How to Build a Bicycle Cargo Trailer
If cycling is your main mode of transportation, you'll benefit from having a bicycle cargo trailer to carry your stuff around. A bicycle trailer attaches to the back of your bike and allows you to pull larger and heavier items than you'd otherwise be able to. It's fairly simple and inexpensive to build a bicycle cargo trailer
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Two bicycle wheels
- Two 4-inch square electrical utility box covers
- Two 10 feet pieces of 3/4 inch electrical conduit (EMT) pipe or 4 pieces of 1 foot by 2 feet lumber
- Malleable metal bar
- Bungee cords
- Large Rubbermaid container
- Cut-to-size plywood
- Eye bolt
- Clamps
- L bracket
Instructions
-
-
1
Build the main body. You can create one out of wood using four pieces of 1 foot by 2 feet lumber screwed into a ladder-type frame with 90 degree brackets. Or you can use two 10 feet pieces of 3/4 inch electrical conduit (EMT) pipe and bolts to create a frame.
-
2
Attach 16 or 20 inch wheels to the frame using 4-inch square electrical utility box covers bent to create axles. Use two per wheel.
-
-
3
Create a metal trailer arm. EMT pipe works well or even metal from an old bicycle rack works. Bend and cut it into shape and drill holes into it so that it can be attached to the frame. Use bolts to attach the trailer arm securely to the frame when you build a bicycle cargo trailer.
-
4
Flatten the end of the trailer arm and drill a hole through it. Bend one L bracket into a D shape. Line up the two holes already in the L bracket with the holes you drilled in the trailer arm. Attach with a short bolt and nut.
-
5
Line up the flat part of the D against the chainstay and clamp the D to the frame with two hose clamps. Wrap a bungee around the connect to attach the trailer to the bike.
-
6
Screw a piece of pre-cut plywood to the frame to create a flat surface to carry stuff. Items can be attached to the trailer using bungee cords. Or you can attach a large Rubbermaid container to the frame with bungee cords. Attach red reflectors to the back of the Rubbermaid container.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Bicycle wheels tend to be expensive. You can cut down on costs by finding used ones or taking old ones from a bike that no longer works.
Smaller wheels make the bicycle cargo trailer sturdier.
If you use a Rubbermaid container, build the frame around the size of it.
Don't use bicycle cargo trailers to carry children. You can purchase specially built trailers for this purpose.
