Review: Burley Flatbed Bike Cargo Trailer
A good bike trailer can be your entry point to utility biking or expand your current cargo bike capacity.
Over my lifetime of biking, the Burley Flatbed cargo bike trailer has often been a mainstay in my car-light living, even when owning a cargo bike. From camping adventures to lawnmower delivery, the Burley Flatbed trailer makes it easy to hitch up and add 100 pounds of towing capacity to your bike. Let’s dig into the Burley Flatbed Cargo Bike Trailer review to see what makes it so useful, how I use it, and what improvements would be nice!
It is an easy-to-use to use, but pretty basic tow-behind utility cargo bike trailer.
- Open style lets you fit weird and bulky options
- Packs flat for easy storage and transport
- Great customer service
- An investment
- No easy way add flag
Reasons to Own a Cargo Bike Trailer
There are so many ways I’ve used this trailer over the years. Last week, I folded my bulky electric lawnmower, strapped it on the trailer, and rode it down to a friend to borrow it. When I arrived, I unhitched the trailer and left it with the lawnmower. The lawnmower probably would have fit in my front-loading cargo bike or the back of my mini-van, but it required a large lift, and it was heavy. The bottom is sharp and covered in grass, so on the bike trailer it went.
I’ve camped with it, delivered recycling, and used it for groceries before buying a cargo bike (the Burley Travoy is my favorite grocery bike trailer!) I’ve sold many of these to folks wanting to expand their bike and cargo bike capacity, but it can easily be removed.
How the Trailer Connects to a Bike
Bike trailers have 3 main parts: The body of the bike trailer chassis, an arm, and a hitch to the arm connects to.
Most Burley trailers use the same hitch that mounts at your wheel axle. One of my favorite things about Burley trailers, including their top-rated kid and cargo bike trailers, is that they have all used the same hitch method for the past 10 years, except for their unique Coho and Travoy trailers. I have bought several of these hitches and mounted them on my primary bikes for quick installation.
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Here are some examples of the hitch installed on my 3 primary bikes:
Tern Quick Haul P9 Sport with quick release. I could put the quick release through the hitch, but the stock wheel quick release is typically not long so I prefer to run this extension.
Tern GSD using the Tow Kit with a bolt running through the Burley hitch into the dedicated trailer hole in the Tow Kit.
My Urban Arrow uses an axle adapter for the Enviolo hub. I probably could have gotten away without running the adapter, but I didn’t want to chance it and strip threads.
Some mountain and road bikes now run “Thru-Axles” instead of a quick release. Special ones are made with an extension on the end to take the trailer hitch.
Useful links:
Burley’s Hitch Guide
Burley’s Hitch Adapters
Burley’s Thru Axle Adapter
Installing the Trailer Hitch
Your hitch should look exactly like this and run parallel to the ground. When you install your hitch, make sure it is pointed down and the opening is parallel to the ground. The Flex Connector on your trailer then lines up with the opening.
Slide the pin through the hitch and Flex Connector, making sure to clip it so it doesn’t pull out. On some trailers, a safety strap runs through your bike frame. Be careful when installing this strap so it doesn’t have enough slack to touch your disc brake or rear wheel. My Flatbed does not have this strap, but kid trailers do.
Using the Burley Flatbed Bike Trailer
After retrieving my lawnmower, I took some photos of the current setup. I use a light on each side of the trailer, even during the day. I have been running the Lumos Firefly smart lights. I like the turn light feature and that I can quickly move them around depending on what I’m carrying.
I carry a couple of Tern Batten Straps, Niteize Gear Ties, and old bike tubes to secure things. Oh, and don’t forget that 20” tube for the trailer’s tire size.
Running empty, the trailer bounces around a bit and makes a racket. Riding is totally safe, but it prefers to be loaded.
There is a 16+ wheel kit to ride off the paved path or deal with snow or sand. I used these year-round in Colorado, and they are amazing!
I wish Burley included a flag with this trailer. It is so low to the ground that I’m concerned it won’t always be seen, especially in traffic or parked cars.
Folding Up the Trailer
The trailer is straightforward to fold up. Pull out the pins on the corners and slide out the sides. Then, pop the wheels off with a push of a button.
My Personal Improvement Requests
This is a pretty low-thrills trailer, but I wish the flag was included, and they designed something to make it easily moved by hand. These bike cargo trailers are great for getting goods around, but you are left carrying things the last 100 feet because the bike can’t go.
About Burley Design Trailers
For the Flatbed bike cargo trailer, the company is equally important as the trailer. Why? Longevity, customer service, and small parts. When you buy a trailer, you will potentially have it for a decade or more. It will be switched between bikes and maybe even forgotten for a year or two during different life stages. Burley is one of those companies that cares as much about keeping your kids’ trailer on the road from 20 years ago as they do selling a new one. I’ve helped customers with ancient Burley trailers, and Burley still had a small part that would work to fix their worn-out one. Not everything can be repaired or replaced, but they do their best to keep their product rolling.
Their trailers also ride beautifully, tracking properly and staying secure to your bike. Yes, there are cheaper options on Amazon that can work in a pinch, but if you are truly looking for a reliable car trip replacement, you’ll wear those cheaper options out, or they will require a lot more fussing.
Who is the Burley Flatbed Bike Cargo Trailer for?
Trailers have allowed me to use normal bikes to Leave the Car At Home or helped me expand my cargo bike capacity. If you want to expand your bike’s carrying capacity but don’t need it all the time, or if you want to be equipped to carry odd-sized loads, you should certainly check out this cargo bike trailer!
How the Burley Flatbed Cargo Bike Trailer Compares to Others
It is an easy-to-use to use, but pretty basic tow-behind utility cargo bike trailer.
- Open style lets you fit weird and bulky options
- Packs flat for easy storage and transport
- Great customer service
- An investment
- No easy way add flag
The iconic Burley Nomad trailer has been used for bike touring friends for years and years. If you want to carry more than panniers can handle, this is the trailer for you.
- Aluminum design
- An enclosed trailer to keep your belongings dry
- Additional rack can add capacity to the top
- Easy to use
- Shape can limit what you can carry
This cargo bike trailer is popular online with folks trying to see if utility biking is for them. The trailer doesn't last super long if you use often, and it is made of steel so it is heavier and can rust.
- More affordable
- Unknown brand
- Made from steel - can rust and heavier
The best off-road bike trailer
- Easy-to-use after initial setup
- Aluminum frame
- Great accessories
- Requires specific hitch for your bike
- Doesn't work on all bikes
The upright design of this trailer allows you to bring it along! Bring it to the grocery and shop with it, take it on the golf course, and roll it right into your classroom without having to pick up the heavy bookbag.
- Unique upright design
- Easy to fold and store
- Great accessories
- Aluminum frame
- Doesn't work on all bikes
- Can't handle a heavy load like others
- Can be top heavy
Where to Go Next
All Cargo Bike Trailer reviews
Buy the Burley Flatbed Cargo Bike Trailer here
Do you own this trailer? Leave your review here!
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Disclaimers: This product was provided for free for review. If you purchase through the above links, I may make a commission.
Thank you for this website and review! I’m cargo bike curious, although I do use an old steel MTB for hauling a LOT of stuff.
Could you please be sure to add the inner dimensions of this, and future, trailer reviews? I know that when I bought my first trailer, knowing the actual inside dimensions was probably the most important aspect, second only to the loaded weight capacity.
Thanks again!