trailer wheels

[electric.mike]

ime still in the planning stage for my next trailer i want to get away from bicycle type wheels and try small10-12inch balloon type tyres, a smaller variation of the wheel barrow type.
today i have seen a sack barrow rolson i think with just such wheels, they do have bearings and i was just wondering how good the engineering would have to be to run at 10-12mph for a 10mile round trip, if it isn't too critical could anyone recommend a good grease to use to help them survive.
the run this trailer would be mainly used on suffers from a badly pitted surface rather than potholes, and i think these wheels would ride over it better.
mike

 

[flecc]

There will be substantially more drag Mike, not just from the fat tyres but from the very small wheel diameter. Even ripples in a surface makes them work harder, in effect on the "climb" out of each depression. Each one is tiny, but they are repeating at a very high rate at even 10 mph. At least your Powabyke is powerful so it should keep most of any suffering from you.

On the bearings, if they are any sort of ballrace they will be ok, but if they are bushes, they might need very regular attention given the high rotational speed of very small wheels. If they are oilit bushes they last well, but plain metal bushes of any kind will need to be regreased very regularly, both to keep them free running and to avoid high wear. If you can contact the manufacturer or importer, they should be able to inform you of the bush type fitted.

 

[electric.mike]

thanks flecc, as you haven't said don't do it will be a total disaster, (unless your just being polite) i will continue thinking along those lines, this trailer may only be used once every couple of weeks so the lubricating wont be too much of a chore.

mike

 

[flecc]

No, not just being polite Mike, others have dione this, and some e-bikers have even managed with the fat tyred four wheel garden trailers intended for use behind garden tractors.

With that light usage the higher consumption won't be a problem.
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