Bob Yak Trailer? XCountry tour, thoughts?

[djzack]

What are your thoughts about a Yak trailer versus front and rear Panniers for a cross country souther tier trip?

[staehpj1]

It can work.  I personally went really light on the ST and found that for me just a couple stuff sacks on a rear rack, supplemented with a handlebar bag worked better than either panniers or a trailer.  My gear and bags was only about a pound more than the BoB weighs empty though.  Carrying more a bob or panniers start to make more sense.  I'd probably use panniers before I'd use a trailer.

I rode a lot of the way with a guy who used a very heavily loaded BoB and it seemed to mostly work OK for him, but he said if he were to do the trip again he'd go ultralight the next time and skip the trailer.  He had several bent derailleur hangers that he blamed on the trailer, but I am not convinced that the trailer was the cause.

[John Nelson]

If you're going to stick with 23 mm tires, I definitely would not advise panniers. 23 mm tires require higher pressures to avoid pinch flats, especially with a load. The higher pressures will put even more load on your spokes. High pressures combined with heavy loads increases the risk of broken spokes, especially if you have fewer than 32 spokes.

My recommendation: with wide tires, use panniers; with narrow tires, use a trailer and/or pack very light.

Gear decisions should not be made in one at a time. The choice of wheels, tires, spokes, frame material, chainstay length, gearing, load weight, carrying system, etc. all depend on the other choices.

[dminden1]

Just a thought on the BOB. 1/2 the loaded BOB weight goes on the rear axle of the bike. So, 23's are pretty narrow for it. I use a two-wheeled trailer. Undoubtedly a bit more drag from the 2nd wheel, but the tongue weight is almost none - can be negative weight if you load the trailer weight rearward. Mine - a WIKE - is super convenient and weighs the same as a BOB. Burley also makes some good carrying trailers.

[dkoloko]

This is a question gone over and over. There must be threads on this in archives. I have seen tourers with panniers and tourers with trailers, mostly BOB. Saw at least one tourer with both. Remember with trailer you must carry different spare tubes and a spare tire. Trailer tires wear more quickly than bicycle tires. As far as narrow tires with panniers more likely to cause broken spokes, I rode 5000 miles on 36 spoke wheels I built with fully loaded panniers front and rear using tires that measured as narrow as 24mm; no broken spokes.

[newfydog]

I've had several friends join us for a section of the great divide who used a BOB.  It worked, but every one of them switched to panniers (usually just two) for their next tour.

[aggie]

I did the ST using a BOB.  No problems and would do it again with a BOB.  Check out the other threads for opinions on trailers vs panniers.

[mailoto]

I took the bob on a 5000km tour this summer nothing but problem's. I had 4 or 5 bent hangers and the hooks where the bob connects to the SQR bent. I'm doing a tour to vancover this summer im switching to panniers. Good luck on your upcoming tour!