Bicycle trailer test & comparison »top 7 in january 2020

The 7 best children’s trailers for bicycles at a glance.

Bicycle trailers are ideal, to take small children with you on your bike tours. However, you should always do this pay attention to the maximum weight load or the recommended number of children. If this is exceeded, it can be dangerous for you and your little passengers, especially at full speed.

Also the tires on the trailer affect its quality. Pneumatic tires are also suitable for off-road use, while you should only ride buggy wheels on paved roads. Find the bike trailer that suits you best in our product table.

The quality management for our test and comparison procedure is TÜV-certified according to ISO 9001

Bicycle trailer comparison
Illustration *	Compare winner			Price-performance winner
Model *	Qeridoo Sportrex 2	Thule Coaster XT	Froggy 2 in 1 children’s bike trailer	SAMAX 2 in 1 Silver Frame	Tiggo World 502D-01	Homcom 2 in 1 child trailer	Leon LEO13N
valuation at Amazon *	12 reviews	30 ratings	56 reviews	325 ratings	41 reviews	89 reviews	6 reviews
material	Aluminum frame with reinforced straps	aluminum frame	steel	Tubular steel frame with roll bar	Tubular steel frame	Tubular steel frame	steel
Number of Children	Max. 2	Max. 2	Max. 2	Max. 2	Max. 2	Max. 2	Max. 2
Weight of the trailer	16.4 kg	12 kg	16 kg	19 kg	17 kg	22 kg	19 kg
Type of tires The larger the pneumatic tires, the better the trailer will run on rough terrain. It is now standard that you can screw on a buggy or jogger wheel at the front. A jogger bike is usually 10 inches tall and is also suitable for rough terrain. Buggy bikes should only be used in the city or on flat streets.	2 x 20" pneumatic tires 1 x 9" Stroller	2 x 20" pneumatic tires 1 x 8.5" Stroller	2 x 19.5" pneumatic tires 1 x 11.5"" pneumatic tires	2 x 20" pneumatic tires 1 x 8.5" Stroller	2 x 20" pneumatic tires 1 x 12 “buggy wheel	2 x 20 ″ pneumatic tires 1 x approx. 9 ″ buggy wheel	2 x 20" pneumatic tires
Coupling included	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
safety belt	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reinforced footwell	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
benefits	very good space extensive accessories simple construction very easy	lots of storage space incl. "small stuff bags" 5-point safety harness height-adjustable push handle 45 kg payload possible	Push handle with hand brake incl. reflectors and reflector strips safety flag	Roll bar Tubular steel frame with suspension interior side pockets	collapsible incl. reflectors and reflector strips very agile	collapsible (dismantling of the wheels required) good suspension 2 parking brakes on the jogger handle	collapsible very soft suspension
Questions and answers about the product	Questions and answers about Qeridoo Sportrex 2	Questions and answers about Thule Coaster XT	Questions and answers about Froggy 2 in 1 children’s bike trailer	Questions and answers about SAMAX 2 in 1 Silver Frame	Questions and answers about Tiggo World 502D-01	Questions and answers about Homcom 2 in 1 child trailer	Questions and answers about Leon LEO13N
To offer *	To offer "	To offer "	To offer "	To offer "	To offer "	To offer "	To offer "
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Bicycle trailers Buyer’s Guide:
How to choose the right product from the above bike trailer test or comparison

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When you buy a bike trailer you can choose between cargo trailers, child trailers and dog trailers. In this bike trailer comparison, we mainly looked at children’s bike trailers.
None of the trailers has its own brake (also called a start brake). You should therefore always check the brakes on your bike and only load the trailer up to the total weight specified by the manufacturer. This is usually around 60 kg.
When loading, the permissible total weight of the bike should also be considered. Steel frames in particular are resilient and grateful. Manufacturers of aluminum or carbon frames often also exclude liability for damage caused by the (also correct) use of bicycle trailers.

The attractiveness of petromobility is shrinking – especially in large cities with strong infrastructures, the bicycle is becoming more and more established. In addition to the loss of trust in the automotive industry, increased sensitivity to health, sustainability and environmental protection as well as high gasoline prices, acquisition and maintenance costs and parking space fees mean that alternatives to driving are on the rise.

For a long time, the bicycle was considered a precarious means of transport that could only be useful to students, so the picture is changing. Part of it also has that Bicycles are now even suitable for transporting loads.

Special cargo bicycles often cost the price of a used small car and are hardly suitable for longer distances. Above all, if you already have one or two bicycles at home, you will be more likely to resist such a purchase than a trailer or a child bike seat.

A convenient, practical and less expensive middle way: bike trailers for children, Cargo trailers and trailers for dog transport that can be coupled to the city bike.

In our purchase advice on the roadside trailer comparison 2019/2020, we summarize everything worth knowing about the topic for you and present some products so that you can still carry out your personal bike trailer test in 2019/2020.

More comparisons on the subject of bikes can be found here:

1. Types and differences of bicycle trailers

The main task of bike trailers is to transport loads behind the bike. This comparison is about bicycle trailers for the transport of children. The safety of the smallest has priority, and here the categories of bike trailers also differ.

But the pushchairs are always backwards compatible: after all, who says that you can’t transport a box of water with a children’s bike trailer??

Bicycle trailer type	example Photo	Summary
Cargo trailers	The classic form of the bike trailer is the cargo trailer. Even if there are models that can carry more than 90 kg, the maximum transport weight is often limited to around 40 kg. This limitation is due to the fact that almost all bike trailers do not have their own brakes and can only be braked by the bike. Most bicycle brakes are rather weak.

In our bike trailer comparison there are recommended models.

dogs trailer

This type of trailer for bicycles is quite new. But in Germany dog trailers are becoming increasingly popular, also because the "best friends of man" have an ever increasing life expectancy.

In our comparison of trailers for dogs we present some variants in more detail.

Child trailer

Children’s bike trailers are designed for 1-2 children, i.e. as siblings, which can be between a few months and 6 years old.

The 2019/2020 bike trailer comparison showed that the models are now standard stable passenger cells and 5-point safety belts to have. They protect the child in traffic.

The safest models have a plastic or metal floor pan and an all-round bumper.
Stabilizing upholstery as well as lying and sitting aids are also available on the market.

If you want to transport a baby, you can use a special baby seat.

2. Important notes on use

In addition to some legal aspects related to bike trailers, there is something else to be said about the bike itself:

A bicycle trailer is attached to the frame. Therefore, additional forces are exerted on the frame and the wheels by the trailer.
Manufacturers of aluminum and carbon fiber frames in particular categorically exclude the use of trailers by mountain bike in their operating instructions.

For a bike trailer test, all devices can be compared to a "normal" city bike or trekking bike, i.e. bicycles with a steel frame.

Tip: Very high forces act on a bicycle frame when using a trailer. You should only use bicycles that are also suitable for use with bicycle trailers.

Tips for using a bike trailer

You should practice driving with a trailer. Braking and cornering will differ significantly from normal driving. Therefore you should do test drives.
To get a good look at their children or the cargo behind you, you can a rearview mirror for the bike buy that is mounted on the handlebar.
The trailers presented here should only be towed by bicycles without an electric drive. For e-bikes and pedelecs with e-drive they don’t suitable.

In Germany, the legal situation regarding bicycle trailers was regulated in the German traffic regulations 2013.

According to Section 21 Paragraph 3, a person who is at least 16 years old can take up to two children up to the age of 7 in trailers. The trailers must be designed for transportation and have restraint devices (i.e. belts). The age limit does not apply to physically or mentally handicapped children.

Dimensions and total weight for bicycle trailers are not clearly regulated according to StVZO. Therefore, the regulations from paragraph 32 apply to motor vehicles, so that theoretically the length is limited to 12 m, the width to 1 m and the height to 4 m. Whether you are riding a women’s bike, a folding bike or a mountain bike: these volumes are of course utopian.

The lighting and reflectors of trailers are regulated according to § 67 StVO. According to this, the bike trailer must have the following elements:

A red marker light, at least 25 cm above the road. Battery-powered lamps are only allowed as rear lights for racing bikes, but they are tolerated during controls.
A red reflector, not higher than 60 cm above the road.
Large reflector, which is marked with the letter "Z".
Trailers must also have the familiar yellow ones aside spoke reflectors (also called cat eyes) and white tire reflectors demonstrate.

Tip: Even if the regulations are not legally fully clarified, you should still be interested in being seen by other road users. In the end, you have to try to minimize the likelihood of an accident, since the cyclist is usually the victim of an accident.

The force that acts on the rear fork of the bicycle frame is the drawbar load of the trailer, i.e. the weight that lies on the coupling. This can be measured by placing a personal scale under the trailer drawbar (“extend” the trailer drawbar with a rod or similar). When moving, especially on gradients such as curbs, potholes, etc., the force can become significantly stronger or work in the other direction. Manufacturers of carbon and aluminum frames therefore often exclude liability for frame damage caused by the use of bicycle trailers.

3. What needs to be considered when buying a bike trailer?

Tests of various bicycle trailers show that the individual types also require different purchase criteria. For this reason, we decided to examine the bike trailers in different categories.

3.1. Buying a children’s bike trailer

It was pleasing in the comparison of children’s bike trailers that almost all trailers were two-seaters, that is, designed for two children and also had sufficient suspension.

Safety: For security are a 5-point safety harness and the Roll bar of great importance. Safety should not only play a role in your personal bike trailer comparison winner or the objectively best bike trailer. All Devices in comparison were able to demonstrate these safety standards.

Frame Material: There are major differences in the materials, which are to be assessed ambivalently: For example, the frames of the children’s bike trailers are made of either aluminum tubes or steel. Be >

Steel frame: As with the bicycle, the following also applies to the trailer: Steel is heavy, but flexible. Even if it does not seem so with the naked eye, and even if it is hard to do anything with bare hands: steel pipes have a certain flexibility and bend under impact and under pressure. To a certain extent, tubular steel frames spring back when they are loaded. This can be practical if the device is used roughly – even life-saving in the event of a collision.

Aluminum frame: Significantly lighter than steel, but much more stiff and brittle. These properties make aluminum more difficult and to process with significantly more material, which is reflected in the price. In the event of hard impacts, aluminum will break rather than bend. The material is less elastic and welding seams have to be made considerably larger than with steel pipes. The high-quality impression created by the reinforcements is often simply due to the necessity. When you pedal, you can clearly feel the difference: aluminum is a light metal.

A children’s bike trailer from Croozer.

Wheels and tires: Most models have pneumatic tires with diameters between 16 and 20 inches, like a children’s bike or folding bike.

The choice of tires is important because they determine which surface you can drive on and how the ride will be comfortable for the child. The larger the tire diameter, the more comfortable the ride is for the occupant.

Many manufacturers of children’s bike trailers now advertise with 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 functions. In this case, the trailers can be used as a buggy or jogger and replace a stroller. For the manufacturers, it means that a third wheel must be included.
Many children’s bike trailers therefore have an 8- to 16-inch jogger wheel. The smallest sizes are only suitable for use in the city. These bikes are unsuitable on forest trails.

In a bicycle trailer comparison: This Queridoo model can also be used as a stroller and jogger.

footwell: The footwell of the cabin plays a relatively large role when using a children’s bike trailer. A good trailer should have a reinforced footwell so that it lasts as long as possible.

In other reports on bike trailer tests, most models showed this extra. This extra is not used for products that should be particularly light. Long-term tests must therefore be expected to show greater wear on such devices.

Accessories included: It has also been shown that bike trailer couplings for connection to the frame of your own bike were mostly included in the scope of delivery. If a manufacturer does not include a trailer coupling, it can be purchased separately. Prices range between 6 and 30 euros.

3.2. Buying a cargo trailer

Buying a cargo trailer is certainly not as difficult as buying a children’s bike trailer. They are usually a bit simpler and usually have a powder-coated tubular steel frame with 16"-Tires. Few models are on 12"-Tires, which is a little bit.

In the models in the freight trailer comparison, there was a standard coupling for the connection to the bike, so that the trip could start immediately after the trailer was set up. No additional couplings need to be purchased.

A cargo trailer for bicycles: the top van transport trailer is intended for loads. Suitable as a pushchair at most for pushing by hand and in exceptional cases.

The main criteria for buying:

Capacity / Load: The maximum load limit for a cargo trailer is between 25 and 60 kg, depending on the model.

Loading capacity: There were major differences in the transport volume. A normal cargo trailer should have a capacity of between 60 and 70 liters so that a purchase can also be stored in it.

More comparisons in the bike category

Accessories included: A real relief when transporting many items can be one transport tray his. They were not available in all models in the freight trailer comparison.

Alternative use: Some devices can also as a hand cart be used. If a trailer has an additional handle, this can have several advantages.

The following video shows you how easy it is to assemble bike trailers.

3.3. Buying a dog tag

What reflectors do I need for a dog trailer?

The same applies to the dog trailer as for the other trailers: A red rear light and two reflectors must be available on the back. The bikes must have the well-known “cat eyes”. Unfortunately, some models do not include reflectors.

The high-quality models have an aluminum frame and suspension. The use of carpets is also common. The cheaper models are only equipped with a steel frame. There is also only an anti-slip mat here. You should try to find a dog bike trailer that your dog likes, because only in this way can an excursion in your free time really succeed.

Good dog trailers have a strong suspension.

In the dog trailer comparison, it turned out quite positively that all models had sufficient attachment options for a dog leash.

4. Stiftung Warentest

The Stiftung Warentest has so far only tested children’s bike trailers. The issue of the Stiftung Warentest edition 06/2010 was mainly about the pollution. The bike trailer comparison winner was the Chariot Cougar 2 with a result of 2.4.

5. Frequently asked questions

In the area of the bike trailer there are questions that are asked again and again. This part of the guide is intended to answer the most important questions.

When can a baby be transported in a bicycle trailer??

Even if many parents want to avoid transporting babies on a bike, it is sometimes necessary. In such a case there is special baby car seats that fit in the children’s bike trailer. The advantage is that these shells are attached to the 5-point seat belt and have their own safety system. Babies can be transported here from an age of one month (if the corresponding reduction is available) to an age of 9 months. There are good models in this area from the manufacturer Weber as accessories.

Attention: These trays are only suitable for children’s bike trailers and should not be used for cars.

Up to what age can a child be transported in a bicycle trailer??

Special baby car seats can be used with the trailer.

The road traffic regulations stipulate that children up to the age of seven can be transported in a bicycle trailer. Older children then have to ride a bicycle themselves.

There is one exception for children with disabilities, here the age limits do not apply. However, you have to make sure that you stay below the weight limit specified by the manufacturer.