Advice on Kiddie Trailers

Potsy

Hi there all, I know this is an old post, but I came across it when I was looking into buying a trailer and just thougth I'd say I found it helpful, so thanks heaps.

We have 2 kids (3yo & 1yo) and already have a kool stop. But I found it was so cramped in there that they were in tears before the first km was out. So I was really looking for kiddie comfort most of all.

We ended up buying a Croozer (a couple of months ago now). It has been a champion machine. It's really well designed, everything works just how you would like it to and the kids are as happy as can be. We ride for over an hour at least twice a week. The downside is I think it is heavier than their advertising says. It weighs in at 17.8kg on my spring balance, and that's without the arm that attaches to the bike. It is also a couple of cm wider than the specs say. For me is that's a good thing (more comfort) but it would be annoying if space is tight.

To my mind there are really three choices in Aussieland:

1. The light trailers with a sling seat like Koolstop, Burley & Pacific. They all looked pretty much the same to me so you might as well buy the cheapest (Pacific);
2. The Croozer; and
3. The Chariot.

If I had the cash I probably would have bought a Chariot just for the weight factor. But having ridden round for a couple of months I've decided that there's so much weight anyway with two kids and all the shopping etc, that it really doesn't make any meaningful difference. You're not going to break any land speed records!

Cheers
Potsy

Hymie

We've also just bought a trailer - a one seat Chariot. You wouldn't even know you are pulling it, except down hills when it pushes you along a bit. My wife prefer to pull the 1 yr old in the trailer much more than the 5 year old on the tag a long.

Epic Cycles in Brisbane are great - the trailers were on special a few weeks ago (I'm talking up to a few hundred dollars off).

Also our advice was that a child couldn't go in the trailer until they could wear a helmet and they couldn't do that until they had sufficient head control, probably not until about one year old.

Cheers

robalert

Good review

I have the single seat croozer

I am very happy with it and use it as a jogger too

It is well made, easy to fold/erect, and my son is very happy in it

I think by the time my son is old enough and we have a second one, i will get a topeak kiddy seat plus croozer

I mustn't be that strong a rider, i do find that it is pretty hefty to haul... with the trailer, nappy bag and kid... i wouldn't hate to think how much that would weigh in at.

I highly recommend the croozer. I've seen the chariot, it is definitely more upmarket but considerably more exxy.

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

scotty72

Geez Rob, I must be Superman pulling this when full of shopping.

I had 28 kgs worth of shopping (plus 9kgs of trailer) plus 21 kgs of 6 y.o. (plus 11kg of tag-a-long) plus 100+kg of me (plus 12 of bike) last week. I should be paying a heavy vehicle tax.

:-)

Scotty

__________________
www.bikenorth.org.au

2006 Scott Speedstar S10

robalert

err... can't match u

maybe your engine is like a diesel, not much speed, but serious torque

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

trailertrash26

Probably too late for this info to be useful to robalert, but for anyone else, if you are going to be using your trailer on a regular basis (ie 3 or more times a week), you can’t go past the Chariot. I bought the Cougar 1 (1 child). It would be an expensive toy, but it is a very cheap second car.

We had our baby in it from about 4 months with loads of padding around his head riding very slowly on paths only. Chariot makes a nice sling for use in pram mode (although I have seen it used in trailer mode and the baby looked very secure).

The only problem is, I have not been able to get my two year old out of it, and onto a bike seat so I can get my next child into it. I am loathe to buy a double as I really enjoyed the manoeuvrability of the narrower model.

If you know anyone who is in the US, get them to buy you one and send it over. They work out hundreds of dollars cheaper. I tried to order a double online recently (from the online store where I bought the single) and found that Chariot won’t let that retailer sell them internationally anymore. I would boycott them on that basis, but nobody else does one with suspension so I may sell my soul.

There are a couple of obscure retailers in Canberra (Australia) that sell them now.

Hauling the trailer with child and shopping has done wonders for my hill climbing. You only notice the drag once you unhitch it.

As for the basic models, the only recommendation I ever go was for the Pacific (about $400) and everyone is perfectly happy with it.

fdellasale

We have used the Giant Peapod for a couple of years and love it. I ride almost daily with my 2 and 4 year old on board. We are happy with the space (several friends have the Pacific and found there 3 year olds are already reaching height capacity). Our 2 year old was strong enough to wear a helmet from 6 months so began her riding life in there. I do, however, raise caution against putting children in bike seats/trailers too early (we did and are now the wiser!) as all those unsupported bumps are bad for developing necks and spines! So perhaps, consider models with suspension. I would certainly consider that as a prerequisite, even now with the children older.

Both my husband and I switch the peapod between our bikes but have been disappointed that Giant couldn't provide a second bracket set to make swapping over far easier.

A couple of friends are keen to buy the Giant peapod but have been told Giant are no longer making them? Anyone know about this?

robalert

Great to hear others feedback

Croozer has been going strong and it is very well made, very solid but also quite heavy

All in all, it simply allows us, the whole family to go riding together, which to me is the main point of the trailer. It is hefty to ride with a trailer and then you add the kid, nappy bag etc... so I don't worry about the trailer's weight.

Seen a chariot parked near parramatta river and it certainly looks very nice and light
One thing common to all trailers, cars give you alot of space and you get alot of attention from non-cyclists.

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

trailertrash26

Yep, when I am out with an ordinary stroller the mothers look it up and down. When I am out with the trailer, the blokes look at it too and then want to talk specs.

Am going to have to go the double. Does the Croozer have suspension?

artemidorus

We've the Cougar 2 and it's a brilliant piece of engineering. To be honest, if we didn't already have a pram and an umbrella stroller, we'd go on to buy the Cougar 1 as well for use as a stroller.

__________________
"All that we see and seem is but a dream, within a dream..."