I was excited when Burley reached out about the Burley Travoy Cargo Trailer ($299) and I happily volunteered to test it out. As a woman who has no car, and leg-powers herself everywhere, a trailer to help me transport the items I need is a fantastic tool.
Haul it – Big, Small, Short, Tall
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a massive fan of #carryshitolympics (look this hashtag up on Instagram if you don’t know it yet) and have carried everything from multiple cases of beer at one time to huge, boxed-up metal bike racks. It’s certainly a fun challenge. I have to admit, sometimes a trailer would have been the smarter (and easier) choice. Given my lifestyle, I knew I’d have no problem putting this trailer to the test.
If you look at my video below, you’ll notice I hauled a variety of items: plants, groceries, sports equipment, pet supplies, and an air conditioner. I put this cart through the wringer.
Easy Assembly and Setup
The ease of assembly is my favorite characteristic of this trailer. From the seat post attachment to the breakdown and setup of the trailer itself, this is by far the least complicated trailer I’ve configured. Having owned a bike tour and rental business, I used lots of trailers – for humans and hauling. They are bulky and time-consuming to set up, particularly if you want to switch the seat post attachment amongst different bikes. If you are familiar with other brands, you know it involves lots of tightening of bolts and a hex tool. The Burley Travoy comes with a three-hinged piece, a simple “T” attachment tool, and quick release latch that makes this so effortless to attach. No tools necessary.
I love that it has all the pads (to protect your seat post) built-in. Rather than the circular bits of foam or plastic most trailers use, these pads are not going anywhere, and this makes for a rapid assembly too. I’m not keen on keeping trailer attachments on my seat post all the time. Burley has made it easy to take this on and off in a matter of seconds.
The Burley Travoy Cargo Trailer itself also sets up and breaks down with ease. Twisting handles that unlock each section make it so quick. The wheels pop on in a jiffy, and you are ready to go. The disassembly is just as fast. I’ve had a slight difficulty with the bottom fold-up section, which releases with a cable. I find it’s a bit sticky sometimes, and I’ve struggled with it. Otherwise, the disassembly is easy peasy.
Attachment
Latching and unlatching the cart is exceptionally simple. You flip a button with your finger and pull up. That’s it! To reattach, you push switch in and slide arm back on. When I’ve used my trailer at the grocery store, I disconnect my trailer and walk into the store using this as my grocery cart. During the current COVID19 pandemic, it’s fantastic to use it as my personal cart and not the shared grocery carts.
Amazingly Compact for Storage in Small Spaces
If you’ve used any other trailer, you are likely familiar with how bulky they are. Take it from someone living in a little over 400 square feet – this trailer is amazingly compact. The Travoy comes in a black bag (with handles), and the entire trailer hangs on a hook inside my coat closet. Neat and tucked away. If you need a trailer to haul things but live in a tiny space, the Travoy will be compatible with your lifestyle.
Straps and Angles Accommodate a Variety of Bags
You can use bags (I was testing with the Burley Upper Market Bag and Lower Market Bag), or Burley provides straps that you can use for the cart rather than with bags. The straps cinch tight, which keeps your goods secure. Due to the angle of the cart, all of my items stayed secure, even when I was hitting all sorts of city street bumps and potholes.
I tested the cart both with and without bags. I loved that I could fit big items like my air conditioner and large amounts of plants on this without a problem. Everything I set out to haul, I was able to do. The cart arm is adjustable to move the cart further away from your rear wheel or closer. Because of the arm, it can fit many different bikes or even around rear racks. I tested the Travoy with my gravel bike and my commuter bike, which has a rear rack, and it perfectly fits both.
Improvements?
One of the parts I didn’t like about the angle of the cart was that it would sometimes hit my back or head when hauling taller things. I’m not sure if this could be improved upon and frankly, the angle is also very nice to keep all of your items with you. If you don’t plan on pulling taller items, this won’t be a problem. I haul everything but the kitchen sink with me on my bikes.
Conclusion
Overall, I love the Burley Travoy Cargo Trailer, especially with the Burley Upper and Lower Market Bags. It is easy to assemble, compact, and versatile. For someone who doesn’t own a car, this is a fantastic investment to help contribute a less stressful car-free life.
So often, folks who claim they can’t go without a car state that grocery shopping is a big factor. With the Burley Travoy, that obstacle is easily solved, along with so many others. I will certainly keep using my Travoy and keep challenging myself more hauling items. Keep a lookout for me on the streets Minneapolis!
