We are looking for a bike trailer for Christmas for our family. We have two kiddos, so we would need a double. Does anyone have any recommendations for a great trailer that doesn't cost a ton? I've been looking on Craigslist, but I would like to hear from you mamas first about good (or bad) ones to look for. We are open to either buying new or used if we find a good one.
Thanks!
**Clarification** I'm looking for the kind that your pull your kids in behind a bike
I have one from instep that I am getting ready to sell. I bought it for $140 and I am selling it for $50. It is still in great shape. However I am in Tucson. I loved it but my kids out grew it too quickly. I wasn't able to use it as often as I would have liked but when we did it was great and they love it too.
We have a Burley and while it is expensive, we justified the cost since it was triple purpose: bike trailer, double stroller and jogging stroller. I have to say, we use it all the time...I run with my daughter in it and she falls asleep almost immediately since its such a smooth ride, we took it on vacation with us and used it for both kids at theme parks, zoos etc. EVERYONE commented on it, btw. My only complaint is the fighting between the 2 of them while in it...can Burley do something about that for the next model? lol Perhaps you could find one used on Craigs list, I would recommend a higher end one if you plan on using it for a while, they really are well constructed.
I have the instep one, from craiglist $50, but you can buy them new for about $100 - it is great, I have carried my son, who is 70 lbs and my daughter at 30 a lot - it holds up to 100 pounds, so they are right on the limit, it holds up fine, and easy to pull
I wish I could suggest an inexpensive bike trailer, but I can't. They just aren't safe in the event of an accident. The best models on the market are Burley and Chariot. Both have superior construction, are made of stronger materials, and have strong roll bars. They are so much better and safer than Instep or anything you could get at Toys R Us. REI carries them as do some bike shops.
We have the Chariot Cougar and LOVE it. You buy it as a basic model and then you add the type of attachment you want: bike trailer, cross country skis, hiking harness, jogging stroller or regular stroller. It has a rain cover, bug shield, a huge storage basket and more. You can also buy an infant insert to use with the stroller or jogger set-up.
The Burley is equally good, except when you use it as a stroller the front wheel sticks out way in front and it just seems hazardous to others on a crowded sidewalk.
You can occasionally find used Chariots and Burleys on Craigslist. New you will spend between $300-$500. So again, not cheap, but VERY safe! Good luck and happy biking!
I have one for my car - I don't remember what brand but one feature that I found EXTREMELY helpful is that it pivots down. I have an SUV - with a hatch that opens from the bottom and swings up - with the bike rack in the hitch that's not possible. Thankfully I figured that out before I bought one - because there are some that don't have that feature - basically it is a pin at the bottom of the vertical bar - at the point where it turns to enter the trailer hitch itself - you just pull the pin, and the bike rack pivots down so you can access the back hatch. Good luck! I just re-read your post.....I may be way off. Are you looking for the little thing that attaches to the back of one of your bikes - kind of enclosed stroller like that you can cycle around with the kids behind you? I answered as if you are looking for a rack for your vehicle to take bikes elsewhere to ride. OOPS!
