Lazy Custom Baby Bicycle trailer

[bennelson]

My wife loves biking, but hasn't done any since having the baby (this past October)

I pulled our bikes out of storage a couple days ago, but without either a babysitter or some way to bring the baby with, they aren't going to be very useful.

I was looking around at rummage sales and thrift stores for a bicycle trailer, but couldn't find any. At the big box store, a bike trailer is $100 on sale
I probably have enough weird spare parts kicking around that I could BUILD a bike trailer, but I am so busy with other things right now that I don't really have the time for it.

The other day, I was talking to my new friend Justin while installing new tires on the electric motorcycle. He had a semi-junked bicycle trailer kicking around and just gave it to me.

It's not a trailer that would actually hold a small child in its current form - just a frame and 2 wheels.

Our baby car seat has a removable base, designed to be left in the car, just seat-belted in place.

I modified the bike trailer frame by adding two cross supports, bolted down with u-bolts. The car seat base rests directly on those supports. I then used a ratchet strap (in place of a seat belt) to pin the base down to the frame.

Then, we just put the baby in her car seat, (complete with 5-point harness) and snap it into the base on the trailer.

Worked pretty well first time out!

The handle on the car seat acts as a roll bar, and it already has a folding shade top.

I may still add an additional roll bar, and maybe a little windshield. Pretty fast/lazy/easy way to build a child bike trailer!

Here's some photos!

[Piwoslaw]

Nice find! And cool kid! I hope he keeps smiling when you hit bumps. I'd put larger wheels on to keep the ride smooth.

[euromodder]

Nice solution !

[bennelson]

I did notice that my wife's bike has suspension on the seat and the front forks, but the trailer has none. (other than the padding built into the child seat)

I figure it wouldn't hurt to run the trailer tires at lower than standard pressure to make for a softer ride. Yes, it would require pedaling just a tad harder, but we bike partly for exercise anyways!

The roads we bike on a pretty smooth, other than the pedestrian path, where they put in two speed bumps!

[Bill in Houston]

I like it.

[bennelson]

I have a fender in my pile of bike parts. I'll have to see if one will fit that bike.

[Nevyn]

That's excellent! She looks happy as a lark back there! Also, Giant brand bikes! Double +1! They're my favorite brand.

I wouldn't go with a fender. I'd get some acrylic or something and mount on the trailer tipped towards the bike as a splash guard/windshield. A fender wouldn't do too much against debris coming off the tire at an upward angle as it is kicked/flung loose.

Too bad you have to strap to the axle. The way the blue axle mounts to the black frame, looks perfect for some mini leaf springs!

[bennelson]

Hmm.... Maybe a dashboard like the old wagons had on them!

[morphector]

Nice work there.

We bought one of these 100$ on sale bicycle trailer and it's not really great for a young baby. Our son is 13 months old. The harness on the cheap one tend to slip away and the baby doesn't sit properly. I tought about modifying it with a 6 or 7 years old car seat so the baby will be more comfortable.

[Angmaar]

Looks nice. You might want to put a helmet on her though.