the screw on end. I had replaced the QR skewers with hex-nut versions on my tow bike. What is really handy is that you can get extra tow hitch dealies to make multiple bikes capable of towing the trailer.

We used the Halfords trailer and found it great. We got two of them in the end as we used them every day and they did kind of 'wear out' with little rips appearing in the fabric, etc.. A more robust heavier trailer would have lasted a bit better maybe, but we got full value for money for the constant use we got from our trailers.

This trailer will pack down very small for transport if you are bringing the bikes away somewhere too.

That price that is advertised in your link jumps up and down all over the place regularly. Check it's favourable before diving in.

What is a toe hitch dealie?
I googled but nothing came up.

check_six

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

What is a toe hitch dealie?
I googled but nothing came up.

The thing that is attached to your bike that allows you to hitch on the tow bar arm of the trailer.
http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bike-accessories/child-bike-trailers/halfords-spare-clip-and-bracket

check_six

Think these hitch devices are universal for a lot of different trailers.

saccades

Curses....


I had one made at an engineering firm.... 40 euros....

Ho hum.

I ran the trailer on bikes with bmx nuts (alfine IGH), on vertical and horizontal drop outs (EBB) and on the mtb with a RWS QR.

Never had a bother with it shifting.

I only got small rip in the window from packing badly with the wheels, they have a short stubby axle and I put them folded in together, rested some stuff on the top and the axle poked through enough and put tension on the clear window enough that it tore/ripped a coupla inches. Apart from that it's a tore cordura type material (taught the kids early doors not to lean towards the wheels so no rub there.

Trailer was used this weekend by the new owner.