I’m sometimes asked about my EBike with trailer setup, or people comment and say “Oh, that looks practical”, and so I made this video as a full overview, going into perhaps too much detail You can skip through it with the chapters. Subtitles are available if you have difficulty understanding me, the microphone on my phone isn't great.

Truth be told, I’m a penny pincher who’s been stubbornly putting off getting a driving licence for as long as I can, and so this is the transport solution I use. It's cheap and keeps me fit, but at the cost of my time, convenience, and energy levels.

While a bike with a trailer or a cargo bike can't replace a car entirely, particularly when it's raining, when you want to take passengers, or go long distances quickly, it's still good for local journeys, which is mostly what I do.

A bike trailer can be a cheaper alternative to a proper cargo bike, its more modular, and you can use your existing bike if it's compatible with the towbar (see video), though there are a variety of ways that different trailers hitch to bikes. But bear in mind that it's a separate thing that you'll need to lock up, and be mindful of where you plan to ride with one, as it'll increase your width. Also make sure your bike has decent brakes as it also increases your weight Even Vbrakes will work if you keep on top of your maintenance.

An ebike or conversion kit will help you if you live in a hilly area, but be careful and don't buy too cheaply. Preferably buy one that has a brand name or from a company with a good reputation Ebike battery fires are a growing problem. I bought from Yose Power, who sell semi decent quality cheapish kits with components that are compatible with one another, though their overseas tech support can apparently take a long time to respond if I ever get a problem, but that's a gamble I decided to take. Also, make sure your forks are steel (use a magnet to check) if you choose a kit with a front hub motor, and use a torque arm! 

Poor video quality is poor, I'm too much of a cheapskate to buy a decent camera for this sort of thing and so just used the smartphone. :)

UPDATE: I've since rebuilt the rear half of my bike, replacing the pannier rack, and now use a single, removable pannier bag instead of the double bags. The box is still permanently bolted to the bike and normally provides enough cargo space, but if not, I use the bag. Since the trailer has more space for things than the weight I can safely carry, I use either the trailer or the pannier bag, but not both at the same time. It saves weight.

I've also since replaced the double stand with a better, higher quality one which actually folds out and opens wider. It stops the bike tipping over and makes it easier to park, especially with the trailer attached to it. It's also resistant against corrosion, unlike the old one!

00:00 – Intro
00:43 – Pannier Box
01:14 – On Board Bicycle Tool Kit List
02:05 – EBike Kit Quick Overview
03:18 – Bike Trailer Overview
03:50 – Trailer Tow Bars
04:12 – Trailer Hitching
04:34 – Trailer Weight Limits
05:21 – Towing Trailer Through Narrow Gaps
05:39 – Locking Bike With a Trailer
05:51 – Outro & Rant About The Cost of Car Ownership