DPDISXR4Ti

I'm looking at getting a Burley Flatbed and I'm considering getting a used one. I see there have been some changes over the years, especially where the trailer hitches to the bike. The early ones (circa 2005), seem to have a much larger plastic assembly that attaches to the rear triangle. The later ones seem to have a much smaller fitting that gets clamped in via the quick-release axle. I think there may be some other minor variations, but just trying to keep it simple for now.

Thoughts on the differences and which is "better"?

andychrist

The “Classic” plastic assembly was just made for bikes without QR skewers.

DPDISXR4Ti

Okay, got it. I actually ended up picking up a barely used Burley Bee for $100, which is the type designed for carrying up to 100 lbs of kids, not stuff! Used it for the first time yesterday - we did a point-to-point bike/haul with our blow-up kayak. It actually worked better than the Flatbed for this purpose using the cover to keep the light stuff from falling out. Total weight in the trailer was about 60 lbs, which proved to be A LOT when going up hills on a gravel path. We switched over to the road for the second half of the trip, and then followed that up with our 15-mile paddle down the Delaware River.

andychrist

Glad your new Burley Bee worked out for you, Brad! That was the first trailer I ever had, given to me for free by a neighbor whose kid had out grown it ages before. Since then I’ve burned through two Nomads, the later of which I recently salvaged for my new dual drive ecumbent “Redundo”.

homeless in ca.

Found one of those kiddie trailers in the trash. Took me a day to strip it down to the frame and build a little wooden bed out of scraps. It's very solid and I recently replaced the tires with new ones I found on a kid's mountain box I also found in the trash.



19 gallons, 150+ pounds of water

ocsawdust

I have the older one. Zero problems over the years. Had it setup for boring the dog around. The style is very similar to the kiddie trailers. A few modifications and it's basicly the same trai.er, just has that piece hanging off the bottom which was for the kids feet I believe. It's not structural or anything so it can be removed.

KC8QVO

Did you ride around with all that to see how it handled/if it would hold it on a ride? Or did you just load it up for a static test sitting still?

I have one of the darker blue jugs I have been using for water on trips (vehicular travel, camping, etc) for years. They are nice to have. I am working on some trailer ideas for bike touring also and have been eyeballing that jug also. What I have done before is use 32oz nalgene bottles and the 1gal jugs from Dollar General (I like that style plastic bottle - the handle loop is sturdy and can be tied off and looped over gear on the rear rack). However, if I can get all my water confined to a larger jug that would be good - longer period between resupply.

homeless in ca.

I can ride it like that. But I don't have to go far to get water. I doubt the trailer would survive a week long road trip over rough terrain with that much weight. I use it mainly for work. I can transport a 40 pound ladder and 30-40 pounds of tools no problem.

The blue jugs work well for car camping. I use mine with a small submersible pump. Wastes less water and I don't have to take the jug out of my vehicle every time I need to wash my hands.

2flit

A striped down commercial Burley Kids trailer can haul a world of things...
on parade on Orcas Island behind a Quest Velomobile. The Quest has a stainless plate welded down low on the uni-frame arm that the traditional Burley hitch attaches to.





Then there is the basic home made electrical EMT and plywood trailer headed off to install a solar electric system on Crow Valley Road.....


Specialized Expedition pulling a home made trailer

Who needs a Van?.... renewable energy installation at its best

Who needs the Van?

zorkist

Hi, I'm new here.
I have 2 homemade 'Burley Travoy style' trailers I like to share.
Hope I can post pictures soon.

zorkist

This is my DIY "Burley Travoy style" trailer made from an external frame backpack. I added a H-shaped structure made of ϕ28mm aluminum tubes to the frame for wheel attachment.







Its earliest status:

zorkist

And this is a heavier duty one made from raw components.

zorkist

An "amphibious trip" with the trailer in its earlier form.

bjjoondo 

This is my rig to get food and household supplies. The tub is held on by u-bolts and wing nuts to come off quickly.

Gareth

Spotted in Kyvi in the Ukraine a LvH Bullit cargo bike towing a Carla Cargo trailer loaded with a steel section for a road blockade to thwart advancing Russian troops.

RCMoeur 

Nothing fancy about my trailer - just an old Kool-Stop I bought on sale years before I had a child and continue to use now that the same kid is an adult.

it's been useful.