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Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 2:15 pm
by TopHatFox
Burley Nomad: https://www.amazon.com/Burley-Design-No ... ad+trailer

Burley Flatbed: https://www.amazon.com/Burley-Design-Fl ... rley+nomad

Burley Travoy: https://www.amazon.com/Burley-Design-Tr ... ley+travoy

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Burley trailers seem to blast the competition. Lightweight, strong, and relatively affordable. I'm trying to decide between these three models.

Here's what I'm working with. I like buying staples in bulk. I like buying produce every 2 weeks. I like having the option to carry bulk items like small furniture. It'd be nice to carry the occasional awkward item too. I want to use this trailer for all four seasons, and in rain. I don't care about the $100 cost difference between the trailers. It'd be nice to be able to walk the trailer as well as tow it. I am also open to other suggestions from different brands. That said, I have been doing research for a few hours today; these are the best I could find.

Thoughts? If you have a bike trailer, what do you use?

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:11 pm
by C40
Also, consider trailers meant to carry small children. Functionally, they seem very similar to the Nomad trailer, and they are very easy to buy used for, it appears, about $100. And if you want to be able to walk it, some of the kids trailers are also meant to be used as strollers (and they don't really look like a stroller, so you don't have to worry about looking like a complete weirdo carrying around stuff in a kids' stroller)

Like this, for example:
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/bab/ ... 34812.html

One of my old bike racing buddies/teammates, who also raced cyclocross, would ride to his races, using an old kids trailer to haul his race wheels, food, and other gear

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 4:23 pm
by black_son_of_gray
Not that you want to buy a new bike, but I've seen a couple of these around recently.

https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-bike ... aul-a-day/

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 5:20 pm
by TopHatFox
Eh, that set-up isn't very practical in my opinion. I'm not carrying loads all the time. It makes more sense to have a detachable cart than a permanent one built into the frame.

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:36 pm
by TopHatFox
I looked up the trailers to carry small children. They don't seem to carry as much as dedicated cargo trailers. Even if they are cheaper.

I ultimately decided on the Burley Nomad. Without the cover, it's pretty much the Flatbed. This of course means I'm $300 poorer... x:

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 9:01 am
by Gilberto de Piento
I use a kid trailer. It works well. Four bags of groceries, 12 pack, milk is fine. Pedaling the weight will be a problem before trailer capacity.

Get something with a cover, you can carry more if you can pile things on and then cover all of it up. You don't want your groceries blowing out.

Get an extra tube for the trailer in case of a flat.

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:59 am
by vexed87
I'd be interested to hear your opinions on the nomad, I haven't bitten the bullet yet due to serious sticker shock, import duties, FX and shipping make them considerably more pricey here in the UK. I have been keeping an eye out for a used model, but nothing comes up locally. Lots of kids trailers though... :evil:

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 8:24 am
by Laura Ingalls
I am 100% with Gilberto on this one. The Nomad does nothing a Burley kid trailer will. A Burley kid trailer will be readily available on the used market and will also haul small children in a pinch ;)

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 6:40 pm
by TopHatFox
I hear that, but the Burley Nomad weighs 16 pounds. It can also be used for touring and small-furniture hauling.

I'll see what I think when it arrives!

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:40 pm
by Dragline
You know you get way too enamored with young hipster shit I never heard of until you post about it. :lol:

And you never seem to like the advice of "look and see what out there for cheap and adapt it to purpose". But I remember the days of my first big paydays . . . :)

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:59 pm
by TopHatFox
Looks like I've been rightfully called out! I think it's because of something something something "aesthetic" :lol:

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:31 pm
by C40
That was one hell of a call-out, Dragline.

And.... I bought a NEW CAR in my first year of post-university employment.

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2017 9:34 pm
by Dragline
Well, Ii bought a water bed. But it was a different era . . . :lol:

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:03 pm
by Alphaville
so how did it turn out?

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:07 pm
by theanimal
THF hasn't been around in a long time. I sent him a message a couple months ago off the forums but got no response. I hope he's doing well.

Re: Best Bicycle Trailer -> Burley Flatbed, Nomad, or Travoy?

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:11 pm
by Alphaville
last active mar23 2021 it sez... 2 weeks

i could have sworn i "saw" him here recently, but see no new posts

peculiar... maybe he posted & deleted?