Hi all
Im looking to do the tour in early October (yes it will be cold and wet im sure:o) i will be on a MTB with sliks. My bike has no brazons so i cant take Panniers. Thus im looking for a trailer.

I will also be using it in West Aftica next year for a different tour.

Whats your suggestions on trailers.
im interested in getting one of the following.

Bob Yak.
Burley Nomad cargo trailer.
Carry Freedom X Frame.

Any experiance with them especialy the x frame as its cheepest.

im also shopping so if anyone has a second hand one ill be interested.

Thanks
Denver

I have had two Bob trailers. An original one built over 10 years ago which just about survived the Great Divide. Replaced it last year with another as it was so good Easy to use and load, waterproof bag supplied but I use an Ortlieb Rack Pack. With any trailer load it evenly and if it is very heavy put front panniers on to stop the front of the bike pulling up.

If you are going light touring you can fit a pannier rack for a full sus bike which attaches to the seatpost and has no brazons. Not advisable if you are really loading up heavily though as it twists the back of the bike especially if it is a full sus.

If your trip to W Africa is going to be over rough terrain consider the Ibex. A bit heavier but worth it for more comfort.

Hi Denver. My friend and I are just back from a 600 mile tour of Scotland sharing one of These. It did the job I suppose but we hated nearly every single minute towing it. The total weight of our gear and trailer came in at just over 70 lb's, I think we might have gotten on better if we had one each.

hi Mark
thanks. ca you tell me if the problems with it were due to the effect of the total weight of the trailer on the bike.
im thinking of getting a y frame at the moment because it makes more sense with the bigger loads and when im back in africa i will need to cary upto 20L of water a day excluding my kit.

thanks
denver

Yeah it was just the weight that got us down. What we didn't realise was how hilly it was going to be and after 8 hours climbing bloody mountains with it we were a tad weary. Apart from that there were no handling issues, it felt really stable, it gives you a good push downhill and apparently could carry more. I presume you have toured before and the distances don't phase you but I would suggest that you pile as much as you can in to a trailer and give it a test so you know what you are up against and it will give you time to get rid of half of your cargo before you set off.

20 litres of water will add 44lbs in weight to the trailer so your looking at about 85lbs+ of towing weight by the time you have added the weight of the trailer your kit and essential spares. Mark's advice is very sound, load up divide it in half and repack. You will jettison kit on a regualr basis till you find out what is really essential.

Yeah i have lived on minimal for quite some time while out in africa. wash what i ware and basicaly take nothing that i can do without or buy along the road. the only exception to this is the camera and possibily mob phone.