Review of Schwinn Mark II Bike Trailer and Stroller Combination

Schwinn Mark II Bike Trailer and Stroller Combination
By: Schwinn Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 4
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Good for the price you pay

On: 2007-05-29

I have only used this trailer a few days and so far it is working great. I think that this is a good trailer for those who are not hardcore cyclists. I am mostly using it around the neighborhood and only as a bike trailer (I dont plan to use it as a stroller) and it is running smoothly and it isnt heavy to pull.

Smooth Ride, Great Inflateable Front and Rear Tires

On: 2007-04-25

I had searched long and hard for a bike trailer/stoller, but nowhere could I find mention of this products front tire. So, I am writing about it first, the front tire is rubber and needs to be inflated prior to use, just like the back tires.

Overall, this is a great product for the price. It fit my budget and safety concerns.

The manufacturer details and many reviews say you do not need tools to assemble so it is very easy to put together. I found that while it was simple to put together, attaching it to my bike was a bit of a challenge. You need to bend the tow bar to fit in the coupler on your bike, which is difficult the first few times. The bug/rain cover is tight the first few times as well, or it could have been the way I was attching it to the velcro as I was streching it from one side to the other. However, I think it is good that the material was stiff in the begining as it tends to strech with time and use. My son loves to kick his feet up against the screen where the velcro attaches the top and front together, it seems to be holding up pretty good.

The trailer itself is wide and I could not fit it through my door. This is largely due to the covers around the wheels. I do have an older house so back then they didnt seem to be concerned with door width. Most stores have the automatic doors which are more than wide enough. I did go to a movie rental chain and the trailer just barely fit. I only have one child so bringing the handle bar for stoller is easy, but seems awkward if two children are riding in it. I have seen reviews mention both children have plenty even with cargo.

The product comes with a safety strap for the handle bar when using as a stroller (not pictured in many shots Ive seen) and has brake straps you hook around the tires (also not pictured). The belts inside are not your typical 5 point harness as the shoulder straps, lap belt and crotch straps do not connect in a single point. The lap belt must be put on the child first and tightened, then the shoulder straps are adjusted to the height of the child and tightened, then connected to the crotch strap. The shoulder straps are slightly paded, but I havent seen any other bike trailer in this price range that have better padding or any whatsoever.

I also found out that bike trailers are just like cars, every year they have new models so the previous years model goes on sale.

If you are going to be an AVID biker who will alternate biking and jogging daily on dirt trails or beaches or will be taking your child(ren) on weekend excursions through the mountians or rough terrain then this probably isnt the bike trailer for you. But keep in mind, the next version up is priced that way too (the next cheapest I found was over $350 for just the trailer, the bike attachment was almost $200 and the stroller kit was just as much).

Great Stroller

On: 2006-09-01

Very Nice Stroller. Good quality and easy to use, turns great. Fits two children easily.

So Far So Good

On: 2006-08-12

I have had this trailer for 5 days and have used it 5 days in a row. 3 days as a jogger stroller and 2 days as a bike trailer.

*It is easy to set up and take down. Yes it does take a little time but I am getting good at it. I dont feel like you need to be "strong" to do either.

*We live in an apartment and have to carry this item from our back patio through our apartment to the front so being compact and light was an issue for me since I will be the one mostly using it. I am glad we went with aluminum, as it is light. It does fold down nicely and even with the wheels on I can still get it through the apartment without hitting furniture.

Pros:
*As a bike trailer it pulls smoothly.
*Easy to put on my mountain bike.
*I feel it is made well and safe.
*My 2 ½ yr old seems comfortable in it and loves the pockets for her treats/drinks. There is even a compartment for my backpack.
*It is simple to transition into a jogging stroller.
*As a stroller it is light and easy to push until....

Cons:
*It seems there is not enough weight up front so the front wheel wobbles uncontrollably which makes it impossible to push. I have to lift it and then set it down again to get it to go straight. I end up jogging with the front wheel held up, which is not fun. However, I guess I could buy a jogger stroller that was really meant for jogging but they shouldnt promote it as a stroller if you cant push it. I am going to contact the company and see if there is a way to fix this problem.
*The 5-point harness is no different from other trailers I have seen. They do seem flimsy and are a little stiff to attach to the ring.
*Today I got home from a ride and realized the flag was missing. I am guessing it flew off when I was going down a hill.
*I hope the canvas holds up. There are already two very small holes where the flag is inserted and rubs.
*The rubber on the clasps for the stroller handle is already coming off.

All in all I am happy with the product for the price. Just a few concerns as mentioned above. I am not a hard-core rider but do intend to use the product frequently so I hope it holds up. It seems sturdy and well made but time will tell.

So Far So Good

On: 2006-08-11

I have had this trailer for 5 days and have used it 5 days in a row. 3 days as a jogger stroller and 2 days as a bike trailer.

*It is easy to set up and take down. Yes it does take a little time but I am getting good at it. I dont feel like you need to be "strong" to do either.

*We live in an apartment and have to carry this item from our back patio through our apartment to the front so being compact and light was an issue for me since I will be the one mostly using it. I am glad we went with aluminum, as it is light. It does fold down nicely and even with the wheels on I can still get it through the apartment without hitting furniture.

Pros:
*As a bike trailer it pulls smoothly.
*Easy to put on my mountain bike.
*I feel it is made well and safe.
*My 2 ½ yr old seems comfortable in it and loves the pockets for her treats/drinks. There is even a compartment for my backpack.
*It is simple to transition into a jogging stroller.
*As a stroller it is light and easy to push until....

Cons:
*It seems there is not enough weight up front so the front wheel wobbles uncontrollably which makes it impossible to push. I have to lift it and then set it down again to get it to go straight. I end up jogging with the front wheel held up, which is not fun. However, I guess I could buy a jogger stroller that was really meant for jogging but they shouldnt promote it as a stroller if you cant push it. I am going to contact the company and see if there is a way to fix this problem.
*The 5-point harness is no different from other trailers I have seen. They do seem flimsy and are a little stiff to attach to the ring.
*Today I got home from a ride and realized the flag was missing. I am guessing it flew off when I was going down a hill.
*I hope the canvas holds up. There are already two very small holes where the flag is inserted and rubs.
*The rubber on the clasps for the stroller handle is already coming off.

All in all I am happy with the product for the price. Just a few concerns as mentioned above. I am not a hard-core rider but do intend to use the product frequently so I hope it holds up. It seems sturdy and well made but time will tell.