A bicycle trailer is an auxiliary vehicle that is attached to the back of a bike frame. Used to transport anything: cargo, personal belongings, and even one-year-old children! This accessory has its supporters and opponents. Some consider the trailer almost a mandatory addition, others can easily do without it, transporting their things in a backpack and (or) on the trunk. There are those who hear for the first time what a bicycle trailer is. Then it's time to get to know him better.

The designs of the "cradles" are different: one- and two-wheeled modifications, universal, cargo and children's. A separate niche is occupied by a homemade bicycle trailer - the invention of summer residents and city fidgets, who often transport goods from place to place. We will talk about all these varieties of bicycle carts below.

Main types of bicycle trailers

One wheel and two wheel. The first option is, in fact, a wheelbarrow hooked onto a frame. It has low stability, unlike its “tractor”: it has two wheels, and the trailer has one. Well suited for the transport of small and light loads, otherwise the maneuverability of the bike will deteriorate. Touring models with one wheel can withstand and more weight.

A two-wheeled bike trailer is designed for heavier things than a single-wheeled one. It does not wag to the sides, but it can skid when cornering. The design itself looks solid, but the bottom area of ​​the cart is larger.

Standard bike trailers with two wheels are used for light to medium weights and are called universal trailers. They will perfectly help in transporting crops from the dacha, agricultural garbage from the site, large-sized, but not heavy items within the city and beyond.

For transporting loads up to 100 kg, a special cargo trailer of increased strength was invented. The design is distinguished by endurance and unpretentiousness, however, it requires an appropriate bike. Suitable urban single speed, MTB and hybrid. Attaching to the road bike is impractical, because. these bikes are not designed for transportation, although they have good endurance indicators.

When using a trailer of this type, do not forget that the load should not look out of the body. How beneficial is it to use? Do you often have to change the location of bulky items (eg TV, bricks, boards) within 10-15 km? Then a cargo bike trailer is just for you.

Especially for the transportation of small children, bicycle strollers with a frame mount were invented. Not every bike has equipped child seats, and the child wants to ride or leave him at home with no one. A bicycle trailer for children will come to the rescue.

Distinctive features:

• structural stability;
• side protection against falling out on the go;
• roof;
• a lot of free space.

In addition to covered strollers, open bike trailers can also be found on sale. They are usually for older children, from 3 years old. Whether it is worth buying such a trailer is up to the parents to decide. Although it is much more useful to teach your child to ride a bike himself.

How to make a bike trailer at home

To create a bicycle trailer with your own hands, you will need the following:

• straight pipes of square section;
• corners;
• four corner pipes;
• wheels;
• eight metal plates;
• a metal sheet;
• boards;
• screws, nuts, self-tapping screws, nails for nailing boards.

Of the tools you will need:

• drill;
• welding machine;
• electric jigsaw;
• spanners.

The first step in creating the supporting structure of a trailer is to create a drawing with dimensions. They need to be thought out in advance, based on your own preferences. In general, the drawing will look like this:

When we have decided on the size and location of all the elements of the future trailer, we proceed to its manufacture. At the ends of the pipes and corners, holes are drilled with a diameter corresponding to the screws.

Important: all holes must match each other when connecting parts accurately! The numerical dimensions of the distances of the holes from the edges are immediately indicated on the drawing.

So, the rectangle is assembled, the next task is to weld the crossbars to it. To do this, pre-prepared pipes are taken, the lengths of which correspond to the width of the rectangle. Optimal quantity crossbars - two.

Production of external protrusions. Using a welding machine, we weld the corner pipes to each other, and then to the sidewalls. The distance between the sidewalls and the outer tubes must match the width of the wheel hubs.

Cutting seats for wheels:

1. Four identical plates are taken.
2. The size of the dropouts is marked on each.
3. Using a jigsaw, grooves are cut to fit the dimensions of the wheel bushing bolts.
4. The plates are welded to the sidewalls of the trailer frame and the outer tubes.

The next step in creating a trailer with your own hands is to make walls from boards, weld a metal bottom and connect the walls to it. Holes are drilled in the bottom, into which metal corners are fixed with bolts. The distance of the holes from the edges of the bottom is selected so that the corner is inside walls. We install a plank rectangle and with the help of self-tapping screws we fix it on the corners. The number of connections between the walls and the bottom is selected based on the dimensions of the trailer, but the more the better.

To complete the design, it remains to make a drawbar, or an element for securing the trailer to the frame. Two pipes and the remaining metal plates are taken. The first pipe - vertical - is screwed to the rectangular frame of the trailer. A hole of a given diameter is drilled in the front part, exactly the same in a vertical pipe. Then, using a long bolt, we connect both parts.

The horizontal element of the drawbar must be attached to the vertical pipe and the bicycle frame. We take four plates and drill holes in each. Then we weld along the edges of the pipe on both sides. The horizontal part of the drawbar is adjusted to the vertical one, both pipes are firmly fixed with a bolt and nut. We select the height of the horizontal pipe, depending on the bike.

The last thing left to do is attach the trailer to the back of the frame. The seats for the bolt are ready, we drive the drawbar forward with the plates and tighten it. The trailer is ready. By this principle, you can also make a trailer for children: higher walls, a seat and a canvas visor.

Bicycle cradle on the roads: traffic safety rules

With additional cargo, the bike becomes more dangerous for both the driver and other road users. When leaving the trailer on the road, the cyclist must make sure:

• in good condition of all fastenings in the trailer;
• in the reliability of pipe connections drawbar with each other and with the bike;
• in a secure location of the cargo.

Permitted dimensions of the transported cargo in width - no more than 0.5 m in each direction. It is advisable to screw a reflective element onto the trailer if it is homemade.

Either way, the extra bogie in the back makes the bike difficult to handle, especially in tight corners. The overall speed with a trailer must be less than what a cyclist would normally use. In other words, the bicycle turns into a slow-moving vehicle.

A bicycle and a trailer rolling behind it can become a serious bait for dogs. All cyclists know firsthand about their indifference to two-wheeled transport, but imagine if they see four of these wheels? An animal attack on a bicycle distracts from control, and can turn into an accident. With this in mind, choose a safe route. It's a good idea to have protection with you - a stun gun or pepper spray.

A bicycle trailer is an indispensable assistant for business cyclists who prefer to cope with the difficulties of transporting things on their own. It will serve perfectly for trips to the country, as well as on the site. Moreover, the trailer separately from the bike can be used as a wheelbarrow. Got the idea of ​​buying a bike trailer? Then rather to the store or to the workshop to make it yourself.

velofans.ru

Craftsmen live on earth, as they say, of all trades, who are able to assemble a bicycle on their own. In this case, there is no need to talk about quality, although there are different things. But nevertheless, making something with your own hand is a great experience that will not hurt anyone. For example, the Chinese Kevin Cyr designed and then assembled a whole house on wheels. Camper bike. It was presented to the public in April 2008. But no one is releasing serial samples yet, you yourself understand why.)))

cargo bike you may only need it a few times in your life, but let it be better than having to suddenly look for it later. This design will be indispensable for transporting a certain amount of cargo that you cannot carry with your hands, but using a car for this is extremely unprofitable and costly. Next, we invite you to watch the video. It clearly shows how to make a simple cargo bike from an ordinary old "Ukraine". Everything is done with the help of a grinder and a welding machine. Didn't even need any turning work.

- a useful thing. One of the commercial companies produces the popular bicycle trailers "Bee" and "Bee 2". However bike trailer you can do it yourself. Its design is quite simple and includes several essential components: a platform measuring 70 by 100 centimeters, mounting brackets, a frame with wheels and a place for attaching to a bicycle.

To make a bicycle trailer, you will need the following tools: a grinder with two types of discs - cutting and grinding, a drill with an electric drive and nozzles of various diameters, a welding machine, a mask, gloves for safe work, a ruler, a pencil for marking, steel pipes of small and inch diameters, as well as strips up to thirty centimeters wide, a hammer, bolts for fixing the structure (their diameter depends on the diameter of the drills selected for work), a ball joint, threaded studs, two wheels, the platform itself (it can be either wooden or from other materials).

A metal frame for a bicycle trailer can have a simple design with oblique mounting plumb lines and a dropped axle for wheels. You can always find a drawing for its manufacture on the Internet or, if you have the ability to create it yourself. In order for everything to work out what is called the first time, it is necessary to take very clear measurements and be guided by the principle of "measure seven times and cut once." A very important point is the system for attaching the trailer to the bike. In the common people, it is called a drawbar. This is a kind of assembly made from a two-inch square pipe. Here are some drawings for self-manufacturing this device.

The bike trailer platform itself needs to be both light and strong overnight so that heavy objects and loads can be transported with it. Most often, MDF is used - a material that is durable for fracture and at the same time is characterized by low weight. The only disadvantage of this material is that it easily absorbs water and collapses under its influence. But the modern market also offers MDF with a water-repellent coating. Basically, it solves all problems.

A bike trailer of your own making is a very convenient thing. You can independently determine the size and shape of the trailer that will meet your needs. In the end, after you have created a bike trailer, you can try yourself as a master builder of experimental bikes - it's always very interesting, and in the long run also incredibly profitable!

www.velodelo.org

Types of bike trailers

There are a wide variety of bike trailers on the market today. All of them can be divided into types that characterize the specifics of their purpose, and, consequently, design features. Below we will dwell on each of them in detail and explain which bike trailer is best for you.

• Cargo

A cargo trailer for a bicycle, as the name suggests, is a means for transporting heavy and sometimes bulky goods (it all depends on the geometry of the frame). It is a solid massive structure that can withstand significant loads. Cargo bike trailers can carry loads up to 50 - 60 kg when coupled with a bicycle and up to 120 kg if used as a regular wheelbarrow (but hardly anyone will use it like that). This greatly expands the functionality of your bike, turning it into an excellent means of transporting things. The weight limit in hitch with your bike is justified primarily because of the load on the attachment point. Therefore, do not overload the bike trailer (contact the manufacturer for the maximum load). There are two types of designs of cargo bike trailers - with one wheel and with two (on the same axle). The difference is this. With two wheels, as a rule, they have a large maximum load in terms of weight, while its one-wheeled counterpart surpasses it in maneuverability. Now let's talk about the disadvantages. Increased structural strength is achieved by using stronger and heavier materials (usually steel), as well as increasing the number of stiffeners. This in turn leads to an increase in the weight of the entire structure. What can it affect? With an increase in mass, inertia inevitably increases during braking (in principle, this applies to any bicycle trailer, but especially to this type). This can have a negative effect when braking at intersections in the city. Therefore, you should slow down in advance and remember this feature. Also because of heavy weight and increased dimensions, maneuverability suffers greatly (this applies to all types of bicycle trailers). So who is this look for? First of all, cyclists who need to carry very heavy loads on relatively good roads (it will be very difficult to ride on hard off-road), but at the same time, the route should not pass through very busy roads common use(due to poor maneuverability and the danger of a car driving into the back at a traffic light).

• For transporting children

They are an analogue of a stroller (by the way, some models, having disconnected from a bicycle, can be used in this way) and can be either single or for two children. Conceived, a two-wheel scheme is used, which can be equipped with shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride. Bicycle trailers for transporting children have one of the safest designs. To ensure the safety of the child on the road, these bicycle trailers are equipped with an articulated joint that will prevent the bicycle trailer from overturning if the towing bicycle that moves it falls. Child seats are equipped with seat belts. For more comfortable movement of children, these bicycle strollers can be equipped with special mosquito nets and rain capes. It is worth noting that almost all expensive imported children's bicycle trailers undergo a specialized crash test, which tests their safety. The disadvantages that are inherent in other bicycle trailers have not bypassed children. The only thing is that they can be less pronounced in comparison, for example, with trucks. Although this type is the safest, it will not be superfluous to add a couple of additional reflectors and signal lights. And so - this is a great choice for a joint bike tour with children.

• For transporting pets

Outwardly very reminiscent of children. They also have a carrier base on two wheels and an awning with ventilation holes. The differences are in a slightly smaller size, less problems with safety and comfort. Suitable for transporting cats, dogs, birds and other small pets.

• Tourist

Tourist bicycle trailers, to ensure better cross-country ability, are mainly equipped with one wheel (but sometimes there are two). This increases maneuverability, and makes it possible for a cyclist to pass through narrow forest paths. The frame design is a platform on which a durable, waterproof bag with the things you need is fixed. Frame materials can be different, but very often manufacturers prefer aluminum. The bicycle trailer for tourism is very similar to its fellow - cargo, and differs only in the listed minor differences.

• Lateral (bicycle carrier)

If you have seen a motorcycle with a sidecar, then this is the same thing. Not very common in our country. It is mainly intended for the transportation of children, sometimes animals.

A very funny design that will be of interest to your child. It is a children's bike without front wheel. Instead, it is attached to your (lead) bike. This device allows the child not only to be a passenger when cycling, but also to take part in pedaling, thereby helping you when riding uphill. Can be equipped with a speed switch (6 speed models available). The advantage of this design is that the child will not be able to accidentally enter the roadway. Runebout is perfect for joint bike trips with children aged 7-10 (although this is all conditional and you should first ask your child).

Mount design

The most common way to attach a bike trailer to a bike is by axle. rear wheel, for the seatpost and for the rear fork.
1) For rear wheel axle. A special plate is installed under the nut, to which the rest of the bicycle trailer structure is already attached.

2) For seat post. The bike trailer is attached with a long tube directly behind the seat itself. The main disadvantage of this design is the possibility of falling due to an accidental push of the trailer.

3) For the rear fork. The main advantage of this mounting method is the ability to install on almost any bicycle.

Do it yourself

Bicycle trailers, as it may seem, are not a cheap commodity and can sometimes reach the cost of the bike itself. Therefore, many craftsmen began to manufacture cheap homemade bicycle trailers and sell them on the market. In principle, for the transportation of goods, there is not much difference between home-made and store-bought counterparts. The only thing you should pay attention to is the quality of the materials that homemade products use. But we categorically do not recommend buying self-made bicycle trailers for transporting children. Well, so here's what I'm talking about. With straight arms and the presence of a tool, it is not difficult to make a bicycle trailer with your own hands. Below we give some of the most interesting drawings (sketches) of bicycle trailers.

era-sports.ru

Dear visitors of the site "Visiting Samodelkin" in this article, as you probably guessed, we will talk about creating a bicycle trailer with your own hands from parts found in the garage)

Nowadays, such a type of transport as a bicycle is becoming more and more popular, because it is very environmentally friendly and does not consume any of the types of energy carriers) Also, this transport is quite convenient in urban conditions, to the extent of workload highways and highways often experience congestion and traffic jams, and this problem is not terrible for a bicycle).

With ease and health benefits, you can get to your place of work, or go to the grocery store, and in the evening take a walk in the park.

AT recent times it is also fashionable among sports youth to carry out bicycle trips for short or long distances.
But in order to travel by bike with you, you need to take essentials, a tool, a tent, a sleeping bag, like this, it seems like little things, and a decent load is collected in a backpack, you can’t put everything down, and even if you cram everything while riding, your back will quickly get tired. And so what to do with this problem? The answer is simple, you need a trailer.

For traveling, it is better to use a trailer with one wheel, because it follows the track of a bicycle, and it is very convenient on narrow paths and is also good in urban conditions.

And so, to create a one-wheeled trailer, the author used a wheel from children's bike, tubes, shock absorber, and assembled everything into a single design, and how the master did it, you will learn further by viewing all the assembly photos, and you should also study the list of necessary materials and tools.

materials
1) 16 inch wheel
2) metal tube
3) steel 4mm
4) axis
5) shock absorber
6) foam rubber
7) gum
8) nuts

Tools
1) grinder
2) welding machine
3) drill
4) electric jigsaw
5) metal sheet
6) file
7) hammer
8) a set of wrenches

First, the author provides a photo of the original from which he performed his work. Then I prepared the materials so that everything was at hand. Metal corner. Shock absorber. Axle. And proceeded to manufacture the rear fork. .Welds the sleeve onto the fork. Approximately like this. The bottom is made of a metal mesh. It takes the rubber cut off from the camera. It makes a kind of fastener-insurance. A good example. For the trailer itself, the author takes such foam rubber. And finishes the entire frame. ) Thank you for your attention!

usamodelkina.ru

After searching in the garage on the shelves and on the racks with materials, I picked up everything I needed to make a trailer:

- a pair of wheels from an experimental model of the Sport velomobile, once assembled on the basis of wheels from the Shkolnik bicycle;
- a few arches and tubes from an old children's bed;
- water pipes 016 mm;
- sheet of fiberglass.

Without much thought, I began assembling the trailer. From two arches with spacers, I welded a base square - a frame, to which I then welded the wheel axles approximately along the transverse axis of symmetry of the future body.

Then I prepared and welded a handle-drawbar (curved) along the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the trailer, maintaining a handle height of 750 mm from the ground with the body position parallel to the ground.

It remains to bend the openwork tubular side walls of the body on the simplest device, strengthen the drawbar handle and the support leg. All blanks were welded using electric arc welding.

I attached the bottom of the body using a manual riveter with rivets with detachable shanks.

The trailer is attached to the bike with a MB bolt with a cotter pin. Two rubber washers soften blows, locking is provided.

To increase the strength of the trunk, I welded additional reinforcement bars and a towing eyelet to it.

The finished trailer was painted in the color of a bicycle and immediately applied “to the fullest”: he took the garbage in tanks to a landfill, delivered several bags of cement to the house, went for seedlings, brooms for a bath.
I call my bike trailer the "Chinese variant". Against the backdrop of unnecessary expenses for motor vehicle insurance, a bicycle with a trailer in the summer is the most practical. As a handcart, a bicycle trailer is also convenient. I also use it for small yard hauls, trips to the store, and for moving a set of plumbing and welding tools and equipment.

www.umeltsi.ru

I have had a long-standing desire to own one of the wonderful B.O.B. Yak. I ride about 3,000 kilometers on my bike every year. My desire to have a Yak is as strong as my desire to buy other things that I would spend $300 and more on without stint.

This is one of my first building instructions, so if I missed something, forgive me. I even tried to photograph the process of creating my brainchild, but then I lost a few photos. The process of grinding and preparing the unit for painting, I omit here. I know that many are very familiar with them. And now to work!

Elements

I took 3 pieces of 3 meters of EMT 3/4 inch pipe and a little more in reserve. I also bought some ½ inch threaded pipes, 4 brass bushings and 2 pipe nuts to attach to the hinges. I also took a wire basket measuring 430 x 530 mm as a trunk.

Calculation by materials:

• tube EMT $10.50,

• brass bushings $10,

• wire basket $8,

• axles and miscellaneous parts $30.

So about $60 and half a day is all I lost. I think I did the right thing.

From wooden planks, I made something like a fixing device for the top and bottom. I also drilled small holes.

Bicycle trailer project

A few shots of the finished bike trailer were also helpful. Based on the necessary dimensions found, I was able to draw a rough diagram of how it should look like.

I just loaded the pictures into Photoshop and projected them on the wall with the help of a projector. Having experimented a little with the distances, I achieved an almost real scale of the trailer. Then I knitted several pieces of paper and laid them along the outline. That is, it turned out almost the correct scale of width and height.

In the end, there was a slight deviation from the original plan, since there was an error in the calculations during the bending of the upper section of the structure. So I made a drawing for the bend as well.

Bending the tube

I used a pipe bender to bend the top and bottom of my bike trailer. The process was very time-consuming and protracted, since each of its stages had to be verified, by drawing, again and again ...

The first picture shows the wooden block and the first layout in full scale.

Cutting and welding

The main idea is to cut the tubes so that they fit exactly together. Thanks to the precise fitting of the tubes, their welding will be much easier. Few pictures of the process remain. I then started welding the bottom section horizontal caliper to get the correct width. Then I welded the top and bottom sections where they meet on the back of the trailer. After that I measured and cut two calipers for the front and welded them into place.

After obtaining the desired shape, I used a hammer to flatten those parts of the trailer where the wheels are attached. Immediately found a set of overlays on the frame in the garage and welded them into place. Through various manipulations with indents and distances, I adjusted the wheels.

Steering gear

Here I had to face some difficulties. The guides on top protruded a little compared to the bottom, making the pivoting part of the caliper unreliable. At the same time, I decided to bend the tube section so that the caliper kept the hinge closer to the vertical. The hinge is made of brass and some EMT material, with a fixing sleeve soldered to the other end. Then I carefully checked whether the bushing was deformed from the heat of the light. Exactly the same test I undertook on the other side of the frame. Between the two beams of the frame, I soldered two more brass bushings.

Coming to the finish line

I cut out the wire and made a basket, and then I cut out a few sections in front of it to fit it properly. The basket is steel, so I welded it directly to the frame.

Added a bicycle steering bell, a red reflector, a non-contact dynamometer and some dampers for elegance. I also wanted to find the axle, looks like it was here a couple of days ago. I hitched my creation to my bike and rode it up and down the street. It's going great. Only a little flexible design, not finding an axle, I used a bicycle one.

Finishing touches and axle setup

Finally found and inserted the correct axis. I loaded the box and threw rubbish into it until it weighed 30 kn. It seems to be doing well. My fiancée and I got the idea to make a ride to the camp for autotourists, which is located 35 km from us. That would be a great test.

Here are the actual dimensions of the bike trailer.

The bottom frame is 620mm from the top of the front camber to the rear horizontal post and is 420mm wide. Upper frame - 700 mm. from the top to the folds that hold the bottom frame together. This is where I made a mistake, there should be one size with the bottom. As I said, I had to change the caliper. The device for the wheel can be of any length, it depends on the wheel itself. I was lucky to find a 20-inch wheel from a folding bike lying around. The height from the bottom frame to the top of the front is approximately 225mm. My measurements are close to actual B.O.B Yak sizes. They were calculated in numbers 62 by 35 cm. The length of the turn on the Yak is 26 cm.

www.yaprofi.net

The trailer cart shown in this step-by-step guide is light, strong and very easy to assemble. You will not spend a lot of time on its manufacture, and the result will please you.

materials

To make a bike trailer with your own hands, prepare:

• a hammer;
• chisel;
• Adjustable wrench;
• pliers;
• cross screwdriver;
• roulette;
• boards;
• metal corners;
• wire;
• bolts of different sizes and diameters, washers and nuts for them;
• rope;
• bridge;
• wheels with a diameter of 48 cm with plastic spokes.

Step 1. Assemble the cart frame. Its general view is shown in the photo. Bolts and nuts should not be tightened at this stage, this will need to be done later. With the help of wire, the frame will need to be strengthened. To do this, secure it with bolts and nuts diagonally.

Step 2. Attach the bridge to the assembled structure, or rather to its wooden base. To do this, use not just brackets, bolts and nuts, but also send a nylon insert to them. It is needed so as not to interfere with the movement of the bridge. Remove the bolt fasteners from the other side of the board, for this, pre-drill holes for them.

Step 3. The next step is to create a central support axis. This is a wider board that needs to be attached with four screws. Previously, recesses will need to be made at the ends of the board so that they do not interfere with the movement of the bridge. It is best to make cutouts small, gradually deepening them by trying on. At this stage, do not fully tighten the bolts again.

Step 4. Cut the corners into their component parts to assemble the trolley mount. The length of these parts will depend on the height of the trolley itself and on the height of the bike to which it will be attached. You will need to cut the two parts not to the end, so that the corners can be bent at an angle. In these places, the structure must be fixed and strengthened with transverse small brackets from the same corners. During work, you can try on the mount to the bike.

Step 5. Remove the rubber ring from the wheel caster. Attach a small piece of corner to the wheel. Its length should be about 6 - 7 cm. This will be the attachment point for the trolley.

Step 6. By cutting a small part of the corner, and connecting the halves together, as shown in the photo, you will get a fastening coupling.

Step 7. Attach the wheels to the cart.

Step 8. From nylon rope, weave a mesh on the frame of the cart. The pattern can be arbitrary, as well as the density of weaving. Everything here will depend on the size of the goods that you are going to transport on the cart. Tighten all bolts thoroughly.

The cart is ready. Now you can attach it to the bike.

rukami.boltai.com

Make a bike trailer with your own hands or buy in a store?

Everyone answers this question for himself, depending on his financial capabilities. Often, factory bike trailers have a fairly high cost and relative monotony of design.

Making a trailer with your own hands opens up the possibility for creativity. During the implementation of the project, you can adjust the model to your own needs in terms of shape, color, design, etc. The use of improvised means reduces the cost.

Bicycle trailer manufacturing process

Creating a trailer is not an easy process and requires some preparation. This applies to the selection of the material base and certain knowledge and skills. You have to work with metal parts. You can use small-diameter pipes available on the farm, or purchase a metal profile.

wheels

You should consider the number of wheels of the bike trailer. You need to build on the purpose and conditions of use of the product (roads, village or city, maneuverability). You can use wheels from old children's bikes or purchase new ones.

Frame

This part is the basis of the entire trailer. For higher reliability, the frame should be made simpler, without complex parts. As a basis, you can take a ready-made scheme, which is full on the Internet and books in the Do-It-Yourself series.

The drawing is best done by hand in order to have an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe design. Start cutting metal should be after repeated checks of all dimensions.

Platform

The platform can be built from various materials(board, MDF, metal). It all depends on the conditions and imagination. A platform made of MDF and wood requires preliminary preparation of a metal frame, which is attached to the frame. If you plan to carry a light load in the trailer (tent, sleeping bag, etc.), you can make a platform only from wood.

Mounting the trailer to the bike (drawbar)

The drawbar is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of a bicycle trailer. Ease of use and maneuverability depend on its design. You can make this element in the form of a triangle, connecting into one guide.

The simplest option would be to connect two pipes in series. The guide should provide the entire structure with a vertical position.

Direct attachment to the bicycle frame is most conveniently done in the form of a hinged bracket, which is attached to the guide axle of the saddle. The hinge adds a smooth ride when turning and does not create additional pressure on the bike frame.

What will be needed?

Before starting, prepare necessary materials and the basic tool with which the actual work will be done.

Materials:

• Steel or aluminum square profile (you can also use a round profile);
• metal plates;
• Bolts with nuts and washers;
• ball joint;
• The required number of wheels, depending on the design;

Tools:

• Angle grinder with a cutting and grinding disc (popularly a grinder);
• Electric drill;
• Drills of a diameter commensurate with the bolts;
• Welding machine (can be rented);
• Square, tape measure, pencil, marker;
• A hammer;
• Bolt wrenches;
• Gloves and goggles (do not forget about safety)

Manufacturing steps

1. You should roughly draw the final model of the bike trailer and otherwise build on it. First of all, you need to draw (or at least draw) a design diagram. Calculate all the dimensions of the parts and places for drilling holes and plot the data on the diagram.
2. At the next stage, we cut the details from the metal profile according to the size and drill the necessary holes.
3. We collect the base. We connect the parts with bolts (they can also be welded using a welding machine, followed by grinding the seams). It should be a rectangle. On the long side, we mount additional rectangles into which the wheels will be installed (the width of the rectangles must correspond to the width of the wheel hub).
4. The base must be reinforced with crossbars, which are welded or bolted.
5. We prepare and install seats for the wheels. We cut out four blanks from metal plates with a grinder, in which we drill or cut grooves for the wheel hub. We weld the blanks to the frame.
6. We assemble and weld the sidewalls, which will later be the side walls.
7. We make and attach a drawbar. The easiest way is to make a drawbar from two metal profiles (pipes). One is located vertically and is welded to the frame, the second is horizontal and is attached to the upper end of the first pipe. The height of the drawbar is adjustable according to the bike being used. A ball joint is attached to the front of the drawbar.
8. At the final stage, we make the bottom and side walls.
9. Seats are attached last if the trailer is passenger.

What is a bike trailer for?

At the moment, there are several varieties of bicycle trailers, which are just divided according to the principle of their functions:

• Freight. Based on the name, they are used to transport overall and heavy cargo, in the absence of the ability to use vehicles. Equipped cargo trailers boards and an awning, and also have a rigid welded frame. The load capacity can reach 90-100 kg. Weight - 10-20 kg.
• Tourist. Serve as indispensable assistants in cycling tourism. In fact, these are the same cargo trailers, but adapted to more extreme operating conditions. The tourist trailer is lighter and more maneuverable and has a small carrying capacity (up to 50 kg). Weight - 3-10 kg.
• Baby.Designed to transport children. Depending on the age of the child, there are two types of children's trailers:
• Trailer. Has a seat with belts and an awning from a rain. Two-wheeled.
• Semitrailer. It is an elongated frame of a children's bicycle and is attached to its front part. One wheel.

Bicycle trailers have become widespread in society. This is primarily due to the wide range of functions they perform. These devices help to transport goods, travel and just enjoy cycling with your family.

My self-made trolley - a bicycle trailer, completely assembled by myself (Fig. 1), is designed to carry goods weighing up to 150 kg, consists of a body connected to a bicycle with a drawbar and a coupling device. The body rests on two wheels, each of which is fixed on the body with the help of two supports: internal (from the corner) and external (from the pipe). The body is a box with dimensions of 710x560x380 mm (I adapted the body of an old refrigerator as a body). And in order not to cut his hands on the upper edges of the box, and also to give them rigidity, he put on the edges of the box an aluminum tube with a diameter of 14 mm (not shown in Fig. 1) with a slot cut along it. The tube was attached to the walls of the box with rivets. A body of this size can hold up to 15 buckets of liquid or bulk cargo.

As the wheels of a home-made bicycle trailer, I used (with refinement) the front wheels of a road bike model 111-321 of the Minsk Motor Bike Plant. Thus, the wheels of the trolley and the bicycle have the same tubes and tires 622x40/28x13/4”/.

The bicycle is additionally equipped with a purchased stop, which ensures a stable vertical position of the iron horse on vacation. The body is also equipped with a stop (telescopic) that prevents the tongue from lowering when using a bicycle cart as a hand wheelbarrow. (The stops are not shown in Fig. 1 for simplicity).

A simple bike trailer can be made with wood, plastic pipes or metal. In the first two cases, it is easy to do without welding, and a metal model is suitable for a one-wheeled bicycle trailer.

How to make a bike trailer out of wood

A wooden trailer is best suited for children's bikes. It does not withstand heavy loads, but 20 kg is enough to transport small loads.

Materials required for crafting

1. Two wheels (10 inches),
2. Plywood panel (4x4 feet),
3. Thin board and plastic
4. Boards 2x4 (8 feet long),
5. Glue,
6. putty,
7. Multi-color paint
8. square steel pipe,
9. PVC pipe,
10. fixing tools,
11. Drill,
12. A circular saw
13. Screwdriver,
14. Other working tools and small fixtures.

Manufacturing instructions

Side panels and floor

The side panels of the bike trailer and the bottom are cut from plywood sheets. The walls should have a semicircular shape. The floor panel is 15 inches wide and the same length as the side panels (31 inches).

After cutting, all three parts are fastened with screws - the holes in them are drilled in advance, with a drill of a smaller diameter. The base surface of the trailer is primed with white paint.

Foundation strengthening

The mount will experience most of the load. If you correctly assemble the "skeleton", the trailer will not be deformed. To strengthen the trailer, two long pieces of board (14 inches) are placed on the front panel, at the top and bottom. The same board is attached to the bottom on the opposite side. Two long boards on the sides complete the "skeleton".

Boards are fastened with three screws to the floor and side panel.

Roof

The roof of the trailer must be made of flexible material. A thin board, a plastic panel, and (ideally) a large poster frame will do. Roof panel measures 14.75" x 36". You need to cut it with a sharp knife. After that, a primer paint is applied to the panel and the roof is attached to the trailer. The corners of the frame are painted in the desired color. They are attached to the roof with self-tapping screws. The distance between each is 6-8 inches.

Wheels and axle

A mark is made on the bottom of the trailer: where the axle will be placed. Two pieces of 15 inches in length are cut from plywood. One splits in half (approximately 2.5 inches wide). Smaller sections are attached to the bottom of the trailer with screws on both sides of the axle. A segment of greater width is attached from above. A piece of PVC pipe will be used as lining between the wheel bearings and the body. The wheels on the axle are held with clamps.

Door and other elements

A hole is cut in the roof of the trailer for the door. There are 2 inch holes on the sides. From the remaining piece you need to make the front bumper. It is held on the roof with glue. While the glue dries, it is reinforced with adhesive tape. When the bumper is dry, a coat of paint is applied to it.

The door is made from a piece of plastic. A panel of the desired length and width is cut out and attached to the roof with screws. After that, the door is painted with the same paint as the trailer.

Additional decor

You can additionally decorate the trailer: paint over the lower part with the paint that painted the corners and the bumper. This is easy to do using strips of duct tape. The trailer door will be closed with a latch-belt. On the one hand, it is held with a screw, on the other, a hook is attached, which pounces on the screw.

For safety, a strip of reflective material is attached to the trailer.

You can also add backlight. A 7 amp battery, a wire with a fuse and all wires are placed under the trailer door.

Fastening

In order for the trailer to be a trailer - to follow the vehicle - a piece of steel pipe is mounted to it (attached to the brackets with screws). A spring axle is attached to the pipe.

The trailer is ready to go on a long journey with your bike.

How to make a bicycle trailer out of plastic pipes

The advantage of a bicycle trailer PVC pipes is its greater strength than the chipboard version. Also, plastic pipes are not afraid of rain and high humidity in the garage.

Prototype

The disadvantages include the relative high cost of materials, the need for a soldering iron for soldering plastic pipes and the ability to use this tool.

In the nearest bike shop you need to buy:

1. Two 20 inch wheels
2. Mounting under the seat.

We weld the frame with a soldering iron for PVC pipes, you can rent it. As a bottom, we use pieces from a mesh fence, having previously painted them white.

We will make wheel mounts from galvanized metal and attach them with screws and nuts.

Do-it-yourself one-wheeled bicycle trailer

A single wheel trailer is more manoeuvrable, but in turn requires a stronger structure. Without self-welding, such a “carriage” cannot be made.

The prototype was the BOB Ibex trailer, which has a very good design, in particular a patented fastening method, but the price is not very low, so it was decided to make a wagon with our own hands.

Details and materials

Let's start assembling a homemade bike trailer by looking for the main components. And based on the details found, then we will develop a plan for further actions.

wheels

At first I thought about fitting a 20" BMX wheel, but ended up using 16" wheels like the original BOB trailers. I had several old children's bikes with 16" wheels, but I still decided to buy a new wheel.

shock absorber

I got a mechanical bike rear shock on ebay for $13 (including shipping). The pneumatic shock absorber is much better, but it is significantly more expensive. Bought 1/2″ bolts and nylon shims from local hardware store.

Swivel bracket and rear triangle

I used an old BMX fork as a swing arm for the rear wheel. The hinge was a steel bicycle hub, which I bought inexpensively at a local bike shop. Another fork was needed to build the vertical part of the rear triangle.

Frame

The frame is made of 1/2 inch thin wall metal tubing for wires. Each 10" tube cost $2.00. I needed four tubes. Before welding, be sure to grind the galvanized coating with a flap wheel.

Other components

I used steel plates (1/4″ and 1/8″), corners and a channel that were left over from previous projects. The old knitting needles acted as locking pins. In addition, we need a thin-walled metal tube one inch thick.

BOB quick release axle

It forms the basis of BOB's patented trailer attachment method. It is possible that the mount could be made independently, but it is still better to purchase a ready-made mount, since there should definitely not be any problems with it. I ordered a quick release axle from Amazon for $26. Another version of the quick release axle is also available for bikes with a solid rear axle.

Tools

The main tools that we will need to assemble a homemade bike trailer:

• 4" angle grinder with cut-off, sanding and flap wheels;
• Round and flat metal files;
• Pipe cutter for cutting a thin-walled metal tube for wires (a grinding disc was also used);
• Bending machine for thin-walled metal tube for wires (I only had 3/4″, but it worked for 1/2″);
• Drilling machine and hand drill;
• Bench grinder and disc-shaped wire brush;
• Wire feeder or MIG welding machine;
• Openwork saw with blades for cutting metal;
• Marking tools, cutters, punches;

Swivel bracket and rear triangle designs

Since the BMX fork is designed for 20″ wheels, and I used a 16 inch wheel, there were a few extra inches left that could be used for my own purpose - to attach a shock absorber.

I welded a piece of channel to the top of the fork (you can also use a corner), to which, in turn, I attached a shock absorber. I cut out the 1.5″ x 1.5″ (or 1.25″ x 1.25″) shock mounts from two steel angles.

I cut out two more shock mounts for the top and mocked up the rear triangle. The second bicycle fork served as vertical supports for the rear triangle. I used a steel bushing as a fulcrum in the fork for the swing arm. Using a steel angle, I outlined the required length of the vertical fork after trimming. I also needed a steel angle to attach the shock mount to the vertical fork legs.

We cut off the fork stem and attach the rounded groove to the steel sleeve. Since the diameter of the fork was larger than the diameter of the bushing, you will have to work a little with a hammer on the stem of the fork to fit the groove size to the dimensions of the bushing.

Weld the channel to the swivel bracket of the fork, and solder the lower part of the mount to the channel.

Weld a steel sleeve to the yoke tube pivot bracket. First you need to remove the axle and bearings.

Weld the steel angle to upper parts cut off fork legs. Weld the top of the shock absorber mount to the corner. Then sand the edges.

Finally, bolt the steel hub axle to the fork legs. Attach the shock absorber with a 1/2″ bolt and nylon grommets to the top and bottom of the mount.

Trailer fork dropouts

If you follow BOB terminology, then the part of the trailer that attaches to the rear axle of the bicycle should be called the fork. To get started on this part of the project, I had to wait for the cam axle to arrive from Amazon. Dropout contact with BOB's special eccentric mounting system allows the trailer to pivot up and down around the bike's rear axle. It is necessary to install the axle on the bike, check the clearances, and also measure the diameter and width of the dropouts.

We start manufacturing with a sketch of a dropout made from a photo from the Internet. Using the dimensions mentioned above, I made a paper template. To cut two dropouts, use a 1/4 inch thick steel plate at hand. To cut the dropouts, you will need a round old plate with a large hole in the middle. In size, it should approximately correspond to the size of the template.

Using an openwork saw with metal cutting blades, I cut off a large piece from the plate and then drilled a 9/16 inch diameter dropout hole. If the plate is thicker than the socket on the eccentric mount, then it will have to be grinded a little at the connection point so that it can fit into the socket.

Then we drill two small holes in the plates so that they can be fastened together with small screws. Then we grind them again so that they match each other as much as possible. One of the holes will be used to hold the locking pin in place with a large piece of steel nail welded on.

A locking pin made from a stainless steel spoke prevents the dropout from popping out of the eccentric mount. How to drill small holes through the legs of the dropout, see the sketch and photo. The needle is inserted into the holes, bent at an acute angle, and then passed behind the bolt and brought out above.

trailer fork

The fork allows the trailer to move laterally.

This swivel tube was fabricated using a 10" long 1" thin wall metal tube and 5/16" x 1 1/4" washers welded on top and bottom.

The washers are held together by a 5/16" stud with nuts that act as the anchor point for this design. Washers need to be welded to the tube and sanded. A cap nut was used on one side of the rod. Before welding, be sure to grind the galvanized coating of the pipe with a flap wheel.

The trailer fork frame is made of 1/2″ thin-walled metal tubes that were bent using a bending machine. Before being welded to the dropouts, the frame was sanded with a 4" sanding wheel. The two lower frame tubes were first welded to the dropouts and then to the pivot tube. The top two pipes were welded in the same way. To facilitate trailer rotation, nylon spacers were placed on top and bottom of the pivot tube.

trailer frame

The trailer frame was made from 1/2 inch thin wall metal tube.

The manufacture of the frame begins with two segments of the upper and lower parts of the frame. Since it is quite difficult to create an even semicircle of a large radius in the front of the trailer, like in BOB trailers, you can limit yourself to a small bend radius and short straight bridges between the upper and lower parts of the frame. At this stage, we do not pay attention to the total length of the pipes - the main thing is that the upper and lower parts of the frame exactly match each other.

We start assembling the frame with a sketch. According to it, we make models, according to which we will assemble the frame in metal.

Cut out the base plates from 1/8 inch steel and weld them on the front to the top and bottom of the frame at an angle, as in the breadboard. The base plates were attached to the top and bottom of the pivot tube, thus defining the location of the bottom and top front of the frame frame.

Then, on each side, I welded vertical struts between the down tubes and the top tubes.

Tubular Frame for Bicycle Trailer Frame

To determine the desired length of the frame, you will have to make a layout again. We weld the upper transverse part, cut the side rails to the desired length and welded the vertical racks at the back.

Diagonal baffles on each side are needed to reinforce the rigidity of the frame. You can also take large steel nails, cut them off and weld them into the holes in the bottom of the diagonal baffles so that they act as a spring damper at the joints.

Frame bottom

The bottom of the frame is made of special metal mesh, which can be bought at a hardware store. Unless it will be difficult to find a sheet large enough so that one sheet can completely cover the bottom of the frame. You can use an old garden cart. Cut out from the cart metal mesh and clean it in several places from rust.

Before deciding on the final size of the metal mesh, we weld the vertical part of the rear triangle to the back of the frame. Then cut the metal mesh around the fork legs and weld the metal mesh to the bottom of the frame. Next, you need to grind all the sharp and rough edges of the mesh.

Painting a homemade trailer

Now everything is ready. You can start painting our homemade bike trailer.

After painting

Finally, the homemade trailer is painted and looks pretty good. We recommend using Rustoleum Hammered Bronze paint, which gives the metal a forged effect, improving appearance welds. But, if you paint at a temperature of more than 30 ° C, then this effect won't show up at all.

However, the homemade bike trailer has been given a beautiful metallic bronze finish. The final weight of the homemade bicycle trailer was 10 kg. The last thing to do is to make a belt mount for the locking pins so they don't get lost during the ride.

Finishing touches

Safety mount for safety pins

It is necessary to make narrow strips of bicycle chambers. We pierce one end with a locking pin, and the other with a bolt, which we then fix into a hole next to the fork dropout.

This ensures that the locking pin is not lost if it pops out and is always at hand when hitching up the trailer.

Top tube padding

The top tube is padded with foam (two 6-inch lengths, each costing $0.97). To fix the foam, you will need several plastic clamps. The padding protects the paint from large items that may be peeking out of the basket and also reduces slip resistance when large items are strapped to the top tube.

At the beginning of the spring season, when the sun begins to shine and people are drawn to vacation, I decided to build a bicycle trailer with my own hands - my own bike trailer. I have read many trailer comparisons in order to find the best solution for my needs.
I intend to make a trip along the river in the summer for at least 3 days with my friends and lugging backpacks is not very practical. The idea of ​​a bike trailer where you can easily transport tents, a mattress and whatever cargo you want came to me.

Step 1. 1 or 2 wheels?

I have read many threads on the forums about the issue...
Since the road will be one track for many kilometers, a one-wheeled trailer seemed to me the best solution.
I have discovered two main designers of bicycle trailers:
- Bob (http://www.bobgear.com/)
- Aevon (http://www.aevon-trailers.com/)
These constructors use different fastening solutions. Bob's trailers use the rear axle as a trailer anchorage point, while Aevon's use a frame tube under the seat.
I decided to make the trailer as similar as possible to the Aevon trailer.

Step 2. Selection of materials

I bought:
- 8 meters 1 cm square steel pipe (less than 1 kg per meter)
- 2 meters 2.2 cm square steel pipe
- 0.5L of shiny black paint
From recycled materials:
- 2 frames from "heavy" bikes
- 16" wheels
- 1 front fork from a 16" fender bike
- 2 meters of used round pipes
- Steel scraps

Total cost: 30 €

Step 3. Center axle section

I welded this frame out of 2.2 cm square tubing. This frame is designed to strengthen the trailer on its bottom, and is also used as a trailer hitch to attach the trailer to the rear of the bike. It has been divided into 4 parts:

Bottom 78 cm
- Front 44 cm
- The first part of the towbar 35 cm
- The second part of the tow bar 42 cm

Step 4 Hitch

This stage is the most difficult. Indeed, the device must be strong enough to withstand the force of 12 kilograms of luggage in rough road conditions. None of the options offered on the network suited me due to the insufficient stability of the bicycle trailer. Therefore, the final decision, made by myself, is as follows: from 2 x 4 cm round pipes welded perpendicularly, a jumper is formed. The vertical part of the axle is on the bike side and the horizontal part of the axle is on the trailer side.

On a bicycle, a structure is welded from plates in order to secure the vertical axis. This part is attached to the seat tube using 2 U-bolts. In order for this design to fit snugly against the seat tube, special recesses are made on it, which tightly cover the seat tube.
On the trailer side, two drilled iron plates were welded onto the towbar extension to create a horizontal axle.

Step 5 Detachable hitch

To make it easy to store the trailer, the towbar extension must be removable. It was cut off 10 cm from the trailer. The connection between the 2 parts of the towbar extension is carried out using a larger square pipe, put on the cut parts of the towbar. The screw interlocks the parts of the towbar and the outer square tube.

Step 6. Trailer basket

2 frames were built from 1 cm square steel pipe:

76 cm x 40 cm bottom frame
- 112 cm x 40 cm top frame
Both frames are related:
- 2 x 40 cm lintels on the front side of the trailer
- 2 x 25 cm lintels on the back of the trailer
As a result, the basket was welded to a 2 cm square tube of the central axle of the trailer.
At the bottom of the basket, 2 sections of 38 cm were welded in order to consolidate the trailer.
On both sides, 2 round pipes were welded on the trailer to prevent the bags from falling off the trailer.
Once all the parts were welded, I cleaned everything up and painted it shiny black.

Step 7 Testing

I tested this DIY bike trailer on a short run of about 50 km. I loaded a tent and a sleeping bag into the trailer along with a backpack and drove along the dusty paths. The bicycle trailer was well-behaved, following the bicycle in its tracks during the turn. I didn't feel the load, it was very easy to tow. I will buy a large volume waterproof bag to put in it. The next step is to use the bike trailer for what it was designed for: an autonomous trip for a few days...

On the topic of homemade bicycle technology -. For lovers of creativity - creating a bicycle with your own hands.

Despite the growth in popularity, the bicycle is still perceived as a sports equipment or fun for children and teenagers. But this is fundamentally wrong, since it is able to perform many of the functions that are usually assigned to cars. The bicycle as a cheap urban transport is gaining momentum, but you will rarely see cargo models on the roads of the former USSR. Apparently, the inertia of thinking is to blame for this. But in other countries, a special bike carrying passengers or goods is not at all a rarity, but a common occurrence. There are a large number of different cargo vehicles, the design of which is adapted specifically to these purposes, but their use is far from always justified. In many cases, it is much easier to use a dedicated bike trailer or cart.

Advantages and disadvantages of bicycle trailers

Cargo bikes do their job perfectly. They are two- and three-wheeled, capable of carrying a very significant weight and undemanding to maintain. However, their main drawback is the lack of versatility. You can’t go for a walk or to the store on them. For these purposes, you will have to buy another bike. Also, they take up too much space.

But a bicycle trolley is a completely different matter. If you need to transport something, it attaches to an ordinary bike in a matter of minutes, and you can hit the road. After the task is completed, the trolley detaches just as easily, and you are free to go wherever you want on your bike. Therefore, they are used mainly for commercial purposes, and in everyday life a bicycle trailer is much more practical and expedient.

Bicycle carts have a number of other advantages. First of all, it is multifunctional. There are models of trailers that, through simple manipulations, turn from a loading platform into an ordinary hand truck or even a garden wheelbarrow. In some of these devices, passenger seats are easily installed, and in the end you get a kind of rickshaw. Another advantage is the small size. In addition, the bike cart can be folded for easy storage and transportation. Another plus is ease of operation, since the basis of the trailer, as a rule, are ordinary bicycle wheels. The maintainability of the load-bearing structural elements is also very high.

At the same time, bicycle trailers are not without some disadvantages. Compared to special cargo bikes, they have a significantly lower carrying capacity and capacity. If 150 kg is far from the limit for a bicycle truck, then most carts are designed for a maximum of 50–60 kg.

While driving, the trailer can wag from side to side, it skids quite a lot on corners, and the bike’s maneuverability is significantly degraded. Certain restrictions are also imposed on the type of bike that acts as a tractor. If you have a road bike, you can immediately discard the thought of transporting goods. You will need something more powerful, with a strong frame and thick wheels - city bike, hybrid or mountain bike. In addition, when driving, the trolley is at the back, out of your field of vision, and you cannot see what is happening with the cargo or passengers.

Bicycle cart device

When it comes to bicycle carts, they usually put an equal sign between them and trailers, but this is not entirely correct. Both of these concepts denote a special device designed to carry goods or passengers, but there are certain differences in their design. A trailer can only have one wheel, while a cart must have at least two. We can say that any cart is a trailer, but not every trailer is a cart. Single-wheeled trailers are used primarily by tourists and travelers to carry luggage, but we are primarily interested in their use for more utilitarian and mundane purposes.

So, a bicycle cart usually has two to four wheels that are attached to a special frame. Such a frame can be made of metal, and in some cases - of wood. Typically, industrial designs use square or round pipes made of steel or aluminum alloys. Wood, due to its cheapness and ease of processing, is widely used in the products of home craftsmen.

As a rule, bicycle wheels with spokes are used in the design of trailers, their diameter does not really matter and can be very different. Some models come with solid metal wheels with solid rubber tires, similar to those found on children's bicycles and hand luggage carts. The axle of each wheel is fixed separately in the frame in special landing nests, similar to bicycle dropouts. A common axle for wheels is rarely used.

The trolley is connected to the bicycle using a special rigid hitch or drawbar. Attachment points may vary depending on the design of the trailer. The most common are the seatpost, rear axle, chain stays or chain stays, and the trunk. Fixation is carried out using a hinge or coupling. A towbar is installed on some models. Many do-it-yourselfers use chains, cables, cables and other improvised devices, but such fasteners are unreliable and can be dangerous.

Attaching the trolley to the seat tube

Many trailers are equipped with fenders and mudguards to protect cargo and passengers from dirt and stones flying from under the wheels, as well as shock absorbers.

Types of bicycle trailers

As we have already noted, trailers can have from one to four wheels. Single-wheeled trailers are not suitable for transporting bulky luggage, so we will focus on two-wheeled carts. Depending on the field of application, they can be divided into several main types:

Universal trucks perfectly adapted for transporting anything, whether it is a crop at their summer cottage, building materials or small-sized furniture. The load capacity of a conventional trolley largely depends on the quality of the materials from which it is made, and averages about 50 kg. In more capacious versions, very strong pipes are used, and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe platform is increased.

Cargo trolley 120 kg

Passenger trailers are designed to provide their riders with the greatest comfort and safety. Many of them pass special crash tests. These carts are wider than cargo carts and have a lower center of gravity, which allows you to maintain stability in turns. They are also equipped with seat belts, an awning and shock absorbers, and sometimes a luggage compartment.

Children's carts similar to passenger, but may have some features. They are also equipped with an awning and soft seats. In addition, many models provide the possibility of using them as a light stroller for a child.

Thule Chariot Cougar Multifunctional Trailer

Commercial Bicycle trolleys are primarily large in size, otherwise their use would be unprofitable. Most often they are used as mobile outlets, therefore they are equipped with special equipment, for example, a refrigeration unit for selling ice cream, a counter with taps and a place for kegs with beer, a coffee machine, and so on. Also on such trailers are installed marker lights and other optics necessary for movement on public roads.

Do-it-yourself bike cart assembly

As we have already found out, a bicycle trailer is a very necessary and useful thing in the household that can be used for a variety of purposes. The only bad thing is that the cost of a high-quality trolley often exceeds the price of the bike itself, and a low-quality one is not needed for nothing, as it will fall apart overnight. The way out of this situation will be to assemble such a device with your own hands, which will not be difficult for a qualified home craftsman.

So, to make the simplest cart, we need two bicycle wheels of the same size, several round or square steel pipes, four thick metal plates, bolts with nuts, boards or plywood, and some other little things. You also need a welding machine, drill and wrenches.

Before assembling the base of the cart, you need to determine the dimensions. The pipes should be cut so that two of them are equal in length to the width of the trailer. They will be the front elements. The length of the remaining four, which will become the sidewalls, should be equal to the length of the trolley minus twice the thickness of the pipes. Now all these elements need to be welded in such a way that the wheel freely enters between the outer and inner sidewalls. The result should be something similar to what is shown in the figure below, only we did not bend anything, and therefore the corners are straight everywhere. We also do not have crossbars, but for greater strength they can also be welded.

Trolley base

Now you should take the metal plates and make cutouts in them of such a size that the axles of our wheels sit easily but tightly in them. These plates will act as dropouts and need to be welded to the frame.

Mounting wheels on the frame

On the resulting base, you can lay the flooring from boards or plywood, install a box, seats or any other equipment that you think is necessary on it. To fix it on the frame, you will first have to drill holes in it, and bolts with nuts are used for fixing.

That's all, our homemade cart turned out to be no worse than the purchased one, and we made it with our own hands, spending quite a bit of time, effort and money. All that remains is to think of a suitable connection with which your new trailer will be connected to the bike. One of the most simple ways is fastening to the rear axle of the bike using a drawbar and a hinge, but you can use some other method, fortunately, there are quite a few of them, and it will not be difficult to find the appropriate drawings.

Attaching the trolley to the rear axle of the bike

Bicycle carts have proven to be a very convenient and versatile device that significantly expands the transport capabilities of a conventional bike. Modern industry produces a large number of a wide variety of devices of this type, and choosing the right one for your needs and financial capabilities is not difficult. You can also make a bicycle trailer yourself, and in this case you will not only save money, but also get great pleasure from the process itself.