How to Build Child Bike Trailers
Child bike trailers are a convenient and safe way to transport your child by bicycle. They not only provide more of a safety barrier and increased "wiggle room" for your youngster, but they are also safer for both the child and the rider as the handling characteristics stay virtually the same for the bicycle. Thus, it is easier to maintain balance and safe riding habits with a pull-behind child bike trailer than it is with a bike-mounted child seat. Child bike trailers are abundant, but can be expensive to purchase. With a bit of ingenuity and spare time, the simple and cheap solution is to build your own.
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Things You'll Need
- 1-inch square aluminum tubing
- Drill
- Socket wrenches
- 0.5 inch bolts
- 20-inch bicycle wheels
- Child Seat
- Nylon cloth (optional)
Instructions
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1
Build a square out of the aluminum tubing with sides 2.5 feet long. Drill holes in the end of each piece of tubing and screw the tubing together with a socket wrench and 0.5 inch bolts. Determine which side will be the front of the carrier. Secure a 3-foot-long piece of tubing with the 0.5 inch bolts to act as the tongue for connecting the carrier to the bicycle.
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Drill two holes opposite one another on the sides of the carrier and insert the wheel axles of the 20-inch bike wheels. Secure them with bolts. Drill a single hole in the end of the tongue of the trailer in which to slide the quick release of the rear wheel through. This will be how you secure the trailer to the bicycle axle.
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3
Drill four mounting holes in the child safety seat, then drill corresponding holes in the edges of the trailer frame. Slide the seat into the frame and secure it with the bolts. To attach the trailer, slide your quick release through the hole in the end of the tongue of the trailer. Strap your child into the seat---and away you go.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the optional nylon to construct a small roof or sun-guard over the seat. This helps prevent too much sun exposure and sunburn.
