Cheap kids bike trailers that cost less than 2 tanks of fuel

In this article we're looking at options for cheap kids bike trailers that let you get cycling with your child without spending too much money.

Petrol prices have got astronomically high recently, along with virtually everything else.

If filling the tank with fuel used to be something you did without thinking, you may be doing a double take now when you swipe your card.

One way to cut back your fuel costs is to swap to cycling for shorter journeys.

If you have one or two young children one of the cheapest and easiest ways to do this is to use a bike trailer.

If you already have a bike yourself you can get up and running with a cheap kids bike trailer for less than two tanks of fuel (using the AA's calculations of a tank of fuel costing £92.20 for petrol and £99.48 for diesel as of 18th May 2022)

A cheap bike trailer is a great way to start cycling with small toddlers and children

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Cheap kids bike trailers that cost less than two tanks of fuel

There are several ways to get cycling with your kids in a cheap bike trailer for under £180.

In this article we'll look at how you can buy a cheap bike trailer new or secondhand, plus there's the option to do a short term hire for a couple of weeks to see if a trailer really works for your family.

Why a bike trailer makes sense at the moment

1) For the cost of a couple of tanks of fuel you're getting a mode of transport that will last you a very long time. No more filling up the tank every week!

2) You'll have an asset you can sell on when you're finished using it (assuming you look after it carefully) - so your overall cost of transport will drop even more.   Or you can keep it for transporting your shopping once your passengers have outgrown it

3) Trailers are a cheap and easy way to get into cycling with your children, and you can always upgrade later if you decide you want a better model or a different way to cycle (such as cargo bike)

4) You're getting your exercise free while you move around, meaning you don't need to pay for gym membership or fitness classes

5) Cycling gives you feel good endorphins - we could all do with some of those at the moment

6) You've got a fun, low cost family activity to do at weekends and in the holidays

Single or double trailer?

I'd generally recommend going for a double trailer even if you only have one child who will use it.  This is because a double trailer:

  1. Has more space for stuff - and we all know how much of that we need to cart around with our kids!
  2. You can carry a playdate passenger
  3. They allow flexibility if your family grows in future
  4. They're easier to sell on when you're finished with them
  5. There's more double trailers available to buy than single ones
  6. You can use it for carrying shopping or other cargo when your child isn't with you - further reducing the costs of petrol / parking

A couple of reasons to avoid a double trailer are:

  1. You know none of the above reasons are ever going to matter to you
  2. You can't store a double trailer and really need a compact trailer
  3. Your route is very narrow and a double trailer would get stuck

New, used or rental trailer?

There's three ways to get your hands on a kids bike trailer without spending too much money.

You can buy a cheap trailer new, pick up a second hand bargain, or rent a kids bike trailer.

With all three options it's possible to get up and pedalling for less than two tanks of fuel.

Photo of a woman cycling in the autumn pulling a bike trailer with a child in it behind her.  A cheap bike trailer can help give year round transport without the costs of a car, petrol or parking

DEAL OF THE WEEK ON KIDS BIKE TRAILERS (UK ONLY)

The good people at Kids Bike Trailer Hire are currently selling off some of their older stock, so you can pick up a great Burley trailer at an incredible discount.

Limited stock availability - when it's gone it's gone! 

Save now

Cheap NEW bike trailers

Do be careful of buying a new kids bike trailer that seems too good to be true.  It may well have been imported cheaply not have much quality control (i.e. is it actually safe?)

We always recommend reading the one-star reviews for a product, and ask yourself "Can I return this and get my money back easily if there's something wrong with it?" 

Good places to look for a new affordable kids bike trailer are:

Decathlon

Tredz

Halfords

All these places sell a range of reputable brands and have good returns policies, and you can actually go into stores and see the products if you want.

Prices for a new trailer start from £150 and there's a number of basic models for under £200.

 

RENTING a kids bike trailer

Renting or leasing a bike trailer can be a cost effective way of testing out whether it's the right choice for you and your family.

Or perhaps you just want one for a short period of time, for example if your car is off the road or you're going on holiday.

Bike Trailer Hire offer rentals of premium trailer brands from £45 for two weeks, and will deliver anywhere in mainland Britain.

They also do a "Try Before You Buy" option - perfect if you're not quite sure which brand to go for.

 

Hire Now

 

 

Cheap SECONDHAND kids bike trailers

Buying a second hand trailer is like anything - you may be lucky and get a real bargain!

Perhaps you'll find a top of the range trailer listed to end late at night and get it for much less than a cheaper model new one. (Premium brand names to be aware of are Burley, Chariot, Hamax and Thule)

Or perhaps you'll just get a really good deal on a standard model that's hardly been used.

Or perhaps you'll be pipped to the post and lose out on the perfect model - that's life!

It's definitely worth looking though.

 

Buy Used

 

Cheap bike trailers to buy

As with everything in life you can get bike trailers at all different prices.  They all do the same basic thing - allow you to tow your child behind your bike.

It's just some are more basic than others.

Personally I pulled my two children in a cheap trailer for years. Or make that two trailers, as the first wore out and we had to replace it!

They were fine - yes it would have been nice to have all the features you get with an expensive trailer, but we enjoyed commuting every day to school.

The one thing to note is that a cheaper trailer won't have an internal roll cage that comes with a more expensive model.

There are some very cheap kids bike trailers available which may not be as robustly made as those from a reputable brand / retailer, remember to read the reviews and ask yourself whether you can return it if there's a problem.

Here's a few bike trailers that cost roughly the same as two tanks of fuel:

 

 

Bike Original Double Trailer

Cheap kids bike trailer for decalthlon

The Original Bike trailer is a double trailer that can hold kids up to a total combined weight of 41kg (whether you can still pull them is another matter!)

It has a few basic features, such as polyester hood with openable and removable transparent window with ventilation mesh, a rear storage pocket.

One plus point about this trailer is it's easily foldable and the wheels are quick release, which is handy if storage space is limited or you need to transport it in a car boot.

The wheels are 20" wheel in size, meaning there is a bit more ground clearance than with a trailer with smaller wheels.

Buy Now

The Halfords two seat trailer is one of the most popular entry level trailers around, and can often be found really cheap on Ebay, as so many are sold each year.

It's got a maximum capacity of 36kg and comes with a bug screen and rain shield protects your child in various weather conditions.

The trailer comes with a flag which is great for making your trailer visible to other road users.

The trailer folds flat, and has storage pockets.

Buy New  Buy Used

The Raleigh Entrepid 2 is an entry level two seater trailer that has 16" wheels.

The cover provides a level of protection from the elements, or you can roll it up if it gets warmer.

Buy Now

How trailers hitch to your bike

How a trailer attaches to your bike can often be an afterthought, resulting in you getting lost in online forums and trawling through websites that aren't specific to your bike or your trailer.

There are a lot of complicated variables when it comes to hitching a trailer to a bike, we're here to let you know that hitching the trailer might require some research and thinking and may require purchasing an additional part that doesn't come with the trailer, so please do bear this in mind when budgeting for your new trailer.

We have busted the jargon and created an easy-to-follow guide for working out how a trailer will hitch to your bike.

Hope you find a trailer suitable for your family

I do hope this article has helped you find the best priced kids bike trailer.  I'd love to hear what you end up with, so do please drop me a note in the comment box at the bottom of this article. Alternative you can tag @CycleSprog on Instragram or Twitter.   Happy cycling!

More advice on kids bike trailers

Comments

Elizabeth Walker

Hello, A boy of 4 shall be joining me for 10 days in Bristol city centre. I seek a single trailer for him to tour a small perimeter of the city. The rear wheel of the bicycle to be hitched to is a regular bolted hub, not quick release.
Please give your address and telephone number as neither are indicated here on your site.
Thank you for your reply. EW

Karen

Hello Elizabeth – thanks for your message. We are an information / advice website and don’t hold any stock ourselves. I suggest you either contact Kids Bike Trailers (by clicking this link to get to their website), who do mail order short term trailer rentals, or else speak to your local cycle hire facilities to see if they rent out kids bike trailers. Kind regards Karen

Amy

I urge you to change the first photo of the man cycling with twins in the trailer…they have no helmets on!! I honestly don’t know why this photo was chosen to be used as it is promoting unsafe travel for children. I know most parents know better, but some may look at this and do the same as in the picture.

Karen

Hello Amy – thank you for your comment. The children are strapped in to the trailer so will not fall out and hit their heads. Obviously if local laws mean that helmet wearing is compulsory in bike trailers then that law should be respected. However in the UK, where we and the majority of our readers are based, helmet wearing is a matter of personal decision for each parent. If a parent does choose for their child to wear a helmet it is very important that it is the correct size, fitted properly and preferably designed with a flat back for use in a trailer or bike seat, to prevent stress being places on the child’s neck. Cheers Karen

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