Wooden Bicycle Trailer Ideas

Wooden bicycle trailers can be useful for all sorts of things. You may need to transport a pet, sports equipment, recyclables or just about any other item that can fit. Save gas and get exercise by taking the time to pedal wherever you need to go. These trailers can be made yourself or bought.

  1. The Cart

    • Use woodworking tools such as a chisel, hammer, stapler and an electric saw and drill to build a solid trailer that can carry up to 100 pounds. Recycle trailer wheels from a child's bicycle or buy some at a home store or bike shop. You'll also need eight lengths of 1-by-2-inch wood for the frame along with a sheet of 1/4-inch plywood for the bottom bed of the trailer and pieces of 3/4-inch plywood for the sides. Additional materials that you will need include carriage and axle bolts, screws, glue, nails and staples. Axle bolts will be used to connect the wheels to the sides of the trailer. A hitch can be made with a strip of old tire sidewall wrapped around your seat post and bolted to the trailer. Make sure to only carry the weight of items that you can physically pull without hurting yourself.

    The Do-It-Yourself Bicycle Trailer

    • Create a fully-enclosed box trailer using 1/4-inch plywood sheeting for the top, 1/2-inch plywood for the trailer sides and back, and 3/4-inch plywood to the front and bottom for added strength and weight resistance. Attach small trailer wheels to 1/8-inch steel plates on the sides of the trailer and fasten a metal tow bar to the front of the trailer's box. This metal bar will attach to the seat post. Assemble a 1-by-1-inch frame to support the top of the trailer and attach hinges to it to allow it to removed. Bolts, screws and wood glue will hold the parts of your trailer together. Make sure to have basic tools such as an electric drill, saw, vise and adjustable wrenches handy.

    The Budget Trailer

    • Build this trailer for as little as $35 if budget is a concern. This large flatbed trailer can haul a lot of gear and will not flip over when cornering. Head to your local home store and buy 1-by-2-inch wood pieces for the frame and 1/4-inch plywood for the trailer bed. Basic tools will also need to be on hand. Use 90-degree brackets to screw the one-by-twos together. Electrical box cover plates are inexpensive and make excellent wheel supports. Find two 16-inch wheels from a old bike and make a car bike rack into a seat post-mounted tow arm. It is important that you attach eye bolts or something similar to the bed of the trailer in order to tie your items down to. Use bungee cords to strap your items down for safe traveling.