Trailers

In message <[email hidden]>, JohnB <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to purchase a new trailer that will need to work with my Trice and Brompton.

The Swiss made Vitelli looks a strong contender and I like the axle fitting and the ability to
swivel the hitch into an upright position for using it as a hand cart.

Does anyone have any experience of these?

No, sorry. But on the topic of hitches. Any trailer than can come with the Weber hitch coupling
fitted will work fine i would think on both of these.

They hitch is in 2 parts, a bit that fits on the axle, and a bit on the hitch arm that attaches to
the bit on the bike. very quick and secure.

The main place in the UK that seems to sell trailers with this fitting is Two plus Two in Lewes.

<http://www.twoplustwo.uk.com/>
--
Chris French, Leeds

JohnB said:

I'm looking to purchase a new trailer that will need to work with my Trice and Brompton.

Does anyone have any experience of these?

Nope, but I do have experience of a trailer on a trice. Trice is an XL NT, trailer is a cheap Lidl
('little van' appears to be teh model). The trailer is one that attaches to a clamp assembly on teh
chainstays and seatstays. I have to take the rack off to clear the attachment clamp, but that may
not apply for a different hitch. There's a couple of photos at
astounding.org.ukmonster.htmlOpen ↗

There are issues, neither particularly big. You may already have thought of tehse, but anyway:

Firstly traction - teh trailer is balanced such that there's negligible weight down at the hitch,
but that means that when climbing hills you've got lots more drag, and no more weight on teh
drive-wheel. One particular off-road route I do has a steep climb through woodland on a tarmac
surface. The tarmac is mossy in places and it can be a struggle. I've had occasional problems with
loose surfaces on cycle-paths too. I've never had problems on any route shared with motor-vehicles,
who tend to sweep teh surface clean of slime, gloop and gravel (I knew they were good for
something).

Secondly, because teh trice wheels are small, and teh chainstays slope down as they move from teh
hub, the hitch is evidently lower than teh makers intended. That means the seat in teh trailer
slopes forward too. Rachel (chief trailer occupant) has only recently (at about a year) managed to
sit it in comfortably and reliably for any real distance without sliding forward on teh seat 'till
the harness looks like it's digging in uncomfortably. This won't be a problem if it's a trailer for
cargo (the slope's not that extrene), and probably not for an older child who sits up more strongly
and can adjust their own position if they slump.

regards, Ian SMith
--
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In message JohnB said:

I'm looking to purchase a new trailer that will need to work with my Trice and Brompton.

The Swiss made Vitelli looks a strong contender and I like the axle fitting and the ability to
swivel the hitch into an upright position for using it as a hand cart.

Does anyone have any experience of these?

Have had one for a few years now and carried loads from a discarded oven to a basketed cat with no
problems. Very reliable and pulls smoothly. Not really convincing as hand cart IMHO.

Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Representative for Richmond upon Thames

chris French said:

In message <[email hidden]>, JohnB <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I'm looking to purchase a new trailer that will need to work with my Trice and Brompton.

The Swiss made Vitelli looks a strong contender and I like the axle fitting and the ability to
swivel the hitch into an upright position for using it as a hand cart.

Does anyone have any experience of these?

No, sorry. But on the topic of hitches. Any trailer than can come with the Weber hitch coupling
fitted will work fine i would think on both of these.

They hitch is in 2 parts, a bit that fits on the axle, and a bit on the hitch arm that attaches to
the bit on the bike. very quick and secure.

The main place in the UK that seems to sell trailers with this fitting is Two plus Two in Lewes.

<http://www.twoplustwo.uk.com/>

Many thanks for your advice. Yes, I've now taken the plunge and ordered a Vitelli from twoplustwo.
Luckily they had one already in stock and its due here by the end of the week.

John B

Ian Smith said:

JohnB said:

I'm looking to purchase a new trailer that will need to work with my Trice and Brompton.

Does anyone have any experience of these?

Nope, but I do have experience of a trailer on a trice. Trice is an XL NT, trailer is a cheap Lidl
('little van' appears to be teh model). The trailer is one that attaches to a clamp assembly on
teh chainstays and seatstays. I have to take the rack off to clear the attachment clamp, but that
may not apply for a different hitch. There's a couple of photos at
astounding.org.ukmonster.htmlOpen ↗

There are issues, neither particularly big. You may already have thought of tehse, but anyway:

Firstly traction - teh trailer is balanced such that there's negligible weight down at the hitch,
but that means that when climbing hills you've got lots more drag, and no more weight on teh
drive-wheel.

I've had lots of experience of the extra drag with the Burley d'Lite on the DF and the tandem. There
is a noticeable pull back. I suspect pushing one's back into the Trice's seat may help traction -
one does that anyway climbing. I also have a Marathon on the rear which had plenty of grip.

Quoted message said:

Secondly, because teh trice wheels are small, and teh chainstays slope down as they move from teh
hub, the hitch is evidently lower than teh makers intended. That means the seat in teh trailer
slopes forward too.

Hopefully not too important for cargo use, but it may be even more pronounced on the Brommie.
Incidentally I had the opposite sloping issue with the trailer and the tandem where the hitch had
to fit into a triangle further up the seat stay. It meant little'un had a more laid back seat -
good training for the Darkside. Now she's grown up she tries to get hold of my trice at any
opportunity :-(

Many thanks for your input. I have now ordered a Vitelli and its due any day.

John B