Trailer to haul bike?

[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/prod...d=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/show...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/prod...t_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/prod...d=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/show...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,