Behind-the-Bike Trailers
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Discussion on Trailing Behind Bike:
-- shebner:
A couple things to watch for, make sure that when the bike is loaded, rider, passenger, weight of trailer on hitch etc. that the trailer tongue is level or better yet slightly lower than the centre line of the trailer axle. The reason for this is for braking. If the trailer axle centre line is slightly higher than the hitch as you brake the trailer weight will ADD weight to the hitch and there will be more weight to the road on your tires for increased traction during braking. If on the other hand your axle centre line is below the hitch as you brake the weight of the trailer will force the hitch up which will decrease the weight on the back end of the bike and weight on your rear tire leaving you with less traction for braking.
Going through corners on a lumpy road, the trailer, as one wheel then the other hit pot holes etc will have the effect of waggling (for lack of a better word) the front tire of the bike and can be quite disconcerting until you get a feel for it,kind of like the tail wagging the dog. It's generally not a problem if the rest of the bike and trailer are set up and the weight in the trailer is distributed properly.
Have fun I've pulled mine for the last 3 summers on vacation and haven't had any problems, Oh, 1 problem, sometimes I forget the trailer is there and have gone hard and fast into a few corners, it really shakes ya up when you see someone following you close behind through your peripheral vision in the mirror only to find out it's your trailer as you glance at the mirror once through the turn. I use a piece of surveyors tape tied in a conspicuous spot on the handlebars now as a reminder LOL