[trailer] Cheaper alternative to the Carry Freedom Y Large?

[Winfried]

Hello,

I'm looking for a trailer that connects to the rear axle, and can haul pretty much anything. It will be used strictly in the city, and be rented to members through a bike co-op.

The Y Large trailer from Carry Freedom seems to foot the bill if I get the Extension arm and the Wide axle beam… for a grand total of about £500.

Before I go ahead, I'd like to make sure there is no cheaper alternative.

Thank you.

---
Edit: Does someone know where the Outeredge trailer could be ordered? I looked around, but it seems unavailable:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outeredge-Trai ... B00DW8UEA8

[foxyrider]

It is possible to do a self build using plans supplied by CF on't web. Not sure if it's any cheaper if you factor in time spent sourcing parts and building the thing.

[Winfried]

Thanks.

As an alternative to the full DIY option, Wike sells a set and you just need to get a board + axle :

https://wicycle.com/products/bike-trailers/diy

[SA_SA_SA]

It seems even though revamped, Carry Freedom still required one to decide to between small and large at purchase time, rather than having a small version that can have a Y-large-width axle bolted* on when needed.....



*they actually make a super and super-super wide bolt on axle but not one that is equal to the Y large width.

[Winfried]

I like the Carry Freedom, but I find £500 a bit steep for just a wood board, an axle, a pair of wheels, and a tow hitch

[reohn2]

I like the Carry Freedom, but I find £500 a bit steep for just a wood board, an axle, a pair of wheels, and a tow hitch

Yes it borders on scandalous

[Brucey]

there are lots of cheap trailers on e-bay but they are mostly cheap rubbish (low load ratings and highly questionable build quality) by comparison with something that is properly thought out.

At the other extreme Surly make two trailer models which are serious pieces of kit, but they are even more expensive than the carry freedom ones.

I've always said that if/when I want a trailer, I shall build one for myself. I wouldn't feel happy loaning it out to other members of a co-op will-nilly though, because they might find ways of breaking it that I hadn't thought of.

cheers

[Graham]

The Y-frame premium price relates to the proven design, pedigree and quality of construction.

If you are lucky you might pickup a Y-frame bargain on Ebay, even if the cost of transport to France is a lot of Euros. Although, they don't appear there very often.

There are hazards with the collective ownership of anything. A favourite(?) problem with cycle trailers is failure to check that the stub axle is locked in place. Thus a wheel falls off when in use. . . .. Nasty.

[Mick F]

A favourite(?) problem with cycle trailers is failure to check that the stub axle is locked in place. Thus a wheel falls off when in use. . . .. Nasty.

Don't bring this subject up!

I lost a wheel in Taunton - 75miles after leaving home.
The stub axles on mine were defective in that the the release buttons weren't secured and they unscrewed so all the locking mechanism fell out. I jammed the axle back in and carried on.

Following day near Bristol, the other wheel came out.
At that point, I abandoned my trip.

After consultation with CF, I glued in new axles AND cross-drilled them. They will never come out again, and TBH, I think it's a better design like that.

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[SA_SA_SA]

I like the Carry Freedom, but I find £500 a bit steep for just a wood board, an axle, a pair of wheels, and a tow hitch

Its not even explainable by being all made in the UK in small numbers: frame made in taiwan.

http://www.circecycles.com/products/accessories/luggage/#trailer-kit?
(uses CF lollipop hitch: NB I replaced the tow arm QR with a bolt to stop it rotating...)

[Tigerbiten]

I like the Carry Freedom, but I find £500 a bit steep for just a wood board, an axle, a pair of wheels, and a tow hitch

The trailer itself (the wooden board, an axle, a pair of wheels, and a tow hitch) is only around £250.
It's the other parts wanted (wider axles, longer hitch arm, etc) which extend the range of what the trailer do, that add roughly another £250 to the bill.

The first thing I'd to the trailer if you expect to long distances with a load is change the wheel bearing.
I found one of the four had a tendency to die after around 5k miles hard use.

[peasantpigcyclist]

Having broken a few trailers over 30+ year's,I bought a carryfreedom large as soon as they came to market. No issues with it apart from when loaded and hitting a pothole, the hitch bolted to the nearside axle would rotate and start to undo the axle bolt on the nexus hubs.
Made a small mod to the hitch cured this by welding a hook to the hitch,over the chain stay. Something they now do with a safety tether. Otherwise it has carried loads close to its weight limits many times., BL A SERIES engine /gearbox units, various engines,gearboxs from vans,regular trips to waste disposal site, (avoiding queuing for upto 1/2hr in the car!) shopping, carrying lawnmower, rotovators, furniture,collected four bags of compost for my father last week from local wickes end of season clearout!
It truly is a versatile trailer. Paid for itself many times over.
Tyres are beginning to perish,but not replaced a thing.
Bought the ortelieb bag for touring, but use 80ltr plastic tubs with lids on top of each other and a couple of ratchet straps to hold them in place. As a basic utility trailer it's great!