Trailer to haul bike?

[TsPoet]

Just traded in my big 'ole truck for a tiny subcombact. Anybody have any experinece with these, or something like them?
http://www.rackandroll.com/
With my iffy shoulders, it's difficult to lift things onto the roof of my car. I also need to transport a kayak sometimes.
I'm also hoping for an option that won't kill my gas mileage (or performance) too much.

thanks,

[HillSlugger]

I don't have any experience with this, but it seems awfully expensive. In addition to the cost of the trailer you need to add the price of a trailer hitch and installation, as well as the rack components. However, considering your vehicle and your shoulders it may be your best solution.

[SadieKate]

TS, have looked at any of the racks that pivot and lift the bikes onto the roof? I think Draftmaster is one of the brands. Maillotpois has one for her tandem. We need to replace our tandem rack so I'll be doing some research. If I see anything, I'll let you know. Let me know if you find something also!

On the trailer, I think it would be fine. I've seen them. But two things, light trailers tend to bounce around a lot so one bike could mean the thing is jouncing all over the place.

Also, trailers are a pain in the patootie a lot of times - parking, turning around, etc. We haul trailers a lot. It takes planning and we try not to unless except for the times we absolutely can't do it any other way (like hauling drift boats or 10 bikes).

[Tuckervill]

My dad has an old boat trailer that he uses for things like that (not bikes). Usually we load up the canoe and then load the canoe with the camping gear. It's useful that way, because where we camp on the river you can't drive, but you can walk that loaded boat trailer down there. Saves a lot of trips.

I personally use a hitch with a tray for hauling cargo on my Beetle. For our bikes I use a Yakima King Pin rack. I've never hauled dad's trailer from my Beetle, but I bet I could.

It's important to check the rating of your vehicle for towing, how big a hitch you can get for it, and how much weight you can put on the hitch. Hitches are not that expensive. I think the one for my car was about $135.

SadieKate is right about the bouncing around. I also would put a flag on the end of it so you can see it when you are backing up.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

I finally found the MSRP on that trailer!

TWO THOUSAND dollars!!!!???

I expected to be surprised if it was one thousand.

A small used boat trailer with modifications you could probably get for about $500.

Karen

[TsPoet]

I don't have any experience with this, but it seems awfully expensive. In addition to the cost of the trailer you need to add the price of a trailer hitch and installation, as well as the rack components. However, considering your vehicle and your shoulders it may be your best solution.

I finally found the MSRP on that trailer!

TWO THOUSAND dollars!!!!???

I expected to be surprised if it was one thousand.

A small used boat trailer with modifications you could probably get for about $500.

Karen

For some reason, I had it in my mind that it was 1/2 that! I thought 1/2 that was very expensive, so I've got to dissagree with Tuckervill, it isn't expensive, 2 x expensive = exorbitant :p

Thanks for all the replies

[SadieKate]

Check out this rack. I started a thread on bikejournal about roof racks for tandems. Opus recommended ATOC. It will work for bents also.

http://www.atoc.com/

[HillSlugger]

Check out this rack. I started a thread on bikejournal about roof racks for tandems. Opus recommended ATOC. It will work for bents also.

http://www.atoc.com/

This pivoting rack (also mentioned by SK) seems like a great way to get a bike onto the roof without having to lift its entire weight. However, it doesn't address her need to also be able to haul a kayak. Any ideas for that?

[TsPoet]

This pivoting rack (also mentioned by SK) seems like a great way to get a bike onto the roof without having to lift its entire weight. However, it doesn't address her need to also be able to haul a kayak. Any ideas for that?

SK, MD,
I think this is a great idea. The kayak maybe won't be so much of a problem, the car is a hatchback, so maybe the Hullyrollers will work (get the front end up and roll the kayak up from there), I've seen these rollers and maybe this'll work!

thanks

[SadieKate]

TS, this kayak mount from Thule looks great though the cost for rack and two fancy mounts could get expensive. On the other hand, you can buy bits and pieces at a time based on the need.

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=10&sku=897XT

Did you get a DF bike or are you still riding a bent exclusively?

[TsPoet]

TS,
Did you get a DF bike or are you still riding a bent exclusively?

The only DFs that spoke to me were Orbeas, and I couldn't justify the cost based on the hope that I would ride one, knowing how much I love being bent. Also, those iffy shoulders don't hurt at all on a bent.

TS

[SouthernBelle]

Have you considered looking for a cheap used trailer and then bolting a fork holder to it?

[MomOnBike]

DH & I are going through the same process with our two 'bents and a new Neon.

Essentially, we are getting nowhere. My research indicates that the reason a lot of trailers bounce is that they are meant to haul heavier loads than our bikes, so the suspension is too stiff. Makes sense.

I'm about half ready to take my bike & some specs to a local welding shop & have a bike trailer made the way I want it made.

It might cost a bit, but maybe less than the pre-fab jobs, and if it's wrong, I'll know who to blame.

Sadly, this probably won't happen until that imaginary million dollars falls into my lap. **Sigh**

[SandyLS]

Have you considered looking for a cheap used trailer and then bolting a fork holder to it?

That's exactly what DH did. We had an old small tent camper that no longer had it's canvas. Hubby bolted the fork mounts to the top of the trailer. It now carries his bent and six other bikes. Our trailer has 4 doors and compartments underneath it is great for storing acessories. I'm sure it would work for my kayak too. He even lined one of the compartments with styrofoam which truned it into a great ice chest.
We still have a truck to haul our bikes if it is just the two of us.
The fork mounts are sold at this site for $9.95 each. eBikeStop.com. Much cheaper than a lot of other places.

[7rider]

www.paddling.net had one review on that rackandroll:
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=1668

For $2K, can you put a receiver hitch on your car and get something like the Thule T2 rack for your bikes? We just got this for our Escape and it seems to work fine:
http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=8&sku=917
They also have a roof mounted kayak holder that will do the heavy lifting for you:
http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.asp?dept_id=10&sku=897XT

But, hmmm....If you don't have the hitch, the 2 Thule pieces I recommended already set you back over $700. Add the addition of a hitch and accessories, and you are already well north of $1,000. Makes a trailer look like not such a bad idea after all....if you have a place to store it and are confident you can maneuver it.

[TsPoet]

www.paddling.net had one review on that rackandroll:
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=1668



Well that's certainly an excellent review, got me thinking about it again. This trailer is made to be light and carry light things, so maybe the shocks are up for it without bouncing.

thanks,