The Best Bicycle Trailers - The Top Bike Trailers for How You Roll
Leave worries about rising gas prices behind. Whether you're taking the kids to school, biking to work, or enjoying a ride with your pet, BicycleTrailers.com has a bike trailer to meet your needs – and save you money. The team at BicycleTrailers.com has developed a list of several standouts based on data gathered from our own test-drives and from the experience of our customers. Read on, and discover the best trailers on the market today. Stay tuned to the end for essential safety tips.
Best Child Bicycle Trailers • Best Pet Bicycle Trailers • Best Cargo Bicycle Trailers • Bicycle Trailer Safety
The Best Child Bicycle Trailers
Single
Parents love the convertible Chariot Cougar 1 Bike Trailer, which rolls smoothly and tows easily. Protection from rain and superior ventilation keeps kids happy. For parents who enjoy jogging and biking, the Cougar 1 converts to serve both functions. One family in Israel writes how comfortable the Cougar 1 is for children, "She falls asleep as soon as we start peddling, no matter the terrain, the view or the weather." One caveat: you'll need to buy extra attachments for cycling, jogging, skiing, or hiking.
To complement a green lifestyle of biking instead of driving, the Burley Solo Bike Trailer features a rear storage compartment large enough to fit a bag of groceries. When biking isn't feasible, convert this child bicycle trailer into a jogging stroller. One parent from Oregon explains, "Having great gear like this makes it such a pleasure to bicycle. I am biking my son to school 4 miles each way and we love every minute." Jogging with the stroller requires the purchase of a conversion kit.
With a price that's gentle on your wallet, the Croozer 737 Bike Trailer comes complete with the jogging stroller conversion kit and bicycle hookup. Many more expensive trailer/strollers require you to purchase the jogging kit separately. With a roomy rear compartment for your gear and internal pockets for baby's favorite items you and junior ride happily. An Australian parent gushes, "The Croozer is the best value bike trailer of its kind on the market today."
Double
For parents of two, the Chariot Cougar 2 Bike Trailer features a superior suspension system, allowing the trailer to roll effortlessly. Toddlers get in and out of the trailer easily thanks to its low profile. The price may give some parents pause, but the fantastic performance helps lessen the blow. A mom from Pennsylvania writes, "It is very light and steers like a very expensive car!" The price includes only the chassis – hookups for biking, jogging, strolling, skiing, or hiking are sold separately.
The Burley d'Lite Bike Trailer is, for many parents, an absolute delight! Lightweight and maneuvering easily even with two kids riding, the d'Lite lets families stay active together. On hot days, air flows through the stroller, keeping kids cool. The roomy compartment holds up to two bags of groceries, allowing you to use the d'Lite in place of a car. A mom of two in Washington writes, "We just received the trailer and the kids love it. It is lightweight and maneuvers well." Downside? The cycling and jogging conversion kits are sold separately.
If the Burley d'Lite is delightful, the Schwinn Joyrider Bike Trailer is sheer joy. Rolling effortlessly and able to turn on a dime, this Bike Trailer from Schwinn gives kids (and parents!) a sense of security with a 3-point harness and sturdy construction. The mesh keeps bugs at bay. One parent describes the Joyrider's handling, "It glides and turns like it's a hover craft!" While parents enjoy the Joyrider, many parents would prefer a 5-point harness.
The Best Pet Bicycle Trailers
For trailing a pet around, the Burley Tail Wagon Bicycle Trailer features mesh on all four sides, keeping Fido cool and providing a good view. Each side of the trailer's cover also has reflective materials to improve visibility. When your pooch stays at home, use the trailer for hauling groceries. A pet owner in Colorado remarks, "For those of us who do not use cars, this trailer is a versatile transport for pets and groceries."
Pet owners love the DoggyRide "Original" Dog Bike Trailer, which folds easily and features a top opening so your pooch can poke their head out. The dense plastic base and low center of gravity give this pet bike trailer a high weight capacity. Even with a large dog riding, the DoggyRide tows easily. A bike enthusiast from California remarks, "It is a great design. She loves to hang her head out the top hole, which is just big enough for that but not big enough for her to jump out."
At the lowest price, the Croozer Dog Trailer comes with similar features to the Burley Tail Wagon and DoggyRide. Users rave about the easy assembly and sleek look. The fully enclosed and ventilated seating area keeps your best friend from coming into contact with the wheels while still allowing a breeze to flow through the seat. One Doggy Daddy raves, "Kate, my blue heeler, loves it. She can stretch out and watch the countryside then run along, chase her ball, and when I say ‘In the Croozer," she hops in and rests."
Pet owners have little bad to say about their trailers, though with all trailers, the tendency to flip increases with added weight. Users should make sure the trailer fits their pet – a too large compartment can cause injury to smaller animals.
The Best Cargo Bicycle Trailers
For the road warrior, the Burley Nomad Bike Trailer, hauls up to 100 lbs of cargo with ease and sets up in under 10 minutes. Whether biking the continent or carrying groceries, the Burley Nomad stands up to anything you can throw at it. An adventurer in Oregon writes, "I ended up totally loading it, and it held up perfectly, very tough. Plenty of room, very smart design, easy to use. At camp, [I] just unhooked it, making side trips a breeze." The Nomad does tend to fishtail as it hits the higher weight limit.
For the hard-core cyclist, the BOB Ibex Bicycle Cargo Trailer pulls through the roughest adventures with adjustable suspension, rear safety reflectors, and a sturdy frame. Many users comment that even when fully loaded, they forget the trailer is attached. One adventure loving user raves, "They're brilliant, you can pack them to overflowing and they still handle like they're not there!" When empty, the Ibex becomes slightly harder to maneuver.
Commuting by bike? The Xtracycle FreeRadical Full Kit Bicycle Cargo Carrier carries just about anything you would normally carry in your car (a change of clothes, lunch, laptop, and briefcase), but without the gas! Because the Xtracycle moves your rear wheel back about 15 inches to support the pannier bags, your bike's handling remains top notch. While the Xtracycle is a little spendy, for those who use a bike in place of a car, the superior performance and roomy carrying capacity make up for the price. Caveat? The Xtracycle makes it difficult to pack your bike easily in the trunk.
Bicycle Trailer Safety Tips
- Children riding in bicycle trailers must always wear a helmet. Proper use of a bike helmet reduces risk of head injury by as much as 88%. Adults should also always use a helmet.
- Use a safety flag, which helps motorists see you.
- Use hand signals before turning left or right.
- Pay attention to bicycle trailer weight limits. For child bike trailers, confirm the minimum height and weight and use any recommended inserts for smaller children.
- Follow all posted road signs – a bicycle is part of traffic.
- When riding at night, attach a light to the front of your bike and reflectors to the rear of the trailer.
- When hauling a pet, always secure them with the safety leash.
- Before riding, check the bicycle's connection to the trailer and be sure the tires are properly inflated.
- Practice riding in a safe area before taking the trailer on the road. When practicing, pay particular attention to breaking distance, which increases with a trailer attached to your bike.
