Hi, I’m looking to buy a BOB YAK trailer for a travel arround Europe from 5 month, it will not be the 5 month only travelling, we will also stay in a place for a time. We start at Barcelona and then to direction Italy.
These are the specification of the trailer:
L × W × H Total 161,3 × 42,5 cm
L × W × H Loading area 62 × 40 cm
Weight bicycle trailer 6,1 kg
load (max.) 32 kg
Color Black
Material frame Chrome molybdenum steel
And im able to buy one used for 230 usd.
Is it worth it? Or better going only saddlebags?
by Janner0
9 Comments
I had the Bob Yak and Bob Ibex, but I’m using the Burley Coho now, because it fits more stuff and has as an add-on a pannier rack.
Had my bob for about 15 years, never looked back. Fuck a loaded bike. Just don’t go too fast downhill
In all my tours I’ve only seen it once. He was riding with everything but a kitchen sink. It’s not my style but you do you.
I have a burly coho. It’s fun for taking to parks and having fun around town but I don’t recommend them for long distance. I took mine on a longer trip and it started to break down at like the 100 mile on rough roads. They are also heavy and add another wheel of friction. I personally would spendy the money on a tailfin or another nice rack but do you.
I’d probably just do saddlebags unless you absolutely need the extra capacity. I think in that part of Europe you’ll be able to find plenty of services (food/water/etc) and being able to carry more may just mean you carry more. A trailer adds one more cumbersome item when trying to negotiate stuff in town/transportation (rail).
When I saw this in bikepacking I was thinking you were going out on single track which has been done with a single wheel trailer but if there are many switchbacks it can be a chore.
You can stand to pedal with a single wheel trailer (I have) but rocking the bike to get more leverage doesn’t work very well, just like a loading touring rig.
Note: I’m planning to travel with a Trek [Dual Sport gen 4](https://www.trekbikes.com/uy/es_UY/bicicletas/bicis-h%C3%ADbridas/bicis-dual-sport/dual-sport/dual-sport-2-gen-4/p/35044/)
Absolutely not. Especially not for bikepacking.
I used a yak on my tour of the [GDMBR](https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/). I chose it because at the time it was cheaper than a full setup of racks and bags. It’s easy to overload, but it tracks great and the extra capacity came in handy when I went long stretches without water or services.
Benefits: Easy and quick to pack-up and give much more space. Simple design, single waterproof bag. Unloads the bike a bit with weight distribution. Easy to take off bike and ride somewhere unloaded once arrived to camp.
Drawbacks: Heavier than bike packing setup. If loaded too heavy or off balance will throw off steering. Can get a flat so carry small tube.