Converting a Bicycle Child Trailer into a Cargo Trailer

If you are anything like me (and I'm guessing you are since you found this article), you bought a trailer to haul around your first-born before she (or he) could hold her head up. Now that you have many adventures with your child(ren) in tow and passed along the cycling bug, it's time to re-purpose that well-worn trailer into something useful again.

Here's how I converted our trailer into a cargo hauler worthy of a long trip. 

Enjoy!

Step 1: Teardown

Our trailer was used and abused for years. With a weight limit of 100 lbs, it could handle the both of the kids inside - until they just grew too big to fit. By then, they much preferred to ride on their own. So, we must begin by taking the old trailer apart.

Start by removing all of the nylon canvas bits that you can. Everything on our trailer was held on with nylon webbing, plastic cinches, and plastic buckles. There are also three metal supports which thread through loops on the canvas sides and back which must be removed.

Ours was designed to fold down so it would fit in the trunk of the car. I think we did this once. Anyway, after removing the roof, there are two large knobs which hold the side supports to the rear support (second photo). Once these are removed, the bolts at the front (photo three) and the back (photo four) should be removed. Once the supports are disconnected from the main frame, the remaining canvas should fall off. If it doesn't, go back and look for velcro loops or straps which you missed. 

Comments

[danfolkes]

Could we see a picture of it on a bike carrying things?

[bicyclebuck]

I haven't taken a lot of photos of me hauling stuff (when I'm hauling, I'm usually on the bike!). But here's one for you. It's difficult to see, but the ice chest is being held in place by thin rope (parachute cord). When the trailer is behind, people passing tend to give me a lot more room. I was out for a long (hot) ride on this day, so the ice chest was loaded with cold drinks, lunch, and a load of ice to keep everything cool. 

[lalunette]

Wonderful idea.

We have a similar child carrier using up space in our shed and I was considering turning it into a trailer last summer but never got around to it.

Your instructable has given me the impetus I need to take on this project.

Merci !!