Carry Freedom - new hitch?

[speedsixdave]

Evening all,

About a year ago I asked for opinions about using Carry Freedom trailers for a possible surveying project. I'm excited to say that the project is now grinding into action and I have two brand spanking new Carry Freedoms (one large, one small) cluttering up my office. Am now awaiting a couple of big aluminium boxes from UKshelving.com, as recommended by Mick F.

Trailers arrived today from SJS cycles, but I was surprised to find that both trailers have the old metal hitch rather than the new elastomer hitch I have seen mentioned elsewhere. My question is this: is there any reason to worry about having the older hitch? New hitches seem to be about £25 each so I'm not going to buy two unless there is something wrong with the old hitch. And should I be having a moan at SJS for mebbe selling old stock without advertising as such?

When we're all set up and ready for action I'll post some snaps and more details about the project too.

Thanks,

Dave

[Mick F]

Hi Dave,
Hope you're happy with the boxes!

As for the hitch, I think it's not in full distribution yet - I think I'm right, but it may be "old news", and they are rolling out with them now. It would be a throughput thing though, as older stock get consumed.

The new hitch is certainly quieter and maintenance-free. On a long rides, the old mechanical hitch would need tightening and cleaning every day or two. The elastomer one should be fit and forget.

The hitch that fits on the dropout is now MUCH bigger, and a little obtrusive when the trailer isn't on. I would leave the old hitch on my bike before, but now I won't with this new one. The new one is an Ankle Biter if you're pushing your bike!

If you give the nice chaps at CF a ring, they sell the new hitch to existing CF owners cheaper. I paid £15 for mine.

[Graham]

Has the stub-axle problem been resolved yet ??

[Mick F]

Hi Graham,
Yes. The axle problem has been cured.

Briefly, there was a production run with the dodgy axles. CF did a recall, and replaced MOST of them. The axles failed quite quickly, but I managed 3000 odd miles on mine before they failed! and somehow I escaped the recall.

The axle problems are gone now, and although I believe that they are safe and solid, I'm even safer as mine are permanently fitted rather than removable.

[Starfire]

I've been in contact with Nick Lobnitz at Carry Freedom recently and placed an order for the new style hitch, the cost is £15.00 including post. They will be available from mid February 2010.

[speedsixdave]

Thanks for your answers, guys. I'll probably stick with the old hitches for a while and see how they do, with a keen eye on the mechanicals. Daily distances are going to be small - hardly ever ten miles in a day - but the trailers will be carrying many thousands of pounds worth of surveying kit and I don't want them breaking free and sailing off under a bus.

Now that I write that the £15 each for new hitches sounds like a ha'porth of tar. Hmm. Does that get you just the one anklebiter bracket? I liked that the trailers came with three bike brackets each, although they might not all get used.

[Cunobelin]

I found that at first there is a slight lag on the new hitch, this was resolved by placing a couple of spacers to stop the "lollipop" moving up and down on the fixing bolt

[Mick F]

Mine only came with one Ankle Biter hitch.

The thing is, the old hitches could be left happily on all your bikes, but the new one wouldn't be happy at all! Maybe that's why I only got one!

This shot is of the New versus the Old.

[speedsixdave]

New one looks thicker, too, which is not so good for my Battleship. Between the thick rohloff dropouts and the thick non-turn washer on the Nexus 8 in there at the moment, there's not much thread left. I'm already thinking about filing the non-turn washer a bit thinner for more security, and a thicker bracket would exacerbate the problem even more.

[Mick F]

Just measured .....

Old hitch is 3mm thick
New hitch is 4mm thick

It may only be a mm, but it's 33.3% thicker!