hhnngg1

Just wondering how well this would work out - road bike + Burley child trailer (no child in it). For groceries, or commuting, etc.

JR97

I used a kiddie trailer for errands all the time. Hauling groceries, hauling my hockey gear, etc. I even took on a 2 day tour loaded with my camping gear. Friend of mine hauls her dog in hers.

One thing I noticed is that I got a lot of clearance from people because they assumed there was a kid in there.

sggoodri

I used to ride back from the daycare with an empty Burley D'Lite before dropping it off at home and riding to work. It adds a lot of wind resistance and I really feel it there on the hills and when accelerating. Unless I have something really bulky to move, I don't want to be pulling it.

I've used it to carry supplies for classes and presentations, but most of my shopping errand cargo fits well enough in two panniers and a trunk bag, which I'd rather use.

AdamDZ

I've seen many posts from people who do just that and I have seen some in real life. I built a DIY cargo trailer based on a Burley child trailer, but many people just use them straight up, without any modifications. It works fine. Check out the Utility Cycling forum.

Leisesturm

If one already has a kiddie trailer then I think it wouldn't be the worst thing to re-purpose it for cargo duty on occasion. For someone looking into making a purchase... don't do it. Get a proper utility trailer from go and you will be much happier. Personally I love my Bob Yak. Where I lived, a single track trailer was a must. Now I could run two wheels but the single track has much less impact on your cycling efforts.

H

Tundra_Man 

My son outgrew ours a couple of years ago, but I keep ours around for hauling stuff. I don't use it that often, but it works. It does pull hard due to the wind resistance, so I wouldn't want to ride with it every day.

The last three years, I've hauled home my company provided Thanksgiving turkey using the kid's trailer. I just strapped it in like a child and headed out into traffic. I'm sure some people thought I was the world's worst parent by pulling a kid down a busy city street.

sdold

I use one for this sometimes, everything said previously I would agree with. You might look for a Burley Cub with the plastic pan bottom, that's what I have an it's really nice for carrying just about anything from kids to firewood.

AdamDZ

Except that you can pickup an old Burley kid carrier for like $50 on Craigslist and DIY a nice, capable, waterproof, dorky looking trailer for under $100 Why stop there? What about a cheap flatbed, ha? Certainly, I wouldn't trust that trailer on a cross-country tour, but for running errands it rocks. And I am cheap

blakcloud

I used a kid trailer to pull all kinds of stuff besides my children. Laundry, groceries and it helped it our pre-move into our new place. Eventually the kids didn't need the trailer and I was using it less and less for those other things. It was a bit of a pain as it is wide and it limits riding in downtown traffic.

Last month I purchased the Burley Travoy and bought the Market Place bags to fit and every time I use it I think it is one of the best cycling products I have purchased (outside of my White Industry pedals and Bruce Gordon half clips). When you live in high rise like I do, being able to guide the bike with one hand and the trailer in the other to get it into the elevator makes life much simpler. I have even used the Travoy for commuting and wheel it right up to my office.

HardyWeinberg

+1

Actually our newer burley is actively less useful for cargo than our old one. Now that our youngest has outgrown it, we're going to ditch it, it's not worth the storage space to us. Get a trailer 2nd hand and break it down to put a platform on it, or get a dedicated cargo trailer, but don't buy a kid trailer for cargo.

Sirrus Rider

I use mine with my Schwinn Town and Country Trike.



I love the looks of the Blue Hairs as I'm such a "Bad" daddy taking my kids into the middle of traffic.


I've also hauled it to work behind my '07 Sirrus; however, I found it made the Sirrus harder to ride so I'm not inclined to do that again.

MMACH 5

I ride to the grocery store, unhook the Burley trailer, swing down the front wheel and then use it as a shopping cart. That way, there is no doubt that what I get will fit for the ride home.

gerv 

I have an old Instep kiddie trailer that I modified to use the Burley hitch... which I bought online. I get a lot of use out of that thing. I'd say it's paid for itself.

monsterpile

I have an old one that I have used a few times over the past year or so. I am sure there are better trailers out there but for $5 its tons better than the crappy one I had before and I am very happy with it overall. The most I ever put in it was 3 bicycles I picked up a few miles away. It was slow going back but what do you expect pulling an extra 100lbs?

fietsbob

I own a Burly flatbed, made in the last year of the worker owned co-op..
it features a fold down tow bar , and 2 QR wheels ,
So packs away in the closet, nicely..