Bike push trailer

[camerart]

Hi,

I've had a happy time riding round on my 250 cheap mountain bike electric conversion this summer, and now I'm thinking about the next e-bike project, namely a push trailer.

A trailer would be flexible, as it could be clipped onto any bike. What I need to work out is whether a push trailer is worthwhile?

See attached photo of a child tow along bike, I intend to use as the frame. It has 20inch wheel. I was wondering whether a hub motor or centre motor would be best.

Camerart.

 

[flecc]

A pedelec controlled crank unit wouldn't be ideal since it would require someone on the back to pedal, reducing the flexibility of use. Some of the throttle controlled ones could have ground clearance problems on that tag-along.

So I'd be inclined to say a hub motor for simplicity and flexibility of use. If you used it without anyone on board there could be traction problems due to wheelspin with not enough weight over the wheel, so mounting the battery on a carrier directly above the driven wheel could help a little in that respect.
.

 

[camerart]

A pedelec controlled crank unit wouldn't be ideal since it would require someone on the back to pedal, reducing the flexibility of use. Some of the throttle controlled ones could have ground clearance problems on that tag-along.

So I'd be inclined to say a hub motor for simplicity and flexibility of use. If you used it without anyone on board there could be traction problems due to wheelspin with not enough weight over the wheel, so mounting the battery on a carrier directly above the driven wheel could help a little in that respect.
.

Hi flecc,

I was thinking about throttle control, with batteries, controller etc on the trailer. I think because of the weight plus the upward force as the trailer wheel tries to tuck under the bike, would stop any wheel spin, but there will be some experimenting. I'm sure if I used too much power it would lift the rear of the bike

C.

 

[JamesW]

This already exists although not in a slimline form like you are looking at and not UK legal either. Search for Ridekick to find a push trailer which does what you want, the legality of moving the motor off your bike and onto a trailer is I suspect a dubious area in the EU.

 

[camerart]

This already exists although not in a slimline form like you are looking at and not UK legal either. Search for Ridekick to find a push trailer which does what you want, the legality of moving the motor off your bike and onto a trailer is I suspect a dubious area in the EU.

Thanks, but there's nothing I can copy on it, and I still want to know which to choose from:
powered bike with trailer VS normal bike with push trailer.
And hub motor on the trailer VS centre motor on the trailer.

C.

 

[flecc]

Thanks, but there's nothing I can copy on it, and I still want to know which to choose from:
powered bike with trailer VS normal bike with push trailer.
And hub motor on the trailer VS centre motor on the trailer.

C.

I would definitely choose powered bike with trailer over powered trailer, better control, traction assured, still powered solo and can be legal, which a powered trailer won't be, especially if throttle controlled.
.

 

[camerart]

I would definitely choose powered bike with trailer over powered trailer, better control, traction assured, still powered solo and can be legal, which a powered trailer won't be, especially if throttle controlled.
.

Powered trailer not legal! I'll look into it.

C.

 

[chr4]

Great idea. Please keep us posted.