Bike trailer advice

[Chairmanmo]

Yeh, that's the same hitch my trailers use. The plot thickens!

 

[Chairmanmo]

P.S. I sometimes have problems with the hitch slipping down too, although I've found it's better with a standard cheapy steel skewer with the gnarled surface.

 

[jaypee]

It's when the trailer is fully (over) loaded and seriously heavy. I guess if I balanced it out better that might help.

 

[Rampage]

I use a cheap ti QR skewer from eBay on mine and it's never moved!

 

[hamster]

My trailers were Burley and Winchester, they fitted differently, clamping into the triangular gap in the frame by the dropout. As such they did not rely on the axle at all. They are probably safer designs as they are coupled by more than a single bolt.

 

[dirttorpedo]

My Burley had a triangular plastic bracket that fit into the frame where the chain stay and seat stay meet the drop out. I've loaded that trailer up with camping gear and towed it without any issues. My Chariot used a specific quick release mounted bracket. I never had that one slip, but I only loaded that trailer with two kids and a bit of gear.

There are some specific luggage trailers that are designed to haul gear and mount higher on the bike (seat post). Maybe a new trailer is in order?

 

[corsarob]

how about a little bugger trailer,i havnt had a problem with it,and to be honest i can hardly tell its on the back!

 

[jaypee]

It was really hamster's comment about not using a nutted axle that got me thinking but that was in relation to a different type of fixing.

It seems to be fine provided I use a nutted axle - and pretty strong I think. Provided the trailer itself holds up the 4130 axle and the nut are both strong parts of the bike. Strain on the frame should be minimal (and 531ATB is tough) and the connection at the axle rather than higher up makes for good handling and you can just put the bike on the floor when you stop.

I'd go for a surly trailer but they're about a grand and I could replace all my bikes for that!

 

[Chairmanmo]

Trailer update: I've now been using the new Bellelli trailer for three weeks and there have no problems with any of the three bikes I use it on. I also compared the tongue weight of the new Bellelli trailer vs my old Halfords trailer and the difference is huge – the back end of the bike feels really heavy with the Halfords trailer attached but light as a feather with the Bellelli trailer attached. This, despite the Bellelli actually being about twice as heavy (in gross weight terms), due to a much more robust construction.

So, it seems as though the usual law applies – buy the best you can afford cos you get what you pay for.

Thanks for all the tips and advice. Seem to have got to the bottom of it, as far as I'm concerned anyway! Hopefully this thread might help someone else with the same questions in the future.

Ride on!