Trailers towed by cycles

vbfg
vbfg Forum Participant Posts: 504
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edited February 2019 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Hi Folks

I have a motorhome but one of my dogs can no longer walk very far which limits my visits to many areas off site. I was thinking of buying a  pram type, cycle trailer to tow with my cycle to transport him in (he is a husky cross so it would need to be quite robust). Do any members have any experience of them at all and if so, can they be folded at all and kept in the van or is this not feasible? 

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #2

    Yes we have used one successfully, our two dogs used it together (terrier and collie sized.) Ours folded down and we could store it under the van or leave it up attached to something. If you have room in the van all the better, depends on the size of van. We had several holidays with our bikes and the trailer, New Forest was a good one. Fairly hard work for the one doing the towing but a great help, we could load picnic food into it too. smile

    Places like the Camel Trail in Cornwall hire out dog/baby/children trailers so if you're somewhere like that you can find out if it suits you.

    At present we have a push along dog buggy for our remaining dog. She likes it and it's more compact than the trailer but we can recommend both types. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #3

    Might be easier if you bought an electric bike, though I would rent a car or leave the dog in kennels for the day. 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #4

    Here's our outfit a few years ago....and the happy travellers. wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #5

    That looks lovely,and keeps the whole family together when out and about,on holidayscool

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #6

    Hi vbfg. We had a similar problem, big Labrador who has bad arthritis and spondylitis in his spine. He could no longer manage the distances we wanted to walk. Finding something big enough and robust enough was quite a problem, as most doggy walkers tend to be for smaller, lighter dogs. We did find an Orvis one a few years ago, but that was coming in at over £500 at the time.

    However.....we solved our problem last year. Check out Doggy Hut, German designed and built. We bought something large enough and big enough to cope with our big lad of a Lab, and gives him enough space to lay down and ease his joints. Two big cycle like wheels either side, loads at the back, has plenty of ventilation all round, and a “ sunroof top that can either be zipped open, or has a roll over waterproof cover for rainy days. If it has a fault, then it is in the fixed single front wheel, this would be better if it swivelled, but we just haven’t got round to modifying it yet. With a bike, you wouldn’t use it! It comes with fixings to mount behind a bike, or can be used push along with supplied handle. The whole lot breaks down quickly and easily and folds reasonably flat for storage. We sometimes take wheels off, but leave it up and stick it on bike trailer with bungees. You will need to buy a pad for inside, but these are cheap, and easy to find. It’s a very well designed piece of kit, easy to use, and robust. We put a bike bell and some small lights on for use in dark. Haven’t bothered behind bike yet, but it has been up Simonside in Northumberland and is brilliant on flat walks. Our lad hops in and out as he pleases, a few treats soon enticed him in! He loves it now. I think we paid around £150-175 for ours, from Germany. It’s been a great buy, we will use it with our other elderly Lab as well. I will try and post a photo if this website allows! 😁

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/DoggyHut-Large-Pet-Dog-Bicycle-Trailer-Jogger-Stroller-in-Red-1020201/2255615394

    Ours is blue, shop around, you might be able to find one a bit cheaper, but definitely recommend this brand. 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #7

    Sorry, can not load photo, I would have to crop it too small.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited February 2019 #8

    Corking piece of kit Brue👍🏻😊

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2019 #9

    Here's the photo!  Our neighbour had something very similar for her westies - she used it as a buggy, her son took the dogs out with him with it attached as a trailer to his bike.

     

     

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #10

    Thanks ValDa. At least my link is live. I had forgotten to mention the flag! You get a clip lead to restrain dog inside as well. We get stopped by lots of folks wanting to know where we got it.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #11

    Ours came from ebay too, worth a search to get a good price and the right size for the participating charioteers. wink

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #12

    We have the odd Ben Hur moment! Madam isn’t keen, but we tried her last time away. She was fine but Choccy went crackers trying to get to his girl. Not sure I would want to tow one of our lumps behind us on a bike though, unless it was flat. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #13

    Would this be better?

  • Jazzybaby
    Jazzybaby Forum Participant Posts: 109
    edited February 2019 #14

    We have had one of these for years and can definitely recommend it.

    www.doggyride.com/

    Make sure if you order one you ask for two attachments for the bikes, these enable you to take turns in towing. Never used it as a pram.

    Folds flat for storage, tows really well provided you don't corner to sharply. Lots of comments from people especially when my dalmatian sits with her head out of the sunroof!

  • vbfg
    vbfg Forum Participant Posts: 504
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    edited March 2019 #15

    Thank you very much for the very useful and informative replies.  I didn't want to pay out for one then find that it was completely unsuitable.

  • Oscarmax
    Oscarmax Club Member Posts: 257 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #16

    We brought a doggyhut about 4 years ago then we paid about £80 for a medium size  they are about £120 now for the large size.

    I have made an attachment and tow behind my mobility scooter, we have had no problems at all, it still looks like mew and folds easily comes apart and folds up flat.