Review of Burley Nomad Bicycle Cargo Trailer

Burley Nomad Bicycle Cargo Trailer - 945101
By: Burley Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 3
More Information

So Easy to Use a 9 Year Old Can Hitch it to a Bike AND Pull It!

On: 2008-06-09

Weve been using this trailer for over a year now. I pull it, my husband pulls it, and my 8 and 9 year olds pull it; it is lightweight and a dream to tow. My 9 year old can hitch it correctly by himself. Weve had no wear issues or fabric ripping, and it is used at least twice a week. I feel comfortable with it even on narrow roads; it isnt that wide and it is stable, with a nice tall flag. My husband goes up and down curbs with it, and weve taken it on dirt roads (not single track mountain biking, but not just pavement either). It carries a considerable load; we easily get groceries for the week, or carry everything we need for a picnic play date at the park. It also folds up very small so we take it with us on vacation (along with our bicycles). Well be adding the cargo rack soon so we can carry even more!

Good Road Trailer

On: 2008-05-04

Ive had few problems with the trailer. The frame is solid. It is stable behind the bike and can haul a fair load. I would not take it out on rocky trails but it is good for hauling groceries, recyclables, a backpack or other small load (under 100# and not too large) on the road or shoulder. Ive experienced no problems with tipping but I corner at reasonable speed and am not riding trails with it. My wheels do not come in contact with the fabric as reported in another review and the bottom has not contacted the ground. The fabric is quite tough and should hold up for most users. Empty it is hard to know that it is even there. Loaded going up hill takes some effort, but thats just physics.
The Nomad came standard with a hitch for quick release axles, so I had to order an alternate for my Dahon. The stitching to hold the flag in place was missing, but that was easy to fix.
Would I purchase it again? Yes, because it does the job it was designed to do. It is compact and light weight. It quickly disassembles flat and can be reassembled in about 3 minutes.

Poorly Designed Product, Inadequate Customer Service

On: 2008-04-08

Last year, I toured a portion of the East Coast USA with the Burley Nomad Cargo Trailer. Within the span of two months, the Nomad failed in many respects.

The trailer is surrounded in fabric that is prone to tearing. The tires scraped into the fabric walls, causing an annoying whining sound and eventually tearing straps. The underbelly tore open when scraped against rocks.

The width of the trailer makes it difficult or impossible to pull into many doorways. It juts out into the road, exposing a greater surface area to the road. I was often unable to navigate it through narrow paths like bridge sidewalks or construction areas.

There is no secure way to lock the trailer to a stationary object. Even if there was, a person could simply pull open the top and steal everything in it.

The trailer is prone to tipping when riding on poorly paved roads or jumping curbs. Two wheels on the trailer means two more tire tracks to factor in when avoiding potholes or broken glass. My tires went through many patches and a few tubes.

Burley wont deal with customers directly. A touring cyclist has to find a Burley dealer that will handle warranty issues. Burley wouldnt fix my trailer until I took pictures of it and wrote a description of all the damages. When fulfilling their request, I never received a response.

Even if Burley did fix the trailer I would have gone with a BOB trailer or panniers instead.

Poorly Designed Product

On: 2008-04-08

This is not a negative review about this particular supplier of the Burley Nomad. It is a negative review about the product itself.

Last year, I toured a portion of the East Coast USA with the Burley Nomad Cargo Trailer. Within the span of two months, the Nomad failed in many respects.

The trailer is surrounded in fabric that is prone to tearing. The tires scraped into the fabric walls, causing an annoying whining sound and eventually tearing straps. The underbelly tore open when scraped against rocks.

The width of the trailer makes it difficult or impossible to pull into many doorways. It juts out into the road, exposing a greater surface area to the road. I was often unable to navigate it through narrow paths like bridge sidewalks or construction areas.

There is no secure way to lock the trailer to a stationary object. Even if there was, a person could simply pull open the top and steal everything in it.

The trailer is prone to tipping when riding on poorly paved roads or jumping curbs. Two wheels on the trailer means two more tire tracks to factor in when avoiding potholes or broken glass. My tires went through many patches and a few tubes.

Burley wont deal with customers directly. A touring cyclist has to find a Burley dealer that will handle warranty issues. Burley wouldnt fix my trailer until I took pictures of it and wrote a description of all the damages. When fulfilling their request, I never received a response from Burley.

Even if Burley did fix the trailer I would have gone with a BOB trailer or panniers instead.