Suspension on trailers - opinions?

Simon Brooke said:

In the past I've toured with two wheel trailers but I've come to the conclusion that I don't
really like them - I've had them overturn on me on fast downhill curves and that can be a little
too exciting for comfort. So I'm planning to get a new, one wheel, trailer, mainly for touring.
Most of the touring will be on dirt roads and some of it on singletrack.

So I'm thinking of (probably) either a Bob Yak or a Bob Ibex - the difference being, essentially,
that the Ibex has suspension and is a little more strongly built.

Obviously I don't want to pull more weight than I have to, and the Ibex weighs 3 pounds more than
the Yak. But I can see that the suspension could in principal have real benefits when pulling a
load over rough stuff.

Has anyone used one of these? Is the suspension worth it, or is it a gimmick?

I'll preface my post by saying that although I have considerable experience with the Bob Yak and
with two-wheel trailers, my experience with the Bob Ibex is limited to one fairly brief ride.

The wheel of the unsuspended Yak does indeed spend a certain time in the air, depending on the
roughness of the surface and the load in the trailer. This effect never troubled me, as it didn't
seem to bother the trailer or upset the handling of the bike. I suppose it would be easier on
whatever you're carrying to keep the wheel on the ground more, something that suspension would
accomplish.

My Yak behaves impeccably behind my tandem and my MTB, but on frames with lighter/longer stays it
can provide some mildly uncomfortable moments by, I think, moving the rear axle in one or more
planes. The same bike exhibits none of that pulling a two-wheel trailer, although the mounting
system is different.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

Simon Brooke said:

In the past I've toured with two wheel trailers but I've come to the conclusion that I don't really
like them

I've done well with one for hauling the groceries and suchlike, but I agree that I wouldn't care to
use it for anything more than relatively short urban trips.

Quoted message said:

Obviously I don't want to pull more weight than I have to, and the Ibex weighs 3 pounds more than
the Yak. But I can see that the suspension could in principal have real benefits when pulling a
load over rough stuff.

I tried a number of trailers briefly when considering a second one, and I can't see the use - are
you really planning to take anything cycletouring that doesn't want to be shaken about a bit?
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!

Simon Brooke said:

In the past I've toured with two wheel trailers but I've come to the conclusion that I don't
really like them - I've had them overturn on me on fast downhill curves and that can be a little
too exciting for comfort. So I'm planning to get a new, one wheel, trailer, mainly for touring.
Most of the touring will be on dirt roads and some of it on singletrack.

So I'm thinking of (probably) either a Bob Yak or a Bob Ibex - the difference being, essentially,
that the Ibex has suspension and is a little more strongly built.

Obviously I don't want to pull more weight than I have to, and the Ibex weighs 3 pounds more than
the Yak.

Here's something that, while not a trailer, may still be of interest to you:
xtracycle.comxtracycle.comOpen ↗

It weighs less than an Ibex trailer, is rated to carry more weight, and your total length is less.
The cost is in the same ballpark.

David Damerell said:

Simon Brooke said:

In the past I've toured with two wheel trailers but I've come to the conclusion that I don't
really like them

I've done well with one for hauling the groceries and suchlike, but I agree that I wouldn't care
to use it for anything more than relatively short urban trips.

Quoted message said:

Obviously I don't want to pull more weight than I have to, and the Ibex weighs 3 pounds more than
the Yak. But I can see that the suspension could in principal have real benefits when pulling a
load over rough stuff.

I tried a number of trailers briefly when considering a second one, and I can't see the use - are
you really planning to take anything cycletouring that doesn't want to be shaken about a bit?

It won't help shaking, but the Tanjor lodrag.comlodrag.comOpen ↗ is noticeably lower in wind drag than
the box type trailers. Something low-profile might be equal. With no load, you can't tell the
trailer is on the bike.

Any trailer suffers from the load effect: uphills are steeper, twice the steepness if you're pulling
your own weight, and you notice that long portions of familiar routes are slower as a result of
unnoticed uphills turning into long lower-gear runs. That's not even a trailer effect, just a load
effect. The trailer offers the temptation to load where you're limited by the luggage rack bending
otherwise.

160# of water softerer salt turned a ``level'' route home into a constant uphill, which it turned
out it was, a little.

You also get pushed along on downhills and the level afterwards noticeably, but it doesn't cancel
the uphills, timewise.
--
Ron Hardin [email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Robert Chung said:

Simon Brooke said:

In the past I've toured with two wheel trailers but I've come to the conclusion that I don't
really like them - I've had them overturn on me on fast downhill curves and that can be a little
too exciting for comfort. So I'm planning to get a new, one wheel, trailer, mainly for touring.
Most of the touring will be on dirt roads and some of it on singletrack.

So I'm thinking of (probably) either a Bob Yak or a Bob Ibex - the difference being,
essentially, that the Ibex has suspension and is a little more strongly built.

Obviously I don't want to pull more weight than I have to, and the Ibex weighs 3 pounds more
than the Yak.

Here's something that, while not a trailer, may still be of interest to you:
xtracycle.comxtracycle.comOpen ↗

It weighs less than an Ibex trailer, is rated to carry more weight, and your total length is less.
The cost is in the same ballpark.

Thanks, very interesting, but _not_ what I want. What I like about trailers is there isn't a lot of
junk on your bike, so when you get to where you're staying the night you can just unhitch the
trailer, and then you can blast off with your bike as light and uncluttered as it should be, for
some more recreational riding...

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

Due to financial constraints, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.

I used a BOB YAK with my Santa Cruz Superlight for overnight camping with friends in Henry Coe State Park. We had a demo Ibex to try also. The Ibex is great off road, much better than the YAK. It would have been my choice if it had been available when I bought my YAK. Before the IBEX appeared on the scene, I had my BOB YAK modified by Jeremy Sycip and it now has S&S couplers on the rear so I can pack the trailer in a surplus dufflebag for airline flights. I took it to Bolivia earlier this year and toured. It worked out well on the rough, unpaved roads and trails. I could descend much faster than my companions who were riding hard tails with rigid forks using panniers front and rear. I did find the extra weight of the trailer to be a negative point when climbing the steep, unpaved roads at altitude though. Many 3rd world tourists use trailers (see http://www.bikeitsolo.com/)
there are other links on http://www.swb.de/personal/elch/e_amerika.html#AMERIKA
The biggest issue is personal preference. Try some trips near home both ways before you set of on a big trip. It is highly likely that you can borrow equipment to try out.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Simon Brooke

B'Robert Chung said:

Simon Brooke said:

In the past I've toured with two wheel trailers but I've come to the conclusion that I don't
really like them - I've had them overturn on me on fast downhill curves and that can be a little
too exciting for comfort. So I'm planning to get a new, one wheel, trailer, mainly for touring.
Most of the touring will be on dirt roads and some of it on singletrack.

So I'm thinking of (probably) either a Bob Yak or a Bob Ibex - the difference being,
essentially, that the Ibex has suspension and is a little more strongly built.

Obviously I don't want to pull more weight than I have to, and the Ibex weighs 3 pounds more
than the Yak.

Here's something that, while not a trailer, may still be of interest to you:
xtracycle.comxtracycle.comOpen ↗

It weighs less than an Ibex trailer, is rated to carry more weight, and your total length is less.
The cost is in the same ballpark.

Thanks, very interesting, but _not_ what I want. What I like about trailers is there isn't a lot of
junk on your bike, so when you get to where you're staying the night you can just unhitch the
trailer, and then you can blast off with your bike as light and uncluttered as it should be, for
some more recreational riding...

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

Due to financial constraints, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off. [/B]