I want to take my little fella on the C&O canal & Western MD rail trail with me. My LBS has recommended the Burley unit which seems to be the most expensive one on the market. Does anyone here have any experience with em and what to look for in one?
Everyone I’ve known that transports a lil one in a trailer uses a burley.
Definitely check out Wike from Canada: http://www.wicycle.com/
We’ve got a Wike Moonlight Double, the least expensive trailer Wike sells, but as nice or way nicer than any other bike trailers I’ve seen in town and (when compared on paper) as good if not better than more expensive offerings from Burley and Chariot (the two most well known brands).
Ours is almost two years old now, and is still going great. We’ve gotten quite a lot of use out of it and our boys love it. We got it when my oldest boy was three and my youngest boy was just over one year old. They still fit in it now, although it’s getting a bit close.
The Wike Moonlight Double interior (most important if you are hoping to get as much use as possible from the trailer) is as wide & long as the comparables from Burley & Chariot (if not bigger), plus it has a truly very useful “trunk” in back which IIRC the Burley does not have. It’s also got a lot of headroom, unlike the older tiny “box” trailers from Burley. We have been totally happy with it.
Durability has been excellent, nothing has broken and everything has worked well. We did get the optional (and removable) backrest pads which give little ones more space behind their heads. We also got the nosewheel option, which lets you convert the trailer into a stroller. Both of those were really useful, for example if the little one passes out on the way to the destination, you can leave them sleeping comfortably in the trailer, just drop the nosewheel and unhook the tow arm and then walk them into the place.
Enough words, how about some pics:
One of the best bike accessories I’ve bought!
^AWESOME PICS!!!
Awesome.
I really like that large lockable trailer. I might have to talk to the others at my coop about saving up for one for the shop. Might be hard to justify since three of us have Xtracycles (four if I build mine this year), but…that’s rad.
fantastic, i thought about getting a double as we have two shih tzu’s that would certainly be up for a ride along
I got a used Avenir trailer to tote my dogs around. Some lady’s kids had outgrown it. Steel rims, mediocre construction, and on the inside it looked like an ice cream sandwich had exploded. But it was only $20 so I consider it a great deal. For carrying little people who demand quality, Burleys are nice. Good quality, smart design, and very light. I’ve also seen many of them stripped down to the frame and used as utility trailers. Trek also makes a decent trailer for less than a Burley and it’s quite popular around here.
SV: Does your avenir have that chainstay clamp attachment system? Like this:
Cos I hauled a demo model that the shop had for a few miles and was afraid the clamp would swing and get all up in mah spokes.
I use an old Burley for my daughter, its one of the ones w/ mag wheels. It has held up great for the year and a half we have had it and we’ve hauled all kinds of crazy shit in it.
So, when they’ve truly outgrown it, I know someone that might have a need…
Nope, Chariots are more expensive and way nicer in my experience than anything Burley. The Chariots are basically sold ala carte so you buy the basic chassis then by the attachments you want for it (bike hitch/arm, stroller kit, ski kit, etc.). Chariots use an aluminum frame and have a suspension built into them so the kids don’t bounce around on rough road/trail. They are also a couple pounds lighter than the Burley trailer.
More budget minded would be Chariots more basic line of Croozer trailers.
^The Wike Moonlight Double is still cheaper than the cheapest Croozer, and I’m sure it’s just as good if not better. Honestly, after getting it and having seen a good number of Burleys and Chariots in person, I’m even more convinced we made the right choice… just sayin’ 
i’ll need a trailer to haul a surfboard for surf spot touring, anyone done this before?
my wife pulls this chariot…they make the nicest trailers atmo.
12’ prone paddleboard, but same idea…
I use a PB Flyer from Paddleboy. Pretty expensive for what it is, but it’s worked great for me.
Alternatives would be making one of your own, an Xtracycle, or some “traditional” board carrier racks that hold your board on one side of your bike (probably least desirable for an actual touring application).
So, when they’ve truly outgrown it, I know someone that might have a need…[/quote]
Sounds good! 
Ladder trailer is what you want
12’ prone paddleboard, but same idea…
I use a PB Flyer from Paddleboy. Pretty expensive for what it is, but it’s worked great for me.
Alternatives would be making one of your own, an Xtracycle, or some “traditional” board carrier racks that hold your board on one side of your bike (probably least desirable for an actual touring application).[/quote]
that is a nice, purpose specific design for really long boards, which would be good for local needs.
i found these, http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/
any other sources?
durable looking rigs, for similar $$$ as a bob for the smaller model.
i’ll be carrying an approx. 6 ft. board which i figured could strap on the top of any gear in the trailer.
[quote=Elderbear]SV: Does your avenir have that chainstay clamp attachment system? Like this:
Cos I hauled a demo model that the shop had for a few miles and was afraid the clamp would swing and get all up in mah spokes.[/quote]
Yea, it basically looks like that. Hasn’t been a problem for me, and I wind the strap around the arm a couple times so it doesn’t hang loose.
[quote=SuperVillain][quote=Elderbear]SV: Does your avenir have that chainstay clamp attachment system? Like this:
Cos I hauled a demo model that the shop had for a few miles and was afraid the clamp would swing and get all up in mah spokes.[/quote]
Yea, it basically looks like that. Hasn’t been a problem for me, and I wind the strap around the arm a couple times so it doesn’t hang loose.[/quote]
Both the Wike and the PB Flyer use this kind of hitch, it’s worked excellent for both:
I don’t care for the kind of hitch that clamps on to the chainstay & seatstay, seems wack to me and has proven somewhat problematic for friends who’ve dealt with it. I note that Burley offers a conversion kit to the ^ above kind of hitch for those with the chainstay/seatstay style.