Best rack setup

[aero07]

I want to be able to pull a child's
trailer.(See picture) I might have to go with an in frame mount
but was wanting some input on the best rack mount
to use. As for as power and torque.
I need some expert advise please.

 

[bamabikeguy]

I would not recommend carrying a live child at over 10 mph in one of those, especially if your Alabama roads are like mine.

It's a nice thought, and I have one fella who carries 8-10 watermelons to town in season, another with an insulated pizza delivery setup.

But those are low speed carriers, only weigh 5-8 pounds I'd guess.

And if I was set on the idea, I might think electric, short trips and able to carry on a conversation with the passenger.

 

[aero07]

I know - out there somewhere - they're people who take chances with there children, but I'm not one of those guys. We mostly ride in parks where we camp. We usually go really slow but some of the terrain can get kind of tough for a single speed crusier pulling a trailer. I wasn't going to use it all the time, only when needed. I really didn't need parenting advise what I need is a recommedation on the best setup for a rack mount with the best torque for pulling hills yet still be able to go 25mph or so when not pulling the trailer. Thanks for the advise all the same. If anyone has a recommendation on a setup I would appreciate it.

 

[mlcorson]

I'd be looking at a Staton chain drive kit. I would get the sprocket(s) that would accommodate the best low speed torque. However, that may limit your top end speed. I would discuss this with David Staton before purchase. In the end, there will be a trade off somewhere between power vs speed. Hope this helps.
-mike

 

[JemmaUK]

Personally I would go with the GEBE 32cc 2-stroke kit.

Enough power to lug bike + rider + trailer + kidling with enough power to spare from stock - and no chance of a flailing broken chain slamming into the childs face... at any speed that could kill.

Its also possible to pipe that motor - using a tanaka manufacturer part although since you are considering pulling a child you might want to fab up some sort of exhaust extender out past the back of the trailer - with the added advantage to keep the lil ones warm and with a large flat silencer fitted under the trailer... would make for quiet running (piped GEBE can be quite raucous)

I would also suggest getting the slow running gear because with the standard gear the 32cc engine doesnt like slow speeds much - like all two strokes it thrives on revs.

Jemma xx

 

[strotter]

My $.02
I have a Honda 50, staton friction drive, 1.5" rollar on a tandem. I pull a cargo trailer with up to 50lbs in it. I need to pedal from 0-10mph to get it going. After that the little honda has enough torque to pull me, passenger and cargo up to 30mph.

I just ordered the staton "axle kit" with a subaru 33. I will be putting it on a beach cruiser. I also pull a trailer on that bike too. I will post how it does. (next weekend's project)

 

[bamabikeguy]

MB.advise is free and entirely optional.

But it is also intended to not only address the thread-starter, it also gives casual or interested readers a balanced look at a project idea.

Searching "bike trailer" not only brings up THIS thread:

http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=24382&highlight=trailer

At the very bottom of that page are 5 more similar threads, including one from spunout in the buy/sell category.

I looked into such a request a couple of years ago, and was merely passing along the "Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute", "Should You Take Your Baby Along?" advise I found back then.

For instance, they are banned in NY.

http://www.bhsi.org/little1s.htm

Most parents have no idea how rough a ride it can be in a trailer. The wheels are directly under the passenger, so bumps are transmitted more directly: one inch rise in wheel = one inch rise in trailer. The same analysis applies to a child carrier that is located directly over the rear wheel of a bicycle. We have no idea how hard can you jiggle a baby's brain without provoking injury

As a trained researcher, I found your conclusion that the AMA article "Tykes and Bikes" found that trailers are safer than carriers somewhat misleading. Carriers are indeed involved in substantially more accidents, but there was no weight given to the relative popularity of trailers and carriers, hence no conclusion can be made about relative safety (i.e. carriers may be far more popular). Safety also is a matter of severity of injury, and the article found that trailers have a much higher incidence (33% vs. 5%) of severe injuries (i.e. those requiring hospitalization). This is probably because trailer accidents are more likely to involve cars (33% vs. 9%), although it may also be because children in trailers are less likely to be wearing helmets. In any case, the article concluded that the same number of hospitalizations were required regardless of method of transportation. If carriers are used much more than trailers, then one could conclude that carriers actually are safer in terms of major injuries. Of course, as you say the sample size is too small (and biased) to draw any firm conclusions.

Like I said, advise is entirely optional, but I would hate to invest $700 in a rack mount system to find the 2-cycle decibel level gets you in a bind with park rangers.

And while considering about rack mount possibilities and solutions, some casual reader might think about buying a multi-speed tandem bicycle built for two, putting a rack mount 4 stroke (cleaner/quieter) on the back. All's you need to order would be a longer throttle cable.

Then there are the MB.einsteins, who read these threads and go supersonic.

e.g. I saw on the news an Kentucky couple built a bicycle built for 5, and are touring the country on a $300 budget.

http://bikeblog.cyclingaroundtheworld.nl/?p=234

It’s no ordinary summer vacation. Imagine loading up the family for a 7,000 mile trek from Kentucky to Alaska. but not in the mini-van. On a bicycle built for 5. The Pedouin family is already on their way.

“Well, why? Because so many people shelve their dreams and we’ve had a dream of traveling. And we’re just blue collar folk and uh, I had a small business doing home repair and remodeling and still keeping very busy despite the downturn in the economy. And we just talked to a lot of people and they got old and never lived their dreams. and we love to do our dreams, and my wife loves to ride bikes and so we put it together, why don’t we travel by bike. and we’re going to fairbanks because I was there for 2 summers and enjoyed it and she wants to see what it is like,” says Amarins of of the five on the bike.

There are enough MB.geniuses on this forum to do something inspirational like this, somebody in Arizona put a hammock in the back section of a MB.tandem, iirc.

Anyway, good luck whatever you choose.

 

[eastwoodo4]

i cant help but imagine after the first 50 miles looking back at the kids and thinking,i gotta tote your asses all the way there?

thats insane!and dangerous!what a fruit loop.

ARE WE THERE YET?

 

[aero07]

i cant help but imagine after the first 50 miles looking back at the kids and thinking,i gotta tote your asses all the way there?

thats insane!and dangerous!what a fruit loop.

ARE WE THERE YET?

More useless bantering.

 

[augidog]

all i'll do is speak for myself, but you'll find my input eerily similar to bama's: i've seen enuff proposed projects & watched the progression of enuff of them to immediately call to mind certain common obstacles...and if i inquired into whether you'd already assertained the trailer's chassis is up to the task, i wouldn't expect you to hold it against me. imagine the potential disasters if you'd needed the advice and noone spoke up, eh?

"won't someone PLEASE think of the children"

anyhoo: i know the robin-subaru eho35 could do the trick, maybe even the 25 if you're keeping this real low-key for safety. very very clean & quiet, and equipped with a proper catalytic converter, if it's rack-mounted i wouldn't forsee a fume problem...imo of course....and the exhaust could always be re-routed with a bit of ingenuity if you felt like it.

also, the Golden Eagle belt-drive should be a serious contender when you make your drive-train choice...i've personally watched one (GEBE/RS35) in action on a schwinn tandem with two fairly heavy riders, so i know it can handle your intended payload. low-maintenance, smooth as silk.

so there ya go, some input so you can figure out what's best for you. now lemme ask ya this: what kind of bicycle are you gonna build to do this? are you up to speed on what the faster sustained speeds do to regular bicycle components? IF you're not, then you'll be glad i asked...good luck