I am planning some gravel bike packing trips for this summer. And I am wondering if instead of getting a lot of bike bags and an Ortlieb quickrack, I could get this trailer.
It sounds really sturdy and offroad capable.
Anybody have experience using one of these? Or similar?
Any things I’m missing that would be less than idea. Will a trailer like this instead of bike bags?
by Impstoker
12 Comments
You could. It’s a personal preference. I’d hate to be dragging that around.
I’ve never used one of these but I feel like it would be cumbersome on some of the more gnarly off road sections. If I were touring on paved roads or nice gravel paths, then I’d consider a trailer
I think it can be a good option for some. Especially if you use your bike as a car replacement. You can use this for future grocery runs and other smaller hauling needs.
It’s probably not as ideal if you’re only buying it to use it to go bike packing a couple times a year. It takes up space in your home or garage, needs its own tire and tubes, and is definitely heavier than a bike packing bag setup.
I have a dog trailer that I used to use for groceries when I didn’t have a car and it was perfect for that use as well as getting a 60lb dog back and forth from a dog park and the vet.
I personally would only use a trailer for paved or very smooth gravel. I would not use “off road “.
My adventure buddy has used this on our adventures from time to time. Its usefulness depends greatly on the terrain. On relatively non-technical it’s fantastic and a great way to distribute the load. That being said he took it on a trail we had never bike packed before and ended up having to buddy lift it over some bigger features, across river crossings, and over deeply rutted muddy single track. It was a giant pain in the butt. Durability-wise It took a massive beating on that trip and kept rolling though!
https://preview.redd.it/e1m3ztwzcece1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1d65011cb6c582fcc0702527f5366dd475f93bc7
Pic of one of the many St. Joe River crossings
I have one that pulls my pup for bike packing trips, but I would never use it by myself for a trip. It’s heavy duty enough, but in my experience, pulling the extra weight of the trailer PLUS your gear in it is heavier than you might be thinking… I put up with riding with a trailer so my dog can get out, but the extra weight of the trailer, the added instability to the bike overall, and the bump forces make it less than desirable for a solo trip.
https://preview.redd.it/76r2uyoneece1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac98b91066fa1d764729076e743b8d78767670c9
I have this trailer. Ive done maybe 6000km with it.
It’s very convenient.
I don’t own a car, so I get a lot of use with it in the city.
For travel- I use it on trips when my partner comes with me. I carry all the gear, and it evens us out in terms of pace (ie me towing this loaded ride at a similar pace to her on her unloaded bike). So it’s perfect for that- nobody is waiting or getting annoyed by a too fast/slow pace.
It will slow you down a bit, and on actual trails it’s pretty noisy and I don’t recommend it for anything tight.
From a convenience perspective- nothing compares to it. One big duffel bag and everything goes inside it. Need firewood? Strap it on top. Need ice? Beer? You better believe there’s space.
If I’m doing a solo trip or I need to cover big distances per day- I don’t use this item.
I have not used this burley trailer yet ( its $600 cdn just a little much for me) I have a Bob yak trailer for years It has paid for itself and then some I also have used it rails to trails many time Without fail loaded Only downside is more weight to balance leaning while turning
I think if it was a great option, you’d see more people doing it. If a rear rack and a couple small accessory bags won’t carry what you need to carry, you need to pare down your gear.
seems like it encourages one to overpack.
Did Japan, North to South with a Burly (kids) trailer and it was perfect for me. Get somewhere you want to explore, ditch the trailer in the woods and explore on a clean bike. Like others have said, you can take as much gear as you’d like, folding chair was such a treat. I had a few 5L collapsing water jugs, I could easily fill up at my last stop before setting up camp for a decent shower. No digging around in panniers. Loved it.
It’s a good one:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/comments/zo519g/grocery_shopping_in_a_winter_wonderland_with_my/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/comments/zo519g/grocery_shopping_in_a_winter_wonderland_with_my/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/comments/vo8vr6/ebike_tour_through_bavaria_due_to_sunny_weather/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/comments/vo8vr6/ebike_tour_through_bavaria_due_to_sunny_weather/)