Bicycle trailer

Utility cycling

Gear

Bicycle trailer

Where and how

[edit] Types

Different types of trailers are adapted to different purposes, cargo requirements, and riding conditions.

Single-wheel: a single rear-mounted wheel. Though of limited towing capacity, this design tends to be more stable than trailers with two or more wheels. The single wheel can tilt from side to side when cornering (as the bicycle itself does,) allowing for coordinated turns at relatively high speed. (Up to 25 mi (40 km) per hour.)

Two-wheel: A two-wheel design makes possible much greater load carrying capacity and a wider cargo bed, but has a tendency to tip over when making very sharp or high-speed turns. Also, two-wheel trailers tend to be as wide or wider than the handlebars of the bicycle, increasing the risk of hitting objects (or getting stuck) when riding through narrow spaces.

General Cargo: for transporting cargo of all kinds. The load capacity of commercially-available cargo trailers ranges from 30 to 300 pounds (14 to 140 kg), but much larger loads have been transported with by custom-built trailers and by multi-trailer "trains" attached to a single bicycle.

Child passenger (as cargo): constructed to enhance the comfort and safety of one or more small human passengers. These usually have an especially low center of gravity and widely-spaced wheels to reduce likelihood of roll-overs when cornerning, and often have integrated rain-proof covers, seat padding, and safety belts.

Child passenger (as rider): Trailer cycles, one-wheel trailers with integrated seat, handle bars, and drive train. These allow small children who can't yet ride a bicycle alone to accompany adult riders as participants and motive-power producers.

Canoe and Kayak: designed for towing long, thin, relatively light-weight loads such as canoes, kayaks, wind surfing rigs. For example, see: Kayak trailer.

Pets: for carrying small domestic animals that weigh less than 30 lb (14 kg). Pet trailer.

Metal: usually steel alloy or aluminum tubing, assembled by brazing, welding, or nuts and bolts.
Wood: seldom seen but sometimes used in make-shift and home-built trailers, fastened with glue, nails, screws, bolts, or a combination thereof. An example is here.

Solid metal bar or hollow tube, to which wheels may be affixed by press fit, threaded nuts, or quick-release mechanism.

Traditional spoked bicycle wheel in various sizes. Has the advantage of being light, strong, readily available. Pneumatic tires provide some suspension for the load, larger diameters ride smoothly and have much less drag than many other types of wheels.
Solid metal wheels with solid treads, such as dolly wheels. Extremely durable but rough riding and usually slow due to small diameter.

If included, the fender helps to protect the cargo and the towing bicycle from road spray and dirt. On heavy-duty trailers, the fender may be designed to be capable of bearing heavy loads.

Seat-post: Temporary or permanent clamp assembly attaching trailer hitch to the seat post.
Rear axle: Special attachment points, integral to the rear quick release skewer or bolted on to solid axles, hold dropouts cut into the trailer hitch. (Under patent by the BOB trailer company?)
Chainstay: Two-piece sandwiching clamp screws tight over left rear triangle, with protruding socket-and-pin receiver.
Rear cargo or pannier rack: Some improvised hitches attach to the rear cargo rack or pannier frame. Since rear racks are not structural parts of the bicycle they cannot handle much weight or torque loading.
Improvised: Ropes, bungee cord, chain, cable, etc. Usually not dependable, often dangerous to rider and cargo.