Bike trailers

[Bakazan]

Does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes a bike trailer that is designed to also be used as a conventional trailer, i.e. where you can unbolt the wheel channels and fix a box or even something with the option of running two bikes or a bike with a box next to it?

[lazybike]

Could you not use a box trailer to carry bikes?

[Bakazan]

Yes, I probably should have been clearer that I was thinking of something of a low height that could be turned on its side and stored down the side of the house rather than something like a horse box. Although it's a good point that if there are good tie downs maybe I wouldn't need the wheel channels at all.

[tvrolet]

Bakazan said:

Yes, I probably should have been clearer that I was thinking of something of a low height that could be turned on its side and stored down the side of the house...

You know the weight of even a small ‘proper trailer’ (as opposed so some real lightweight fold-up ones?

I have a small single bike trailer and there no way I would be strong enough to lift it on its side. Sure Charles Atlas might have a go, but I’d be careful with any expectation of tipping a trailer on its side.

[andburg]

standing a trailer on its back edge is doable...problem is moving it to position unless down the side of the house is really open

[Ivan stewart]

Bakazan said:

Does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes a bike trailer that is designed to also be used as a conventional trailer, i.e. where you can unbolt the wheel channels and fix a box or even something with the option of running two bikes or a bike with a box next to it?

I guess it would be easy to get a tiny flat bed Ivor Williams trailer and buy some ally channel ,eye bolts for tie downs , the van vault type boxes could be bolted down for gear storage..
As others have said anything more than a single bike trailer will be quite hefty .

[mickyh7]

Ivan stewart said:

I guess it would be easy to get a tiny flat bed Ivor Williams trailer and buy some ally channel ,eye bolts for tie downs , the van vault type boxes could be bolted down for gear storage..
As others have said anything more than a single bike trailer will be quite hefty .

When I raced I used a large Ivor Williams flat trailer, with 2 Paddock Stands. Everything else was bungeed down.
Easy to push or ride up as very low.
I just couldn't afford a van!
Belonged to my neighbour, a builder.

[Bakazan]

tvrolet said:

Bakazan said:

Yes, I probably should have been clearer that I was thinking of something of a low height that could be turned on its side and stored down the side of the house...

You know the weight of even a small ‘proper trailer’ (as opposed so some real lightweight fold-up ones?

I have a small single bike trailer and there no way I would be strong enough to lift it on its side. Sure Charles Atlas might have a go, but I’d be careful with any expectation of tipping a trailer on its side.

Hmm, ok maybe I need to rethink the whole idea.

[KTMsm]

I looked at them before buying my van

There are loads about - take a look on ebay - easy to flip a sub 750kg (gross weight) trailer on it's side onto a skateboard or similar to move it

I like the trailers where you can remove the front and back then a 6' trailer could take most bikes - with the front and back wheels overhanging

[Birky_41]

My mates trailer he uses for track bikes is completely open but has tubes he can slide in and a canopy like material that goes over it to make a box type tent

[xstian]

I use a normal trailer to transport my bikes, its 1300mm x 2500mm with fixed sides. I use a scaffold deal cut down to 1300mm, which fits across the trailer, with 2 bits of 2x3 screwed to it to locate the front wheel. the bits of 2x3 can be unscrewed to accommodate different width front wheels or add another set for 2 bikes. The deal also doubles up as the ramp. It sounds a bit heath Robinson, but really its so simple, cheap, can be used on any other trailer and it just works. I've had 2 full size bike on the trailer and 3 trail bikes on there. Its a tight squeeze though, so I'm going to order sightly larger trailer with removable sides, which should give plenty of room.

You can get bike trailers that are collapsible. Dave cooper makes some resonantly cheaply or Motolug if you are a bit spendy.

http://www.davecooper.co.uk/trailers/trailers-for-...

https://www.motolug.com/

[stang65]

For those that know. In due course I'm considering a collapsible bike trailer. I'd normally only want to carry one bike but can see times I'd want to trailer two and the two bike versions don't cost much more. So, with these lightweight trailers, how stable is a two bike trailer with one bike on it? Obviously a lot of the weight will be high up on one side once loaded. Or would you have to buy a three bike which doesn't have a higher weight limit anyway..... I note that the Dave Cooper two/three bike trailers have a weight limit of 350kg so couldn't take my Hornet and TLR anyway, for example. Not sure the two/three bikes break down as small either as the beauty of the one bike is how small it breaks down, so it'll fit in the boot (might need rear seats folded) when unloaded.

It'd tend to be used for taking a classic bike further away for runs but once your mates know you can move bikes we all know what happens!

Just thinking at the moment!

[scorcher]

Think a Dave Cooper double or treble at 350kg would be a waste of time for road bikes personally. I weighed my old bike trailer in at 500kg with a 99 R6 and a 98 zx6r on it. Trailer was only approx 75 kgs. Bike Manufacturers weights are usually on the optimistic side and don’t include fuel etc.

[Fozzie73]

Might be worth taking a look at a Motolug.

I’ve had mine for ages / can use as a single, double and comes to pieces easily (fits in the back of an estate car) and takes up very little room in the shed.

[doggydog33]

I had a motolug for a few years and it was great. Collapses up small enough to fit in the shed and stable when towing. Having it set up as a twin trailer and only having one bike on was no problem although it felt a bit daunting the first time I did it. i always thought about modifying it to fit a box on to it for tip runs but never really needed to as I ad a large car at the time.

regards, DD33

[HughiusMaximus]

Another vote for a motolug.

I picked one up second hand a few years back and it has been used extensively to ferry track bikes around.

I get that it cant function as a proper trailer, but it does fold up to the point where its very easily stored in the garage.

[KTMsm]

If the main use is as a bike trailer it wouldn't be hard to make a box up from steel mesh or ply for occasional use

[Birky_41]

scorcher said:

Think a Dave Cooper double or treble at 350kg would be a waste of time for road bikes personally. I weighed my old bike trailer in at 500kg with a 99 R6 and a 98 zx6r on it. Trailer was only approx 75 kgs. Bike Manufacturers weights are usually on the optimistic side and don’t include fuel etc.

Agreed. My trailer was 'stamped' at 345kg but once loaded with 2 road bikes, gene, toolbox, bike kit, sleeping stuff etc + in front I have a small built in inverter/batteries is closer to 1000kg