Two-wheel truss-frame trailer

Two-wheel trailer

Wooden bicycle trailer

Special trailer for bike-trekking - shock absorbed with long spring travel.

A bicycle sidecar (not strictly a trailer, but also not rigidly mounted as are motorcycle sidecars).

A bicycle trailer is a motorless wheeled frame with a hitch system designed for transporting cargo by bicycle. A bicycle trailer expands the cargo-carrying capacity of a bicycle greatly, allowing point-to-point transport of objects up to 4 cubic yards (3 cubic meters) in volume and weighing as much as half a ton ¹. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 627 KB) Summary A Bikes-At-Work model 64 truss-frame trailer, loaded with cargo. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 627 KB) Summary A Bikes-At-Work model 64 truss-frame trailer, loaded with cargo. ... In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units which are constructed with straight slender members whose ends are connected at joints. ... Image File history File linksMetadata PedalPeople-Bikecart. ... Image File history File linksMetadata PedalPeople-Bikecart. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Wooden_Bicycle_Trailer. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Wooden_Bicycle_Trailer. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 148 KB) a bike-buggy especially designed for extensive outdoor bike-trekking pic is shot by myself (owner of bike-buggy. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 148 KB) a bike-buggy especially designed for extensive outdoor bike-trekking pic is shot by myself (owner of bike-buggy. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 440 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Taken by Andrew Dressel Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 440 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Taken by Andrew Dressel Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version... BMW R51/3 motorcycle with sidecar Ural Retro with sidecar Vespa scooter with sidecar This article concerns sidecar as an attachment to a motocycle. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... “Velo” redirects here. ...

Types

Different types of trailers are adapted to different purposes, cargo requirements, and riding conditions.

By number of wheels

• Single-wheel: a single rear-mounted wheel. Though of limited towing capacity, this design tends to be more stable than trailers with two or more wheels. The single wheel can tilt from side to side when cornering (as the bicycle itself does,) allowing for coordinated turns at relatively high speed. (Up to 25 mi (40 km) per hour.)

• Two-wheel: A two-wheel design makes possible much greater load carrying capacity and a wider cargo bed, but has a tendency to tip over when making very sharp or high-speed turns. Also, two-wheel trailers tend to be as wide or wider than the handlebars of the bicycle, increasing the risk of hitting objects (or getting stuck) when riding through narrow spaces.

By intended cargo

• General Cargo: for transporting cargo of all kinds. The load capacity of commercially-available cargo trailers ranges from 30 to 300 pounds (14 to 140 kg), but much larger loads have been transported by custom-built trailers or by multi-trailer "trains" attached to a single bicycle.

• Child passenger (as cargo): constructed to enhance the comfort and safety of one or more small human passengers. These usually have an especially low center of gravity and widely-spaced wheels to reduce likelihood of roll-overs when cornerning, and often have integrated rain-proof covers, seat padding, and safety belts.

• Child passenger (as rider): Trailer bikes, one-wheel trailers with integrated seat, handle bars, and drive train. These allow small children who can't yet ride a bicycle alone to accompany adult riders as participants and motive-power producers.

• Canoe and Kayak: designed for towing long, thin, relatively light-weight loads such as canoes, kayaks, wind surfing rigs. For example, see: Kayak trailer.

• Disabled passenger: made for safely towing wheelchairs with persons in them.

• Pets: for carrying small domestic animals that weigh less than 30 lb (14 kg). Pet trailer.

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Trailer bike (also known as trailer cycle, Trailerbike, Trail-a-bike, and other trademarked names) is a one-wheeled bicycle trailer designed to carry one or more small riders in positions that closely resemble that of a bicycle rider. ...

Components

Frame

• Metal: usually steel alloy or aluminum tubing, assembled by brazing, welding, or nuts and bolts.
• Wood: seldom seen but sometimes used in make-shift and home-built trailers, fastened with glue, nails, screws, bolts, or a combination thereof. An example is here.

The steel cable of a colliery winding tower. ... Aluminum is a soft and lightweight metal with a dull silvery appearance, due to a thin layer of oxidation that forms quickly when it is exposed to air. ... Brazing is a joining process whereby a non-ferrous filler metal or alloy is heated to melting temperature (above 450°C; 842°F) and distributed between two or more close-fitting parts by capillary action. ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ...

Axle

Most trailers have a separate axle for each wheel, like those used on a bicycle. These separate axles usually mount directly on the frame using threaded nuts, or a quick-release mechanism, or some press fit arrangement. The use of separate axles for two-wheel trailers allows the load carrying area to be between the wheels with its base below the axles, so as to keep the centre of gravity relatively low. An Interference fit (sometimes called a Press fit) is a fastening between two parts which is achieved by friction after the parts are pushed together, rather than by any other means of fastening. ...

Wheel

• Traditional spoked bicycle wheel in various sizes. Has the advantage of being light, strong, readily available. Pneumatic tires provide some suspension for the load, larger diameters ride smoothly and have much less drag than many other types of wheels.
• Solid metal wheels with solid treads, such as dolly wheels. Extremely durable but rough riding and usually slow due to small diameter.

A spoke is one of some number of rods radiating from the center of a wheel (the hub where the axle connects), connecting the hub with the round traction surface. ... For a table of tire companies, see List of tire companies. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... The tread of a tire or caterpillar track refers to the pattern visible on its circumference that makes contact with the road. ... An unloaded hand-truck. ...

Fender/Mud Guard

• If included, the fender helps to protect the cargo and the towing bicycle from road spray and dirt. On heavy-duty trailers, the fender may be designed to be capable of bearing heavy loads.

Hitch

Single-wheel trailers generally use a special frame hitch which attaches to both sides of the rear axle, and which incorporates a vertical hinge to allow cornering.

Hitches for two-wheel trailers must incorporate some form of universal joint or flexible coupling (e.g. rubber tube), both to allow cornering and to allow the bicycle to lean while the trailer remains upright. Since such couplings must have some slack in order to function at all, there is the possibility of resonance at certain pedalling speeds and trailer loads, especially in higher gears; the effect is that the trailer feels as if it is 'bumping' the bicycle - the simplest remedies are either to slow down or to pedal faster in a lower gear.

Two-wheel trailers which attach to the rear axle or chainstay generally have an angled towbar to help keep the trailer more or less centrally behind the bicycle. Trailers tend to have less effect on bicycle handling when hitched at the rear axle or chainstay, since this low attachment point doesn't push the bicycle sideways as much as a higher attachment point can.

Hitch positions:

• Seat-post: Temporary or permanent clamp assembly attaching trailer hitch to the seat post.
• Rear axle: Special attachment points, integral to the rear quick release skewer or bolted on to solid axles, hold dropouts cut into the trailer hitch. (Under patent by the BOB trailer company?)
• Chainstay: Two-piece sandwiching clamp screws tight over left rear triangle, with protruding socket-and-pin receiver.
• Rear cargo or pannier rack: Some improvised hitches attach to the rear cargo rack or pannier frame. Since rear racks are not structural parts of the bicycle they cannot handle much weight or torque loading.
• Improvised: Ropes, bungee cord, chain, cable, etc. Usually not dependable, often dangerous to rider and cargo.

A clamp is a fastening device to hold or secure objects tightly together to prevent movement or separation through the application of inward pressure. ... A quick release skewer is a cam operated lever system used with a hollow axle for securing the wheels on a bicycle. ... A bicycle dropout is a slots in a frame or fork where the axle of the wheel is attached. ... Steel frame and carbon fiber fork of 2000 LeMond Zurich racing bicycle. ... For the locomotive, see Pannier tank locomotive A pannier is a basket, bag, or similar container, possibly large, and carried either in pairs slung over the back of a beast of burden, or attached to a bicycle or motorcycle. ... Torque applied via an adjustable end wrench Relationship between force, torque, and momentum vectors in a rotating system In physics, torque (or often called a moment) can informally be thought of as rotational force or angular force which causes a change in rotational motion. ... Bungee cord is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, covered in a woven sheath usually of nylon or cotton. ...

See also

• Bicycle
• Cycle rickshaw
• Freight bicycle
• Quadricycle
• Touring bicycle
• Tricycle
• Trailer bike
• Utility cycling
• Workbike

“Velo” redirects here. ... A rickshaw and its driver wait for a fare in Bandung, Indonesia Rickshaw in Hamburg. ... Traditional Dutch cargo tricycle Old-fashioned Dutch freight tricycle Modern long-wheelbase freight bicycle from Amsterdam Danish Long John freight bicycle Freight bicycles or Freight tricycles or cargo bikes are human powered vehicles designed and constructed specifically for transporting large loads. ... A modern touring quadricycle - a 2007 model Rhoades Car 4W2PCP Coupe two seater Rhombus layout quadricycle (1886) Coventry Rotary quadricycle (1885) A Quadricycle is a four-wheeled human-powered vehicle. ... A touring bicycle is a road bicycle designed for long-distance travel, and especially bicycle touring. ... Antique tricycle 19th century tricycle used in Iran A tricycle (often abbreviated to trike) is a three-wheeled vehicle. ... Trailer bike (also known as trailer cycle, Trailerbike, Trail-a-bike, and other trademarked names) is a one-wheeled bicycle trailer designed to carry one or more small riders in positions that closely resemble that of a bicycle rider. ... Ugandan bicycle taxi or bodaboda Cargo-bicycle and Trike for rent Bremen. ... Pushing a loaded workbike in Jakarta, Indonesia A workbike is a bicycle built for some purpose other than strictly human transportation. ...

Notes

• 1 "Bikes At Work - Recycling Service"

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bicycle trailer

• Flakey.info.com (2006): The basic principles of towing for bicycle trailers
• Bikes At Work (2005): Cargo-towing human energy requirement calculator
• Build your own PedalPeople Bike Cart
• Bicycle trailer information (in Dutch)
• Bamboo bicycle trailer
• Bicycle Trailer information
• Bicycle Trailer Handbook