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I'm looking for an aerodynamic kid's trailer to tow behind my Velomobiel Quest. Some corner points:

  • Needs to be attached at axle height
  • don't care for the coupling, because that needs to be replaced anyway
  • suspension is a must
  • large enough for one up to 8-10 year old kid with a bit of luggage, e.g. swimming pool stuff, something to eat/drink
  • two-wheeled (trikes can't tow inline trailers)
  • aerodynamics are pretty important
  • rain-proof

I live in Germany, so it should be sold here or at least there should be a vendor that ships here.

Edit: A bonus would be if there was a way to somehow carry a kid's bicycle on the trailer such that the kid can ride as far as he wants and then climb into the trailer and I can continue.

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  • wow, I feel your pain, but I don't have any suggestions. I don't recall even seeing a picture of one, ever. Good luck!
    – Móż
    Jan 23, 2014 at 8:00
  • Wouldn't an 8-10 year old be able to ride quite well already? I have seen kids at maybe 13 doing crazy jumps that I can only dream of doing after years!
    – Vorac
    Jan 23, 2014 at 12:18
  • Definitely! Still, at the moment, the boy is five, and even at ten, I think there's an upper limit on how far he's ready to ride for himself. I live ~100km from the sea, which is a nice ride for me, but probably far too much for a kid.
    – arne
    Jan 23, 2014 at 12:20
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    I think "aerodynamic kids trailer" is an oxymoron, especially when you add on the ability to haul another bike. Best you're going to do is one of the units with a canvas cover.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Jan 29, 2014 at 17:22
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    How about a tandem bike? - the kid can help pedal when possible, and otherwise just hold on. Panniers could then be used for any luggage.
    – Mark W
    Feb 25, 2014 at 10:38

2 Answers 2

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Generalisations on child-carrying trailers

  • Based on stroller designs, so suspension is rare.
  • Small wheels on cheaper designs.
  • Seat is positioned for visibility and for an adult not to stoop too far to attend to the child. This is bad for stability and aerodynamics.
  • Built like tents: frame with some kind of fabric over it. I've seen trailers/strollers with mesh fronts and ones with rollable plastic fronts, but as the overall shape remains a modified brick with fluttering fabric, I doubt they'll be very aerodynamic. Your velomobile is designed to have a minimised wake, so the trailer gains no aerodynamic advantage from following it.

What I would do: Make my own.

  • Find a suspended cargo trailer or design and construct one from tubular sections of aluminium or steel.
  • Create a fibreglass clamshell from scratch using insulation board for the former, like the Kingsbury Quattro
  • Or find a junk fibreglass boathull, invert it and add a vertical section until the interior height is sufficient. Fit a polycarb window on each side, but your child probably won't appreciate a porthole which shows the rear of your velomobile.
  • Use good hinges and hydraulic struts to hold the shell open (like a car hatchback)
  • If the shell needs catches or straps to hold it shut, there should be a release mechanism on the inside.
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  • Actually, there are quite a few makers of kid trailers that have suspension nowadays. However, your points are still valid. While building my own trailer certainly crossed my mind and I think I've got the skills to pull it off, I fear that could take quite some time and money and wanted to check whether there are any commercial options.
    – arne
    Jan 29, 2014 at 15:47
  • Thanks for the link btw. That is more or less exactly the way I was thinking to do it.
    – arne
    Jan 29, 2014 at 15:54
  • A hard shell would add at least another 20 pounds weight, more than offsetting any advantage from the (hopefully) aerodynamic shape.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Jan 29, 2014 at 17:24
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    @DanielRHicks The Quest weighs ~30kg ready-to-ride (i.e. with spare tubes, spare tyres, pump, food, drink), and you can easily get away from most upright cyclists, even well-trained ones on less-than-6kg-bikes. It's the aerodynamics that matters most at high speeds.
    – arne
    Jan 30, 2014 at 8:22
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Both the Qeridoo Sportrex 1 and the Chariot 1 from Thule have suspension, are rainproof, have an aerodynamic profile, have axle attachments, and have two wheels (with an optional third for running, etc)...

Qeridoo is even a German brand, so it shouldn't be hard to get in Germany...

But I don't know if you could fulfil the rest of the requirements (8-10 years old kid, possibility of carrying the bicycle at the same time, etc).

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  • Thank you for the links, but both of these are still bricks with wheels. I was thinking along the lines of "drop with wheels", just like a velomobile
    – arne
    Feb 24, 2014 at 6:14

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