Whether you run a small delivery business or live in a city where it doesn’t make much sense to drive, having a bike cargo trailer to help cart around your goods or equipment is a great way to lower your costs and keep fit while doing so.
From lightweight, folding bike trailers, to enclosed wagons suitable for the beach, camping or going off-road, this article is here to help you find the right one. Alongside our guide on how to buy, we’ve ranked the top 10 best cargo trailers for bicycles available in the UK!
Quick List - Top Bike Cargo Trailers
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
The first thing you’ll want to decide is what size trailer best fits your needs. Obviously, you'll want to avoid anything that's too small for the cargo you’re planning on carting around, but you equally don’t want something that's too big and difficult to manoeuvre.
A small trailer that's easy to detach works best for making local deliveries around town. That's because these are perfect for dealing with small packages, like bags of coffee or freshly baked bread and pastries. Even if you’re just planning on using it for trips to the shops, something around 60 cm³ should provide plenty of space.
For larger goods, you’ll require a bigger cargo trailer, but it’s worth keeping in mind that these tend to be narrow and long. Luckily, most won’t extend too far out from your bike’s handlebars to make sure you can fit safely through narrow gaps.
Looking for a bike trailer to transport the kids? Click here to learn more!
Although trailers help a huge deal when transporting heavier goods, especially compared to a backpack or panniers, it is important to be realistic about how much you can comfortably cycle with. All bike trailers have a maximum load they can carry, which is usually between 35 kg – 45 kg.
As well as the goods you are carrying, you also need to consider the weight of the trailer itself. Trailers range in weight from around 10 kg – 20 kg, and you could easily be pulling an extra 50 kg or more if you're not careful.
This can put extra strain on both you and your bike, including the possibility of damaging your trailer if you overload it, which could cause a serious accident on the road.
As there are many different trailer designs, you'll find that they’re made from a variety of materials. Nearly all cargo trailers will be constructed using a solid metal frame, which resembles an open metal cage and can be great for transporting larger items. Others may have a solid plastic box inside to prevent smaller items from falling through the gaps at the side.
One popular design is the fabric box, which is similar to a large, rigid duffle bag. While not suitable for larger loads, they are great for carrying lots of smaller items, like shopping bags or sports gear. These fabric trailers are also covered and usually waterproof, or water-repellent, which will protect your cargo from the unreliable UK weather.
Finally, the material your trailer is made from will have an effect on how easy it is to store when not in use. Fabric containers and metal frames can both be folded up and tucked away inside a garage or shed, but ones with large plastic boxes will be more difficult to find a home for.
Tip: Remember to attach an additional rear bike light to the back of your trailer when cycling at night!
Outside of your trips to the shops, or deliveries and errands around town, one of the most common uses for bike trailers is to carry kit while exploring the British countryside, camping, or on a cycling holiday. If you’re planning on taking your trailer off-road, you’ll likely need one more suited to rougher terrain.
Determining whether a trailer is suitable for off-roading comes down to one thing, the wheels. While smaller wheels are fine for trundling around town, you’ll want to make sure that your trailer has large wheels with thicker tyres when tackling the countryside.
You may also want to consider a single wheeled trailer when off-road, as it will allow you to keep control of your bike and reduce the risk of an accident. This is because you'll be able to take sharp turns a lot easier, without the trailer getting caught up on obstacles.
Tip: You'll also need an additional bike lock to keep your trailer and cargo safe from thieves!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Homcom Folding Bike Trailer | ![]() | Folding Bike Trailer for a Variety of Needs | |
2 | Schwinn Day Tripper | ![]() | Versatile Bike Trailer for Day Trips and Camping Holidays | |
3 | Homcom Cargo Jogger | ![]() | Reliable Trailer for Urban Deliveries | |
4 | Topeak Journey | ![]() | Lightweight Cargo Trailer for Taking Off-Road | |
5 | VidaXL Bike Trailer | ![]() | Transport Heavy Goods on a Budget | |
6 | Bob Yak | ![]() | An Aerodynamic Choice for Bumpy Terrain | |
7 | Burley Nomad | ![]() | Waterproof Trailer Designed Specifically for Touring | |
8 | M-Wave Fold 2-in-1 Foldable Luggage Trailer | ![]() | Premium Bike Cargo and Luggage Trailer | |
9 | Burley Flatbed Cycle Trailer | ![]() | Flatbed Trailer That Can Handle Almost Any Terrain | |
10 | Deuba Bike Trailer | ![]() | Large 90 Litre Trailer for Odd Jobs and Carrying Goods |
Whether loading it with your weekly shop, some camping gear for your next trip, or anything else you can think of really, this one will serve you well and won't break the bank. In fact, it's the versatility of this trailer that put it at the top of our list!
It folds up neatly and has large 20" wheels, making it incredibly convenient to both store and pull behind while you're cycling. This really is incredible value for money, and you won't regret this purchase no matter where you're cycling.
The Schwinn Day Tripper sits in that sweet spot between too big and too small, making it ideal for when you need extra cargo space for holidays. Equally suitable for trips down the shops, it's a really versatile option for a range of different journeys.
People in the UK may not be too familiar with the American brand Schwinn, but they make some of the best quality bikes in the world, and their trailers are of comparable quality. Better yet, wrapped around the solid frame is a tight fitting cover to ensure your items are secure.
When you combine a low price with a removable storage box, you have the perfect trailer for carting deliveries or shopping around town. There's even a handle to push it around manually, when not attached to you bike.
Unlike similarly designed models with a plastic box, this offering from Homcom comes with a waterproof plastic cover. If you're someone who's sick of making multiple trips to the shop or cramming your goods into a backpack, do yourself a favour and purchase this trailer!
Of all the cargo trailers we've looked at, the Topeak Journey is the best choice if you're planning on spending time off-road. We especially love that it's available at a seriously competitive price point for this type of design.
Although the wheel is small, there's ample bounce in the tire, and the narrow design and light weight make riding with it a breeze. While a little smaller than the Bob Yak, the savings more than make up for the loss of space.
This trailer is great for transporting heavier, bulky goods around town due to its open framework design and high load capacity. Tools, DIY materials, and other similar items which may be messy or cause damage to fabric, will happily sit within this alloy steel frame.
When not in use, this trailer folds down completely flat for easy storage and transport. But best of all, the low price makes it a great investment, even for very occasional use.
With a large single wheel and high capacity dry bag, the Bob Yak is built for off-road cycling and difficult terrain. It handles long journeys particularly well due to its aerodynamic design, so if you're planning on long camping trips, this is a fantastic choice!
Just be aware that cargo trailers designed for off-roading are often considerably more expensive than their urban counterparts. So it may be worth weighing up whether you're going to get the most out of it, before spending extra.
If you're looking to cover serious distance and need a trailer for the long haul, the Burley Nomad is one of the best on the market as it's designed specifically for touring. The efficient use of space and lightweight design, combined with a strong waterproof cover, make it a pleasure for those bigger trips.
If you don't have cycling tours in mind, this isn't really the trailer for you due to the premium price. If you need a trailer for business or camping, you'd be wise to opt for something cheaper, or better suited to off-road terrain.
The M-Wave Fold is everything you could possibly want in a bike trailer. It's big without being bulky, comes covered and is fully waterproof, and neatly folds away for when it's not in use. It even has big 20" wheels to make pulling it easy.
With all that said, it feels a little expensive when compared to similar options on our list. If you're happy to pay a premium price, then look no further. However, if there are a couple of features you can live without, there are savings to be made.
This is sure to be the perfect trailer for some of you reading this list. It's lightweight and can handle rougher terrain very well. Plus, it folds away neatly when not in use.
Unfortunately, its greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. As it's an open flatbed style trailer, everything inside will have to be tied down securely. This makes it ideal for camping trips, or carting garden waste and other bulky items to the tip, but not particularly useful for everyday use.
This cargo trailer from Deuba is a great example of a simple and effective design. Comprised of a steel frame with a plastic box, when you need to transport something that's too big for a bag or panniers, this trailer works a treat!
As one of the cheaper entries on our list, you're getting what you pay for as it has no real stand out features. The lack of a cover means it isn't the most suitable when the weather's bad, but it has a deceptively large capacity and can take a lot of weight.
No. 1: Homcom|Folding Bike Trailer
No. 2: Schwinn|Day Tripper
No. 3: Homcom|Cargo Jogger
No. 4: Topeak|Journey
No. 5: VidaXL|Bike Trailer
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games