Bike trailers ?

[Deafie]

Never tow more than half of your own weight. So if ya weigh 180lbs the trailer and contents can weigh 90lbs. If you weigh 265 you can lug 130lbs and still control it. But, the smaller you are, the smaller your touring load. This works pretty well with full trailers and automobiles too.

That's an interesting comment. Where did you get that from?

 

[brommieinkorea]

That's an interesting comment. Where did you get that from?

For full trailers, the law in many US states reads somewhere around less than 2/3 of the towing vehicles weight, without proper brakes. This for automobiles , US laws make almost no mention of even the existence of bicycle trailers.
Lots of experience pulling bike trailers and the 50% rule works pretty well. Axle mounted always seems better than seatpost, all things being equal.
I've pulled many bicycle trailers:
Wike Moonlite, 40lb kid plus 20 lbs of his junk, pulled very well. About 85lb total, I was 175lbs. Stable and solid, even at 45mph.
Bob Yak, rated at 70 lb capacity, barely stable at that weight, try 30 lbs.
Burley Nomad, will haul an 80lb toolbox, making gross trailer weight 95lbs, hard to stop but pulled and tracked o.k. stable at 45mph with 45 lb load.
S. Winchester Originals, steel child trailer, tracked well, but a little heavy. Hauled about 40lbs reliably(no kids).
Burley Travoy, seatpost mount, folds well, it feels wobbly and handling and braking go to hell starting at 35lbs cargo. Empty it's fairly tippy, so you don't want to drop it off of a curb. Pulls beautifully empty, I don't take this one over 20mph.

 

[alanuni]

I've carried 10-20kg on a Bob Yak (single wheel, single-side axle mount) and I didn't notice it affecting the handling or steering the bike from behind. Rather I'd say it was a lot less noticeable, and followed the bike much better, than a two-wheel trailer (also axle mount).

Neither is great if you have to manoeuvre the bike by pushing it backwards but the Bob Yak was rather worse for that tho....

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

How easy and quick are they to hook on and off??

I have often thought of getting one for shopping - but I would need it to be easy to hook on before leaving - then hook off again after i get back??

 

[wiggydiggy]

How easy and quick are they to hook on and off??

I have often thought of getting one for shopping - but I would need it to be easy to hook on before leaving - then hook off again after i get back??

It's pretty quick, a couple mins, my own problem is unique to me in that the trailer is 1cm too wide to wheel down the side of the house and I have to carry it. It's a bit of a faff and I don't use it as often because of that.

 

[Deafie]

How easy and quick are they to hook on and off??

I have often thought of getting one for shopping - but I would need it to be easy to hook on before leaving - then hook off again after i get back??

My trailer attaches to the bike by putting a 3" nail through the elastamer at the end of the trailrer arm and the bracket held on the bike by the QR axle. The wheels detach by means of a button in the centre of the axle. I can detach and dismantle the trailer in about 10 seconds

 

[Deafie]

For full trailers, the law in many US states reads somewhere around less than 2/3 of the towing vehicles weight, without proper brakes. This for automobiles , US laws make almost no mention of even the existence of bicycle trailers.
Lots of experience pulling bike trailers and the 50% rule works pretty well. Axle mounted always seems better than seatpost, all things being equal.
I've pulled many bicycle trailers:
Wike Moonlite, 40lb kid plus 20 lbs of his junk, pulled very well. About 85lb total, I was 175lbs. Stable and solid, even at 45mph.
Bob Yak, rated at 70 lb capacity, barely stable at that weight, try 30 lbs.
Burley Nomad, will haul an 80lb toolbox, making gross trailer weight 95lbs, hard to stop but pulled and tracked o.k. stable at 45mph with 45 lb load.
S. Winchester Originals, steel child trailer, tracked well, but a little heavy. Hauled about 40lbs reliably(no kids).
Burley Travoy, seatpost mount, folds well, it feels wobbly and handling and braking go to hell starting at 35lbs cargo. Empty it's fairly tippy, so you don't want to drop it off of a curb. Pulls beautifully empty, I don't take this one over 20mph.

My experience towing trailers would back all you say up. Useful info there.