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We want to get a bike trailer to tow mini STS in. We're wondering whether to pay the extra for suspension, but also whether the premium brands (thule and burley) will hold their value better when it comes to selling them on.
Currently thinking on the Thule/Chariot Cougar2 vs. the burley D'Lite but both are massively expensive. We will be going on bumpy tracks and fireroads.
Any thoughts? This was sort of covered in previous threads, but the conclusions were... erm... inconclusive.
Secondhand chariots still seem expensive and we are often finding the problem that they are collection only (live miles away from anywhere) which is why we may tend towards new. Alternatively, anyone got a decent trailer they want to sell?
I bought 2 Chariots and did them up...selling them for a profit (just!) and then bought a CX1 from Holland Bike shop. A lot cheaper than in the UK, delivered to my door, and they were a pleasure to deal with.
I used it for a few years, and sold it for close to what it cost me. It's expensive as an outlay, but in terms of what it actually cost me to own, it was great value for money.
Suspension helps a bit but they are still a bit bouncy (kids don't weight that much so sprung / unsprung mass ratio isn't great) and off road will be tough for you and the little ones.
Get in touch if you'd like to discuss further
How middle of nowhere? I've got a couple of 2015 Croozer trailers left, selling them off cheap. I'm in Glasgow.
Furry boots you stay?
Got a Chariot 2 for sale in Manc
cheers
I just bought a chariot on here and had it couriered for £40. It's a pretty slick piece of kit and you don't notice it's behind you. I figured most of our riding will be on fire roads so suspension has to help. The cost of owning the premium brands seems low if you can cope with the initial outlay and get a good price once you've finished. I couldn't get my head round the thought of paying good money for a decent bike and then dragging a heap of cr@p that rattled and shook behind it. Especially as it's got little burko73 in it!
Bencooper, can you pm me with what you have on offer? Theres a chance i will be passing through glasgow in a month.
Alternatively i will phone your shop at some point.
Smurf-thanks for info-will take a look.
Cheers,
Sts.
I've got a KidFor1 for £250 and a KidFor2 for £300 - a pic:
I picked up an almost unused avenir for £40 from guntree and seems good quality. Would happily buy another for the full price I could stretch to burley prices.
Burko73, glad it got to you ok and you like it.
We've got a Thule Chariot Chinook 2. It was bloody expensive but it's a remarkable bit of kit. We've had our twins in it since they were 6 months old and they love it. We also used it as our main pushchair for well over a year too.
We looked at the Chinook and the Chariot CX when we bought it (Leisure Lakes were so kind as to get both in stock for us to compare) The CX was lighter but in no way seemed to represent the same value for money in terms of quality compared to the Chinook!
(the Chinook is the one pictured in the Thule Chariot advert here on Singletrack!)
We bought something like this for a hundred odd quid about 8 years ago:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/avenir-entrepid-2-seater-child-trailer/rp-prod121578
Performed faultlessly and is now used to transport luggage when I take the kids cycle camping. I struggle to understand £400 plus on a trailer, they're not exactly complicated.
I struggle to understand £400 plus on a [s]trailer[/s] bicycle, they're not exactly complicated.
FTFY 😉
Like bikes, quality and features vary.
Like bikes, quality and features vary.
I obviously defer to your expertise Ben but they are just a frame with a couple of wheels, without gears, proper suspension etc. I just sense a bit of status symbol around the expensive ones, a bit like prams, sorry, 'child travel systems'.
without gears, proper suspension
Our Chariot has very good suspension thank you, good enough to keep the wee man asleep when I inadvertently got him airborne at the Forest of Dean anyway.
[url= http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_product_tests/2607793-Thule-Cougar-combined-Child-Jogger-Stroller-and-Bike-Trailer-feedback-thread-non-testers-chance-to-win-a-Sapling-Elite-Child-Carrier ] Big thread on Mumsnet[/url] about Chariots at the moment as they have some for test, maybe worth a read.
There was a clear jump up in quality between the CX and the next model down in the range. Fabrics inside, "tinted windows" (i.e. zip on / off side screens), front cover options etc.
Some people might not value it, others might - bit like cars really - why do Audi bother making nice interiors?
We also used our CX1 as a main pushchair quite a bit - it was great to cycle to the shops and then convert it into a pushchair in a few seconds...or use it with the larger front wheel on grass, rough ground, sand, etc when out and about.
I'd have another without any hesitation....but on the basis of a reduced purchase price, knowing it's got a 2 - 4 year life span, and then it will be sold for close to what I bought it for.
Another thought - think carefully before getting a double - they are very wide....wider than some doorways, the gap between bollards etc
I bought an 80 quid trailer from Lidl it was fine and three years later sold it for 40 quid
Hatter, my children always slept in the trailer. It's got nothing to do with suspension, kids just fall asleep in bike trailers.