Burley travoy trailer

[slk]

Has anyone used the Burley travoy trailer for long distance touring?

[Jmw58]

Have not yet, but plan to soon, so will post notes on how it goes. I have read some reports from one guy who has done Travoy touring long distance (North to South America) including on gravel with no problems while other have complained that the pin that the trailer attaches came loose after a short trip (sounds like a defective part?) ... I plan to use the Burley dry bag, will carry tube for trailer wheels. My question is how well the axles/ wheels of Travoy will hold up...will try a 50 mile overnighter first, then longer trips as In learn more. I just like the idea of a trailer...I have used panniers in the past without problems, but like the handling of a bike with a Travoy>

[Jmw58]

Just to report back: I used Travoy for 50 mile overnighter on paved roads…I think the trailer and load was about 45 1lbs. While I did not notice any particular problems related to trailer on this trip, I did have to replace the bearings on one axel recently… I estimate it might have had about 1,000 miles? With fairly heavy loads (groceries)…the replacement was not that difficult and could be done on the road, so for long trips might be worth packing the set of 4 bearing rings (2 for each wheel) that burley sells for about $12. I think my next trip will be with panniers just to save weight (I estimate the trailer set-up added about 14 lbs over what a four pannier set-up would), but I still like the Travoy for big loads in city. Contrary to what a lot of folks write about trailer advantages, I don’t think its all that great to have everything loaded into one bag, even if its subdivided into smaller stuff sacks. This guy https://www.countribike.com/ rode across country on a 3 speed citi bike and Travoy trailer, but I don’t think he was camping.

[Jmw58]

One more bit: I used the rack mounted trailer hitch and while nothing happened to that while touring, the screws to it do come loose…I replaced them and added locking washers,hoping that helps.

[HikeBikeCook]

I had to rebuild a rear wheel after doing the C&O and GAP pulling a BoB Ibex. We had all our gear in the trailer (camping for 2 with 5 days of food) so I know the thing was probably 80 pounds. It was my wife's first trip and we rode mountain bikes, so the trailers seemed to make sense at the time. I popped rear spokes on that trip and following trips even after going bag to panniers. I carried a chain whip and tools and repaired my wheel in hotel rooms.

I finally stripped the wheel and rebuild it with beefier spokes. No problems since. The trailer alone was/is almost 20 lbs with the dry bag - which is slightly more than front and rear chromoly racks and Ortlieb panniers. I agree that the one big bag organization was a problem, even with stuff sacks, because things shift and you have layers of gear. Bins inside would work, but you are just adding weight.