Author Topic: Child trailer advice please  (Read 1641 times)

Child trailer advice please
« on: 18 October, 2020, 03:57:24 am »
We are looking for a child trailer for our daughters commute, 3 yo and 3 miles. Reliability, ease of use and saftey are highly sought. Price point is to obtain these features without excess. (law of diminishing returns).

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #1 on: 18 October, 2020, 10:11:44 am »
The two main makes are Burley and Chariot/Thule.
we've had both, first a burley, now a chariot, both second hand. I prefer the Chariot. Less noticeable when cycling and seems a bit more comfortable inside. Its also newer.
Resale values are pretty good so owning it for 3-4 years won't cost much.

Daughter (3yo) prefers the bike seat so we rarely actually use the trailer, only for nursery trips when raining or very cold.

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #2 on: 18 October, 2020, 09:16:15 pm »
Thanks advice appreciated.

GrahamG

  • Babies bugger bicycling
Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #3 on: 19 October, 2020, 09:40:52 pm »
In terms of ease of use,  I find it's the logistics around the house that is a big factor.  I've an old burley d'lite that's pretty wide (using with two sprogs) and makes getting it in and out the front door a right pain, but at the same time the alternative is a sloppy dark back lane access to a garage and simply getting in and out the garage door when there's nowhere to lean up is a ball ache.

If I were buying for one child, I think I'd go thule/chariot but would want to see if they easily fold flat and are easy to carry when folded as burley a pain. They just look sooooo slick/plush.

Also worth considering is storage space,  whilst not a key consideration day to day,  we got ours with touring in mind and burley wins all for space, loads of stash room. Would be good for cargo if the seats were ripped out.

I'd echo above comment re. Bike seat always being the preference but if you're doing 5 days a week then the winter throws up enough wet and cold to still get lots of use (warmer in trailer without wind chill and no dicking around with helmets or waterproofs either).

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Brummie in exile (may it forever be so)

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #4 on: 20 October, 2020, 10:02:59 am »
I don't recall the Chariot / Thule being easier to set up than the Burley (we also had a 2-seater d'lite) - although I've only done it once when I got it - I keep it set up in the garage. 

I don't think it is really hard and would be worth it for a 3 mile trip.  Our nursery journey is only 1km so I wouldn't rebuild it for that, would probably just walk with push chair rain cover.

Burley had more storage space than Thule.  It was a 2-seater and our Thule is 1, but I think the design would mean that like-for-like would be bigger.

The Thule ones do look much better! 

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #5 on: 22 October, 2020, 06:36:20 am »
As expected from YACF members a lot of informed impartial advice. I have sent my daughter the thread URL so she can have a read through herself.
The tractor (cycle) has, IIRC a kickstand on the lh rear dropout. I guess hitches are also lh to avoid gear mechs so there may be some conflict.

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #6 on: 22 October, 2020, 07:38:01 am »
The hitches for both go on the QR skewer.  Unless the stand extends behind the dropout, I expect it would be ok.
Picture better than words:

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #7 on: 19 November, 2020, 06:21:58 am »
I got a polite 'we need it soon' reminder from Aimee on Monday. Found 2015 Croozer kid 1 in Exeter, little used good condition and a fair price. my cousin there is helping with the logistics of collection packing and delivery. Pleased with the price. The suspension fitted to later models would have been nice to have but it will be fine for intended use.

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #8 on: 19 November, 2020, 03:27:12 pm »
The hitches for both go on the QR skewer.  Unless the stand extends behind the dropout, I expect it would be ok.
Picture better than words:


My hybrid has a stand clamped around the seatstay and chainstay.  When folded, it sits a couple of inches below the QR trailer hitch, but doesn't seem to interfere (other than the trailer arm making it trickier to kick the stand down by foot).  I'm not sure how well a stand attached to the dropout would play.  You might run out of skewer length or something.

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #9 on: 19 November, 2020, 09:20:51 pm »
I got a polite 'we need it soon' reminder from Aimee on Monday. Found 2015 Croozer kid 1 in Exeter, little used good condition and a fair price. my cousin there is helping with the logistics of collection packing and delivery. Pleased with the price. The suspension fitted to later models would have been nice to have but it will be fine for intended use.

I like the croozers for the amount of storage space they have in the back, something that is seriously lacking from the Thule/Chariot ones.
Quote from: Kim
^ This woman knows what she's talking about.

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #10 on: 20 November, 2020, 10:15:54 am »
Oops - Aidan's post has gone!  Did the Croozer not work out?

Re: Child trailer advice please
« Reply #11 on: 20 November, 2020, 12:56:55 pm »
Worked out fine must have accidentally deleted my post.  I have never seen one in the wild but Cousin Michael commented on how well made they are. Ordered a set of integrated lights and handlebar from SJS yesterday. I got offered a discount after enquiry about age - 4yo. stock had been tested and  the lithium batteries are reported as 'OK'