How to Install a Trek Bike Trailer

Trek bike trailers attach to your bike's seat post

A Trek bike trailer enables you to enjoy a bike ride with a child in tow. The trailer allows you the peace of mind of knowing your child is directly behind at all times as you ride. And bike trailers teach your child to pedal a bike without the fear of falling over. Install a Trek bike trailer to your seat post via a hitch that stays in place. The trailer hooks onto the hitch, making it easy to remove the trailer when you want to ride without the trailer.

Things You'll Need

• Allen wrenches (or regular wrench)
• Bike trailer hitch
• Bike grease
• Bike trailer

Instructions

1. Mark the height of the seat post with a pencil. The seat post is the tube to which your bike seat is attached. Make the mark where the frame of the bike meets the seat post.

2. Remove your seat post by opening the quick-release that spins to loosen the seat-post binding. Alternatively, some bikes have a bolt that must be removed using Allen wrenches or regular wrenches, depending on the type of bolt. Pull the seat post out once the bindings are loosened.

3. Attach the hitch by sliding the hitch up the seat post to a point about an inch above the mark you made earlier. Tighten the hitch bolt to attach the hitch to the seat post.

4. Apply a small amount of bike grease to the seat post. Replace the seat post into the frame of the bike. Slide it down until the mark lines up with the edge of the bike frame and then either replace the seat-post bolt or tighten the quick-release mechanism.

5. Attach the trailer to the hitch. Newer Trek bike trailers have either a bolt-like pin to attach the trailer's arm to the hitch or a quick-release mechanism. Older models have the pin or a nut and bolt to attach the arm to the hitch.

Tips & Warnings

• If your seat post hasn't been removed or adjusted for a while, it may feel stuck. Wiggle it back and forth a bit to get it to come out.

• If you have a carbon seat post, be careful not to tighten the hitch bolt too tight or it could damage the carbon fibers. Tighten only until the hitch is secure.

• Be sure your seat post is tightened before you ride.

References

• Trek: Bike Trailers
• Bicycle trailers.com: Bike trailers
• Atlanta Bicycles: Bike Trailer FAQ