Bike cargo trailer recommendations

We use a Thule Chariot for moving kids around. Both pulled by a bike and walking/running.

I imagine that this would be pretty good for moving tools, very mobile, has a good handle on the rear for pushing/moving around off the bike. With the jogging wheel on the front it is pretty decent at going up and down stairs. Leaf suspension should stop your tools getting jiggled too much. It also fits through most doorways. It collapses/folds well for storage or transport in a car.

If you've got lots of pointy things you would be best to keep them in a bag or box to avoid puncturing the fabric and windows.

Expensive, but hold their price very well.

We have had a couple of burley trailers over the years and are pretty good although maybe worth thinking about what you are really wanting with stability.
We started with one like the Thule Chariot which had one arm and two wheels. Did the job and was stable just standing but always felt a bit awkward cycling and turning, ended up giving away to a friend as got a bit of a faff so used less and less.
Last year got a single wheel coho xc model as a bargain off of ebay with the aim of using for shopping and trips to town to cut out car use. Is easy to pack but lacks the waterproof cover of the chariot type one, however it is a lot nicer to ride with and I like how the kickstand on the trailer also holds the bike up because of the yoke fitting. Really quick to clip on and off too and just overall a nicer experience but more limited as cannot carry children or use for running.

Another Burley Co Ho user here - we upgraded to the fat wheel

Very stable under load, lots of options to add bags to the rear mudguard or roof rack style bars to carry long handled tools like rakes.

Very happy with mine, only thing to watch is the QR lever on the wishbone - trailer connect as the nut can get muddy / clogged up - solved with some marine grease

Hope that helps

Also maybe worth saying that if you are cycling with a child trailer type (even if just carrying tools or shopping) then get used to much more considerate driving and overtaking and people stopping to wave. Is nice to start with but be prepared to feel a bit guilty if just carrying shopping and bringing town to a standstill.

It also works the other way, had many drivers shouting or pulling up after overtaking to stop me to tell me how reckless I was cycling with children on an A road (it is the only option from our house to town). Also had an old lady get very angry when I bounced a kerb to park up outside a shop and had to explain the trailer was empty!

Don't get anywhere near the same level of careful driving or attention with the coho.

a cargo bike can live outdoors fairly happily, I think a trailer would be just as tricky to get upstairs?

a cargo bike can live outdoors fairly happily, I think a trailer would be just as tricky to get upstairs?

Risky plan leaving a decent cargo bike outdoors in Brighton.

A days research in Brighton's bike shops has revesled the topeak trailer as a strong contender. One wheel, a cargo drybag and a clever axle, included ,from which it is possible to remove the trailer without removing the wheel. Who'd have think it?
Does the Burley coho disconnect the same way? It appears to have a very slightly bigger, squarer load area....

Bob yak.  The just work and hadle much better than a two wheeler

For those with a burley co ho handy,
How big is the load area internally-
Length x width?
Ta.

Risky plan leaving a decent cargo bike outdoors in Brighton

I had a Yuba Mundo locked outside my house in Brighton for nearly 4 years. Wasn’t nicked. I think they’re not THAT desirable/resellable.

It was fab for moving children and building materials around when I was renovating my house. Even up the steep hills around here. Bags of cement, plasterboard, wood, and lots of shopping.

A good car replacement, if you’re happy to do multiple trips and get a little wet from time to time.

Must have had about 150kgs of stuff aboard on the rack and running boards.

Plus my ‘not insignificant’ 120+kegs.

A days research in Brighton’s bike shops has revesled the topeak trailer as a strong contender.

I think that's the one that that GCN Tech did a video about on YouTube a couple of weeks ago.

I have the Burley Coho XC

It's great. One wheel feels good on corners and the suspension is a godsend for potholes when fully laden.
The two best bits are the ability to attach/unattach with one hand, and the kickstand which enables the trailer, or the bike/trailer combo to stand unaided.

edit: in concurrence with tom7044

+1 for the coho. Mine sounds pretty rattly when unladen, but i've stopped worrying about that. i reckon the suspension is over sprung, as to get it really smooth you're well towards its weight limit.

But, it's bloody good - i wouldn't be without it. I do shopping, BBQs at the beach, and transporting MTBs around on it (upside down, wheels off and either side, strap via bars and saddle).

Great.

. i reckon the suspension is over sprung, as to get it really smooth you’re well towards its weight limit.

Agreed, which is when you really need it smooth, so you don't break your beer bottles

Well, thznkyou everybody!
I think I know what I'll be getting...

Just measured and the internal width of the coho is 40cm
The length is base is 70cm long but because of cut out for suspension the longest length square shape that would fit is 55cm
There are several sets of bottle cage mounts around the top rail which have seen pictures of being used with mini roof bars to create a space for longer loads to lie on top of the load area when combined with the rear mudguard.
I use some Blackburn outpost cages on these for securely carrying glass bottles which might help with the worry above.
Have also tested some cage strapmounts along one side for carrying a sup paddle but haven't used for real to get to a loch yet.
The axle replaces the normal one for your bike so do have to factor in another £40 for that but as said before find it a lot more reasuring and stable than the single sided mount on our old trailer.

don't forget the built-in bottle opener

Just seen Burley Do one that looks like a sack truck, I guess would be useful to get your tools to the actual site.

A days research in Brighton’s bike shops has revesled the topeak trailer as a strong contender. One wheel,

Broadly speaking - if the trailer is for general load carrying, particularly heavier loads,  its better to go with something two-wheeled trailers rather than single wheeled ones. Single wheels trailers are better for off road in terms of avoiding getting the wheels snagged by trailside obstacles. But the downside is the rider is having to balance the load - the trailer is attached via a hinge effectively so is the bikes tilts the load tilts and the rider is having to work to keep things upright. Having a load on the trailer is essentially no different to carrying it in panniers

With a two wheeled trailer the bike and trailer are attached by ball and socket  - whatever the bike does the trailer stays flat. If the load is unbalanced that has no effect on the rider - thats why child trailers are two-wheeled - a wriggling kid isnt going to effect the rider. Carrying one kid in a two seat trailer isnt going to be lopsided for the rider. You still have to put the effort in to getting a weight up a hill but otherwise it doesnt effect the ride, your bike still feels like your bike.

If its for tools etc the two sizes of the Carryfreedom Y Frame have beds sized to match standard euro box dimensions so things like removal crates can be strapped / bolted /  screwed to them. The arm that connect to the bike quick releases and can swap for a handle if you need to manoeuvre around off the bike (in fact the frame is symmetrical so you could prob have the cart handle on one side and the tow arm on the other). There are also extended two arms for longer loads.

the trailer is attached via a hinge effectively so is the bikes tilts the load tilts and the rider is having to work to keep things upright

Not IME  It all balances.  I don't notice the bob most of the time.  the trailer remains balanced in corners in exactly the way the bike and rider does.  all the forces add up and remain directly thru the contact patch.

I have had a Coho for about 12 months in an effort to go car free as much as I am able and so far it has been a huge success. It takes a 65l holdall with ease or will easily take 3 bags for life on the weekly shop.

The construction is first rate, the attachment mechanism is a dream to use, it tracks beautifully through city streets (York) and has resulted in me using the car about once every 2 weeks.

The only drama I have had is if I need to carry a tall load and then it starts to feel a tad unstable. Its not to do with the overall weight but the distribution.

If you want a solid workhorse of a trailer that can carry a decent weight securely then the Coho is ideal.

Dogsby

I’ve had a few trailers over the years - notably kids buggy-type, the (large) Carry Freedom and recently a TW Bents/Edinburgh Cycles single-wheeler (B.O.B Yak copy except folds flat)

I didn’t use the kids trailer for much more than carrying wood, and it felt horrible, heavy and lurchy. CarrY Freedom two-wheeler on the other hand was ‘good enough’ once I installed the new ‘lollipop’ elastomer hitch. Strapped a cage/puppy crate on top of it and chucked anything in there. It carried some mad weights, up to my hill-climbing limit. I didn’t get along with the (again tuggy) feeling of it and always hankered after a single-wheeler. The Yak copy is a different ball game. Tracks wonderfully, and carry camping gear or groceries happily and doesn’t overbalance or bother in any way while riding. I’ve had a full-sized upright vacuum cleaner laid out in there and some shopping. Almost perfect. Sadly it’s for 26 MTB or 700c road max, and I really wanted it for my 29er (gravel/touring) but the yoke is too short for that. Have since hankered after a COHO XC, but I do like the simplicity of the folding YAK copy. It needs a central kickstand really, I tried a single side-stand but it’s not ideal. Wish I could find a folding side-stand for the right hand side! I plan to put some kind of lengthways split plastic piping on the bottom side of the frame as a skidrail/guard so I can just jackknife the whole thing and it can hold itself up without scratching. Am saving up for a COHO XC anyway. For now this will do fine on my old tourer for groceries, chores, camping etc. In action:

Not seen it suggested but a burley travoy 

depending on the shape and amount of kit it might be handy as it can also be used as a hand cart.

Sadly it’s for 26 MTB or 700c road max, and I really wanted it for my 29er (gravel/touring) but the yoke is too short for that.

Is it Steel? You could get some extended drop outs brazed on or the yoke extended fairly easily.