VT_Speed_TR

My son & I are planning a tour of the Erie Canal this summer. While I'll be using my Salsa Fargo which is well equipped with racks, my son will use his mountain bike. That bike has no mounting points for racks. SoI can order an OMM rear rack that fits those kind of bikes or we could use my Bob trailer. Since we will be taking Amtrak to the start of our tour, we'll be boxing the bikes. The Bob trailer is far wider then the width list on Amtrak's site for bike boxes (8.5 inches). Just wonder if anyone has crammed a Bob trailer into an Amtrak bike box? I guess I could also seek a large box locally and pack it up before we get to the station. The benefit with that is we could also pack all the luggage into the box also, so less carry on. Of course with the trailer that means only one person at a time will be pulling all load on the trail and I kind of know who that will be ;-)

indyfabz

Having taken my bike on Amtrak numerous times, I cannot imagine being able to cram a B.O.B. into an Amtrak bike box without tearing it. Disassembled and packed properly (wheel and yolk inside the "basket", scured with zip ties), a B.O.B. packs down pretty small compared to its size when fully assembled. I would simply do that and box it. You might even put it in a bag and carry it on. Get an old duffel from a thrift store and toss it if you have to.

VT_Speed_TR

Thanx's for the information about using the Amtrak box. Kind of figured it wouldn't fit given the dimensions of the box. Great idea about using an old duffel. I may just box it up with the loaded Bob bag and then not have to deal with it. It would be worth the $10 or $15. Just pick it and the bikes up at the same time when we get to our destination.

fietsbob

room for the bike, maybe you can re-bag the stuff in the BoB sack and Fill space around the bike.

take the tow tongue off and put it in the cargo space in the trailer, and take the wheel off , zip tie them to the trailer .
then the trailer wont take up as much space..

BobG

See my post #3 at this thread.........

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post15593371

I've always done this for airlines, parts are inside, "trailer" is now a suitcase...........



Above measures 38"+18"+11"= 67" at widest and longest locations. That's well within Amtrak's limit of 75". A few inches over airline rules if the cardboard covered fork is measured.

from Amtrak website-

Checked Baggage

"Each passenger can check up to 4 bags - 2 free of charge and 2 for $20 per bag, each not to exceed 50 lbs. (23 kg), 75 linear inches (length + width + height)."

"Bicycles/bicycle trailers may be checked in a bicycle container for $10.00, in lieu of a piece of baggage."

So yes, if above object is still defined as a "trailer" Amtrak may require a box but with no wheels or greasy parts exposed I doubt that they will. I've always been successful checking a BOB on airlines this way.


edit:

Reading deeper into the Amtrak website revealed the following.....

"Prior to arriving at the station, ensure your baggage items are packed appropriately, in suitable containers for transport as specified below:

Examples of unsuitable containers include (but are not limited to)....... containers that let sharp/pointed items protrude......"

I suppose they might deem the padded fork to be a "sharp pointed" protrusion, although I've padded them well in the past and airlines haven't complained.

BigAura

+1, I think this is the way to go.

The only caveat is the label it on is one letter short of stating it's an explosive device

tmac100

Yes, there are illiterate folks everywhere.
Mischief makers too.