Trailer recommendations

icogs said:

I work part time for an environmental organisation. We have been
wondering if a cycle trailer would be a good way to transport tools
from our tool store to our sites, which can be 2 or 3 miles away and
we often don't have use of a van.

Does anybody have any recommendations, good or bad? I guess we are
most likely after one with a sort of tub type container, and it should
be easy to swap bikes. Money is always an issue, but within reason we
don't mind paying for quality.

TIA

Iain

What kind of tools?

I regularly transport around 30kg of shopping about 15km from the
supermarket to home, using a Pompino Fixed, pulling a Phillips Mule trailer.

Pompino = 400 quid
Trailer = 75 quid

HTH

Chris

Chris Smith said:

icogs said:

I work part time for an environmental organisation. We have been
wondering if a cycle trailer would be a good way to transport tools
from our tool store to our sites, which can be 2 or 3 miles away and
we often don't have use of a van.

Quoted message said:

Does anybody have any recommendations, good or bad? I guess we are
most likely after one with a sort of tub type container, and it should
be easy to swap bikes. Money is always an issue, but within reason we
don't mind paying for quality.

Quoted message said:

TIA

Quoted message said:

Iain

What kind of tools?

I regularly transport around 30kg of shopping about 15km from the
supermarket to home, using a Pompino Fixed, pulling a Phillips Mule trailer.

Pompino = 400 quid
Trailer = 75 quid

HTH

Chris

That sounds quite cheap :-) We mostly use bow-saws, loppers, spades &
similar stuff. Not sure if the length of the tool handles might be a
problem. Anyone use a trailer for going to their allotment?

"icogs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

That sounds quite cheap :-) We mostly use bow-saws, loppers, spades &
similar stuff. Not sure if the length of the tool handles might be a
problem. Anyone use a trailer for going to their allotment?

We've got a Bob Yak (or is it a Yak Bob?). Mostly it carts shopping and
recyclables around, but sometimes it carries a 13kg propane cylinder, and
it's also carried axes, sledgehammers, spades, etc. In those cases we don't
use the bag, we just tie stuff down, and the handles stick out the back a
little bit if necessary. With a trailer with a box, you'd probably end up
with the handles sticking up, but with appropriate use of bungees or
equivalent, this shouldn't be a problem.

cheers,
clive

icogs said:

That sounds quite cheap :-) We mostly use bow-saws, loppers, spades &
similar stuff. Not sure if the length of the tool handles might be a
problem. Anyone use a trailer for going to their allotment?

Yes.

I use a cheap (lidl) two-child trailer, without the cover. I put my
bill-hook flat on the bottom of the footwell. I stand long tools in
the foot-well, against the side frame and lean them against the back,
sticking out the top. I put small tools in a large flexible
tub-trug and sit it on the seat. A length of rope is tied to the
frame. I turn one loop round the sticking-up tools, that then loops
through the frame (thus restraining the long tools), a loop through
the trug handles restrains the trug and thus small tools and tie the
end to the frame.

Generally it stays put, but I don't go far or fast.

If doing it seriously and not using the trailer for anything else I
might mount a tall dustbin with latching lid in the trailer, then you
could just sling things in and latch the lid. Not sure if a tall
enough one is findable though.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Ian Smith said:

If doing it seriously and not using the trailer for anything else I
might mount a tall dustbin with latching lid in the trailer, then you
could just sling things in and latch the lid. Not sure if a tall
enough one is findable though.

Wheelie bin and a bit of rope? <g>

peter

in message <[email hidden]>, icogs

(') said:

I work part time for an environmental organisation. We have been
wondering if a cycle trailer would be a good way to transport tools
from our tool store to our sites, which can be 2 or 3 miles away and
we often don't have use of a van.

Does anybody have any recommendations, good or bad? I guess we are
most likely after one with a sort of tub type container, and it should
be easy to swap bikes. Money is always an issue, but within reason we
don't mind paying for quality.

I used a bike hod for years. It isn't good for high speed downhill corners,
and isn't ideal for bumpy paths. But it is extremely easy to man-handle
off the bike, easy to connect and disconnect, robust and adaptable. I've
carried guitar amps, building tools, all sorts of things. The standard bag
probably wouldn't suit you, but it's easy enough to make an alternative
container; or just strap things to the bare frame.

http://www.bikehod.com/

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; I'd rather live in sybar-space

"icogs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I work part time for an environmental organisation. We have been
wondering if a cycle trailer would be a good way to transport tools
from our tool store to our sites, which can be 2 or 3 miles away and
we often don't have use of a van.

Does anybody have any recommendations, good or bad? I guess we are
most likely after one with a sort of tub type container, and it should
be easy to swap bikes. Money is always an issue, but within reason we
don't mind paying for quality.

TIA

Iain

The Carry Freedom Y frame seems to be a good all purpose trailer that can
haul load and is very adaptable. You also get 3 bike brackets so that you
can hitch it to 3 different bikes without any hassle. I like the Bob Yak for
touring but I don't think it is suitable for general purpose hauling of
tools -- but it is a good shopping trolley!

I toured last year with the Yak and this year I am trying a Carry freedom--
so far I prefer the Yak but it will take my annual tour to see how it
fares. -- I must say I prefer the single wheel trailer -- I always knew that
the trailer followed the rear wheel of my bike. With 2 wheels behind me I am
aware of its wider track all the time and cornering is distinctly different!

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

icogs said:

That sounds quite cheap :-) We mostly use bow-saws, loppers, spades &
similar stuff. Not sure if the length of the tool handles might be a
problem. Anyone use a trailer for going to their allotment?

I believe Wobbly John may have some designs that might help. If you are
reasonably handy, you could knock up one of his creations...

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~talizmar/xntrick/trailer.htm

HTH

Cheers
Chris

On 15 Feb 2007 13:06:17 -0800 someone who may be "icogs"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

That sounds quite cheap :-) We mostly use bow-saws, loppers, spades &
similar stuff.

http://www.bikesandtrailers.com/bike-trailers/index.html may have
something suitable.

Personally I would look at the Bike Hod, assuming that the tools
with long handles have long wood handles and there are not too many
of them.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Chris Smith <[email hidden]> wrote in news:er3t0o$eh1$1$8300dec7
@news.demon.co.uk:

Quoted message said:

I believe Wobbly John may have some designs that might help. If you are
reasonably handy, you could knock up one of his creations...

Also, Carry Freedom might supply plans for their "Bamboo" trailer, which is
a self-build unit designed (AFAICT) primarily for the third world! That
said, Carry Freedom also do standard and custom trailers, and I'm confident
they could make what you need - at a price. http://www.carryfreedom.com/ if
you're interested.

Bikes and Trailers also list some impressive-looking cargo trailers. Not a
cargo trailer, but I was interested in the Montare "Doggyride", which they
distribute in the UK. However, Bikes and Trailers having steadfastly failed
to answer my e-mails or answer their phone, I bought a Doggyride look-alike
via e-Bay. There was a bit of fettling needed when I got the trailer back
and the door zips aren't too clever, but it's a good, basic chassis that
could be easily and cheaply adapted to other uses. At first the trailer was
a bit of a chore to tow, but after a couple of hundred miles, it's bedded
in nicely and I only notice it's hitched up when accelerating and up hill.
The rolling chassis weighs ten or twelve kilos and is probably good for a
maximum gross weight of sixty kilos, albeit with a notional speed limit of
10 mph according to the manufacturer's blurb (but I've take mine much
faster without mishap!)

Search the "sporting goods->cycling" section of e-Bay for "trailer". The
one I have is called a "Doggy XP" - but there are others that might do the
trick. The people who sold mine seem to put one of these up for auction
every day or two - and so there should be no need to pay more than the
£42.80 + £21.80 postage starting price provided you're patient.

icogs said:

I work part time for an environmental organisation. We have been
wondering if a cycle trailer would be a good way to transport tools
from our tool store to our sites, which can be 2 or 3 miles away and
we often don't have use of a van.

Does anybody have any recommendations, good or bad? I guess we are
most likely after one with a sort of tub type container, and it should
be easy to swap bikes. Money is always an issue, but within reason we
don't mind paying for quality.

For large hauling try one from <http://www.bikesatwork.com/>.

Kristian
--
GNUpg: C52868B0

In article said:

Chris Smith <[email hidden]> wrote in news:er3t0o$eh1$1$8300dec7
@news.demon.co.uk:

Quoted message said:

I believe Wobbly John may have some designs that might help. If you are
reasonably handy, you could knock up one of his creations...

Also, Carry Freedom might supply plans for their "Bamboo" trailer, which is
a self-build unit designed (AFAICT) primarily for the third world!

http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html
"The plans are free to anyone that wants them, but.
If we email you plans, will you:

1.Tell us what you are using the bicycle trailer for
2.Send us photos of the bicycle trailer you build
3.Tell us how to improve the instructions or the trailer
4.Accept that we might post your email on our blog"

I have a load of links to DIY trailer pages at
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~armb/cycling/trailer.html

Clive George said:

"icogs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

That sounds quite cheap :-) We mostly use bow-saws, loppers, spades &
similar stuff. Not sure if the length of the tool handles might be a
problem. Anyone use a trailer for going to their allotment?

We've got a Bob Yak (or is it a Yak Bob?). Mostly it carts shopping and
recyclables around, but sometimes it carries a 13kg propane cylinder, and
it's also carried axes, sledgehammers, spades, etc. In those cases we don't
use the bag, we just tie stuff down, and the handles stick out the back a
little bit if necessary.

Bob do a "tool kit" for their Yak trailer called ToolRax
http://www.bobtrailers.com/acsories/accessory.php?accessories_id=18

It's just a couple of boards with cutout slots and bungees that sit
across the trailer. Long handles stick out the back alongside and
beyond the wheel.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"