Which trailer for camping?

[bikey-mikey]

The trailer has a 'suits all panniers' rail, so no issues there.  There are vids showing people with normal rear panniers on their bikes, AND additional ones on the Extrawheel, so you can just about move house.

Alternative is something like a Bob Yak (or clone thereof) where you can carry a bigger fatter single bag, however that is quite a bit longer, and to some extent bound to be less manoevreable, (though I have not ridden with one, so only guessing)

[LEE]

I think Salvatore (right) has the Bob Yak and Chillmoister has the copy (Edinburgh Cycles?)

Since they were both attending my camping trip I'd say they proved themselves suitable.

I guess this is info for the next person that asks (since a decision has been made by OP)

[bikey-mikey]

Indeed the Bob would have done the trick too, I just wanted the shortest lightest trailer...

My wife took a photo the other day, but as it was is from the front you can't see the trailer, so I found this vid on oooh-toob - it shows the detail including how it attaches by spring arm tension alone - bike is interesting too...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gp0Z58BadWo&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Gp0Z58BadWo&rel=1</a>

[smurphboy]

The audio on that video makes it sound like an underwater motorway!

It does show how the fitting works - I think it might be what I want over the Bob Yak. I don't like the long trail on those trailers and I like the idea of having one tire for my bike and my trailer.

[bikey-mikey]

it might be what I want over the Bob Yak. I don't like the long trail on those trailers and I like the idea of having one tire for my bike and my trailer.

Yep - you end up with TWO wheels that would go on the front of the bike - so if your bike front had a bad cut too big to sleeve, or you ran out of tubes and patches, (I don't currently even carry a sleeve) you can swap the 'flat' one onto the trailer - if your load is lightish it might tow OK, even on a flat tyre - potential damage to that wheel is far less than if it had your entire body weight on it.  You can always use the shoulder straps on one of the panniers, and lighten the load even more, I suppose.  I haven't done this though, but it makes sense, doesn't it?

People have also said that they have swapped the front wheel and left the trailer and damaged wheel chained to a tree, then rode off to get more tubes etc.  Would not leave my best stuff in the panniers though, and maybe hide the whole lot behind a bramble or similar, out of sight..

[smurphboy]

I've just ordered an Extrawheel - hopefully it will arrive in time for a test this weekend.

[bikey-mikey]

Congratulations

Can't get to your test unfortunately, as I'm off to Cardiff on Friday to do the Ferryside Fish Foray on Saturday, returning Sunday, but it would be fun to terrorise the Railway Path with a convoy two Extrawheels, some time.

Funny thing is, you ride along expecting everybody you see to be surprised and amazed and just plain interested, but in reality they don't even see it until you are past - you can imagine their faces, but it's not the same   

[YahudaMoon]

These are great for heavy loads. My freind has one

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11357

Chariot Trailer Hitch are excellant
Though we made six trailers using the same ball quick release hitch.

Heres me with the copied home made version

[smurphboy]

Congratulations

Can't get to your test unfortunately, as I'm off to Cardiff on Friday to do the Ferryside Fish Foray on Saturday, returning Sunday, but it would be fun to terrorise the Railway Path with a convoy two Extrawheels, some time.

Funny thing is, you ride along expecting everybody you see to be surprised and amazed and just plain interested, but in reality they don't even see it until you are past - you can imagine their faces, but it's not the same   

That sounds fun. I hadn't thought about what other people would make of it but I suppose you don't notice it until it is too late. That is probably a good thing though... I don't fancy hauling it up Park St though

[Cudzoziemiec]

I'd love to see the two of you having an Extrawheel race up Constitution Hill. 

[bikey-mikey]

These are great for heavy loads. My freind has one

I thought about one of those for tasks like the garden centre, and going to the dump, which the Extrawheel would suck at.  Looks strong enough for a stranded mate to sit on the back of it, and get a lift home?

[bikey-mikey]

I'd love to see the two of you having an Extrawheel race up Constitution Hill. 

I just checked Constitution Hill on Google Maps and I saw the first walking cyclist I have ever seen on the street view, but with an empty E-wheel it would be fine...

If it were Park Street at 9:00 pm on a Friday night, you'd be on, though of course I would expect Smurphboy to have to carry a few breeze blocks by way of handicapping......

What's the winners prize, anyway??............ (oooh, I just thought.....Podium Girls..... )

[dippy2]

I'd love to see the two of you having an Extrawheel race up Constitution Hill. 

Or up St Patricks Hill, http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4394734

[Kim]

Can't get to your test unfortunately, as I'm off to Cardiff on Friday to do the Ferryside Fish Foray on Saturday, returning Sunday, but it would be fun to terrorise the Railway Path with a convoy two Extrawheels, some time.

Oooh, can you daisy-chain them?  That would be awesome...

[smurphboy]

An Extrawheel snake? Probably possible if you haven't got panniers onboard...

[loadsabikes]

Can't get to your test unfortunately, as I'm off to Cardiff on Friday to do the Ferryside Fish Foray on Saturday, returning Sunday, but it would be fun to terrorise the Railway Path with a convoy two Extrawheels, some time.

Oooh, can you daisy-chain them?  That would be awesome...

hmmmm. with a little fettling of skewers this could be a bit of a grin. How many extrawheel owners on the forum!!

[Cudzoziemiec]

I'd love to see the two of you having an Extrawheel race up Constitution Hill. 

Or up St Patricks Hill, http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4394734

Ooof, that one's got lights at the bottom to ruin your rhythm. Constitution Hill is probably not quite as steep but longer.

[TimO]

Can't get to your test unfortunately, as I'm off to Cardiff on Friday to do the Ferryside Fish Foray on Saturday, returning Sunday, but it would be fun to terrorise the Railway Path with a convoy two Extrawheels, some time.

Oooh, can you daisy-chain them?  That would be awesome...

Andy gates has done it with Yak Bobs, although that would take a bit more fettling, since I don't think the width of a normal Bob wheel is comparable to most rear wheels.

[bikey-mikey]

Or up St Patricks Hill, http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4394734

It would be even more interesting going DOWN it.... though you would have to time the lights properly, and some daft errr 'person', would step out and get a good reason to change their smalls...

[bikey-mikey]

Can't get to your test unfortunately, as I'm off to Cardiff on Friday to do the Ferryside Fish Foray on Saturday, returning Sunday, but it would be fun to terrorise the Railway Path with a convoy two Extrawheels, some time.

Oooh, can you daisy-chain them?  That would be awesome...

Well Kim, technically it would be easy.  Each trailer comes with a wider skewer with knobs on the ends, which you use to replace your own rear skewer, and the arms of the e-wheel attach to the knobs, so if you got a second e-wheel, you would have a second wider skewer with knobs on the ends, and you could put that skewer in the first e-wheel, and attach the second trailer to it, and so on. I had wondered whether you could link four or five of them to one bike, a bit like those endless trains you used to get at Butlins -  but if you got a wobble on... 

Re attaching the panniers, they would need to be mounted as far forward as poss, and it might well work.

Hey, if we wanted to get the most viewed ooo-toob vid ever, it might be worth a go...

[Kim]

Hey, if we wanted to get the most viewed ooo-toob vid ever, it might be worth a go...

Why should the Kettwiesel riders get all the fun. 

[loadsabikes]

This clearly has possibilities, how many could we rustle up?

[Regulator]

*Checks the YACF trauma kit...*

[border-rider]

Should you decide after all the Roland Big Boy 16" is the one for you, the best price afaiaa is from http://www.bikester.co.uk/ £129.99 .   You'll need the Hebie seatpost adaptor too at £17.99 and I can recommend the optional yellow cover £26.99 all available from Bikester.   There's a minimum order of about £50 so best to order everything you need in one go - and note that delivery from them can be a bit tardy.

ah, just seen this.  Very useful, thanks.  I have one of these with a dodgy hitch connection and I was able to order a new ball-mount and the seatpost adaptor as a kit from these people

I've been trying to source a new ball-mount for a couple of years.  Mine dumps the trailer with monotonous regularity

[corshamjim]

I've been trying to source a new ball-mount for a couple of years.  Mine dumps the trailer with monotonous regularity

I have had my trailer dumped off the back only twice so far.  One time it completely capsized when I hit a curb at speed (that was on the way back from NARWHAL btw, when I rather hurriedly turned off the main road on to the cycle path at Chepstow) and the other time I was going rather fast with the trailer empty and one wheel hit a bump.

I think it probably helps to make sure the lever which covers the ball is given as little room for movement as possible without affecting the free rotation of the trailer around the hitch.  How you achieve that depends on whether you have a genuine Hebie hitch, or the no-name one.  One has a bar which blocks the movement of the lever - the other has a screw with lock-nut. Either way if it's allowing too much movement I would put a sleeve of some sort around it to fill some of the gap.

I think it probably also helps to load the trailer at the front if possible to put a little weight on the hitch.

If you have bought the no-name hitch I recommend also securing the screw to something with a resealable cable-tie, otherwise there's a danger it will rattle loose and drop off.