Read the plans carefully, then diverge

I have read and re-read Carry Freedom's plans and they are quite good and thorough. A bike trailer is a fairly simple device-two wheels inside a frame with a connecting arm. But, getting to something that works well and tracks straight is not so simple, so thank you Carry Freedom.

However, given my materials, my lack of a really good machine shop and the conditions as I confront them, I'm making some modifications.


First, don't be fooled into thinking that hand-held power tools are all you need. You also need a steady hand and an understanding of the consequences of being even a couple of millimeters off in your drilling and tapping. When that happens, you are faced with an odd angle through which the bolt must pass to secure the towing brackets. Besides, even a well-aligned bracket could certainly be a bit longer where it attaches to the connecting arm. (photo to follow).

In addition, some specialty hardware can make the job a bit cleaner. For example, instead of using a "double" nut attachment on the connecting arm, I've purchased a nylon locking nut that should work more effectively. In addition, and this change is a result of actually seeing a Carry Freedom commercial trailer, I'm adding a bronze bushing, sort of a bronze washer, between the connecting arm and the towing bracket that forms the "universal" joint. Hopefully, this will make the piece turn easily and not bind. Or rust, for that matter, a significant issue here in the Pacific Northwest.

These alterations are really part of the fun and learning experience working on this project. They will make the trailer more useful, I think. However, it is far more satisfying to gain the insights into these issues, observe other approaches and come up with alternatives than to simply assemble a trailer from parts.

On a larger scale, this sort of experimentation would need to be whittled down to what works in a production environment. But, that's not my situation, though I will have more to say about that when the trailer is finished and tested.