Get the answers to all your Burley questions. Please use our product manuals and instructional videos to help you understand more about what your Burley can do or what accessories you might need to make it do more.
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General Questions
- Where can I purchase Burley trailers and accessories?
- Where can I find pricing for Burley trailers and accessories?
- How can I receive a catalog?
- Does my Burley trailer have a warranty?
- Is my warranty transferable?
- I have a bike that has a non-traditional type of frame and I'd like to purchase a Burley trailer. Will the Burley hitch work?
- Why does my trailer tow off to the side of my bicycle?
- How can I order replacement parts for my Burley trailer?
Child Trailers
- How old should a child be to ride in a Burley trailer?
- Does my child need to wear a helmet in the trailer?
- Do Burley trailers meet ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) requirements?
- How can I tell if a bicycle trailer is safe for my child to ride in?
- Besides, the ASTM designation, what other safety features should I look for when shopping for a trailer?
- What's the difference between using a bicycle child trailer and a bike-mounted child seat?
- Is there a way to turn my Burley trailer into a stroller? How does it work? What does it include?
- Is there a way to turn my Burley trailer into a jogger? How does it work? What does it include?
- Does the window material used on Burley trailers protect children from harmful UV rays?
Adventure Trailers
- What is the advantage of using the Nomad trailer instead of panniers?
- Will the Nomad work for a cross-country trip?
- What is the advantage of a two-wheel trailer over a one-wheel trailer?
- How does the Nomad fold?
- Will the Nomad work for commuting?
Pet Trailers
- Why buy a Burley Tail Wagon when there are less expensive pet trailers and strollers on the market?
- Is it possible to use the Burley Tail Wagon for activities other than cycling?
- What is the maximum weight capacity of the Burley Tail Wagon?
- Will the Burley Tail Wagon be comfortable for my small dog or cat?
- How can I help my pet adjust to our new Burley Tail Wagon?
General Questions
Q. Where can I purchase Burley trailers and accessories?
A. Burley trailers are sold world wide. To find a Burley Dealer near you in the U.S. use our dealer locator found at the top of our website. If you are outside of the United States use our international dealer locator. Burley replacement parts and accessories are available online at www.burleygear.com.
Q. Where can I find pricing for Burley trailers and accessories?
A. Please contact your Authorized Burley Dealer for pricing. Retail prices may vary due to regional market conditions, transportation costs, and other factors. Click on our dealer page to find the Authorized Burley Dealer nearest you.
Q. How can I receive a catalog?
A. You can download our catalog with the link found in the upper right corner of our website or request a paper copy by sending your request to burley@burley.com.
Q. Does my Burley trailer have a warranty?
A. Yes, every new Burley trailer comes with a limited warranty issued to the original owner. Fill out the warranty card return card that comes with your product.
Q. Is my warranty transferable?
A. No. The Burley trailer warranty only applies to the original owner.
Q. I have a bike that has a non-traditional type of frame and I'd like to purchase a Burley trailer. Will the Burley hitch work?
A. Here are our guidelines for selecting a hitch to fit a specific bike.
Standard Forged Hitch: Designed to fit most bicycles. Alternative Hitch- QR and Nutted axle versions
- Standard Forged hitch comes with every Burley
- Works with disc brake and full suspension. Does not fit all Breezer style dropouts
- Made of forged 6061 T6 aluminum
- Mono-stays require a longer safety strap which can be purchased separately.
- Fits both quick release and 9.5 mm and 10.5 mm nutted axles
Alternative Hitch: For bikes with unique rear drop outs. quick release and nutted axle versions
- Mono-stay bicycles require a longer safety strap which can be purchased separately
- Comes with safety strap, lock pin, and hardware
- Made of steel and 6061 T6 aluminum
Quick Release version:
- Fits just about everything that has a quick release
- Short quick release126 x 135mm: rear hub over locknut dimension (O.L.D.) between 126 mm and 135 mm
- Long quick release 140 x 160 mm: Fits bikes with a rear hub over locknut dimension (O.L.D.) between 140 mm and 160 mm (tandems)
Nutted axle version
- Nutted Axle 9.5 mm 26 TPI nut
- Nutted Axle 10.5 mm 26 TPI nut
Classic Hitch: Burley's patented pivoting hitch designed for easy attachment to most traditional bikes
- Comes with safety strap
- Stays attached to the trailer’s tongue and switches easily between traditional bike frames
- Works with bicycles with Breezer style drop outs. Does not fit with most bicycles with disc brake or rear suspension
- Does not fit mono stay bicycles
Q. Why does my trailer tow off to the side of my bicycle?
A. Burley has aligned the hitch along the centerline of the trailer and not along the centerline of the bike. This allows the trailer to track straight and makes towing a Burley trailer easier. If the trailer was designed to pull directly behind the bike with the centerline of the trailer aligned with the centerline of the bike, the hitch would have to angle to left side of the trailer to hook to the bike. This would make the trailer want to constantly drift out and the trailer would not track in a straight line.
Q. How can I order replacement parts for my Burley trailer?
A. Replacement parts for all Burley trailers can be ordered on www.burleygear.com or through your local Burley dealer.
Child Trailers
Q. How old should a child be to ride in a Burley trailer?
A. Your child should be able to sit upright unattended and hold his or her head up while wearing a helmet. Please check with your pediatrician if you are in doubt about your child's neck strength. Children typically are able to ride in the trailer until about age six, or until they become too tall for their helmet to fit below the internal roll bar.
Q. Does my child need to wear a helmet in the trailer?
A. Yes. A child should always wear a helmet when riding in a trailer behind a bicycle. A helmet will protect them and also help them develop a habit of always riding with a bike helmet. The Burley d’lite™ ST , Encore, Solo™ ST, Honey Bee, and Cub™ feature extra comfort room for a child’s helmet. This is called the recessed helmet pocket and it adds more comfort for your child.
Q. Do Burley trailers meet ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) requirements?
A. Yes, all Burley child trailers are designed and rigorously tested to meet and exceed these standards. In fact, Burley paved the way in creating these safety standards. Families have come to trust Burley trailers for the safety and durability of our products for over 30 years. Burley's in-house protocols are the toughest in the industry. Our aluminum structure and restraint system are all about safety. We put these features and all other elements included with our trailers through more than twenty different testing protocols for hundreds of hours before a Burley trailer design is approved. Our testing program has evolved to ensure that our trailers continue to provide safe transportation for children.
Q. How can I tell if a bicycle trailer is safe for my child to ride in?
A. All Burley child trailers are designed, tested, and manufactured to meet ASTM standards. To confirm your trailer also meets these standards, check the trailer for a label that says: Meets and exceeds ASTM safety requirements. This means the trailer has been through a series of tests and meets the requirements established by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Q. Besides, the ASTM designation, what other safety features should I look for when shopping for a trailer?
A. Look for these features found on every Burley trailer:
- Drum-tight, gap-free fabric panels that protect children from moving wheels.
- Durable material in bright colors to be easily noticed on the road.
- Secondary safety hitch strap for an extra measure of security.
- Five-point safety harness system.
- Strong aluminum frame and roll cage system to completely surround your child.
- Reflective materials and CSPC-approved reflectors.
- A safety flag that attaches to the trailer.
- Made-to-last quality and durable construction. Burleys are made with heavy duty aluminum hinges.
- The ASTM label indicates that the trailer meets or exceeds the American Society of Testing Materials safety requirements.
Q. What's the difference between using a bicycle child trailer and a bike-mounted child seat?
A. We believe a bicycle trailer is the safest way to bicycle with young children. A bike-mounted child seat has three drawbacks:
- If you have a mishap and the bike falls over the child will fall with the bike from a height of about three feet. Burley trailers stay standing on both wheels in the event that the bike tips over.
- A bike seat places the child’s weight high above and behind the rear axle. This negatively affects the handling and stability of the bike, particularly on a single bike. A Burley trailer hitch is designed to provide superior tracking for the towing bicycle, and the children’s weight in the trailer is balanced to provide a smooth ride for both the cyclist and the passengers.
- There’s very little rollover protection for the child in a bike-mounted child seat. All Burley trailers have an all metal frame construction which surrounds the passengers and a 5-point harness systems to protect children in the event of a roll over.
Q. Is there a way to turn my Burley trailer into a stroller? How does it work? What does it include?
A. The Burley Stroller Kit is available for all Burley child trailers (except the Bee™ model). Once installed, your trailer converts into a stable, sturdy stroller. You can switch between bike trailer and stroller in less than a minute without any tools. The Burley Stroller Kit package includes a retractable front wheel and safety wrist tether. The wheel stays on your trailer so when you arrive at your destination, you simply detach the trailer from your bike, turn the knob to place the stroller wheel on the ground and away you go. Your trailer comes with a parking brake and adjustable, padded push handle. The 2009 d’lite ST, Solo STand Cub feature a handy mesh pocket in the rear to keep a water bottle, keys, wallet, and other parent items within handy reach. Each trailer model has a specific Stroller Kit, so be sure to know which year and model of trailer you have before you choose a stroller kit.
Q. Is there a way to turn my Burley trailer into a jogger? How does it work? What does it include?
A. A Jogger Kit is available for the following Burley trailers: 04-09 d’lite, Lady Bug, and Tiger, 05-09 Encore, 05-09 Solo. This kit quickly coverts your trailer into an easily maneuverable jogger. The Burley Jogger Kit package includes a 16-inch alloy spoked front wheel for easy running and jogging. Your Burley Jogger Kit keeps your children completely protected from the elements and they can keep their snacks and toys close at hand during your outing. Your trailer already comes with a parking brake and adjustable padded handle, so you’ll be ready to go. The 2009 d’lite ST, Encore and Solo ST feature a handy mesh pocket in the rear tail to keep a water bottle, keys, wallet, and other parent items within handy reach. Each trailer model has a specific Jogger Kit, so be sure to know which year and model of trailer you have before you choose a jogger kit.
Q. Does the window material used on Burley trailers protect children from harmful UV rays?
A. Yes. The window material used on all Burleys (both the clear and the tinted) has been tested to resist 85% of ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB).
Adventure Trailers
Q. What is the advantage of using the Nomad trailer instead of panniers?
A. The Nomad allows you to easily take 100 pounds of gear with you, while not compromising the stability and maneuverability of your bicycle. To take this amount of gear with panniers, you would need to use four bags, two in front and two in the rear. With the weight directly loaded on the bicycle it makes the bike handle differently and it can wear on your bike. The Burley trailer hitch is designed to provide superior tracking and the weight in the trailer is balanced to provide a smooth ride. Towing a Nomad enables you to keep the load off of the bike so that your bike handles normally.
Q. Will the Nomad work for a cross-country trip?
A. Yes. The Nomad is designed to carry the gear required for long touring trips. It has been tested both in the lab and on the road for durability. It has to be durable because our employees required it for their use. Burley employees have taken Nomads all over the country and beyond. With two compartments, removable cover and the Cargo Rack accessory, there is plenty of usable space for gear, food and imagination.
Q. What is the advantage of a two-wheel trailer over a one-wheel trailer?
A. The two-wheel design combined with a low tow bar-weight won’t compromise bike handling.
The low tow bar-weight places a lighter load on your bike. With a ten percent tow bar load, fifty pounds in your trailer equals less than ten pounds on your bike. The two wheels of the Nomad and Flatbed allow the trailers to stay upright, making loading, unloading, and even storage effortless. One-wheel trailers tip to the side when not attached to the bike. In addition, one-wheeled trailers are more finicky about load balance. An improperly loaded one-wheeled trailer can negatively affect your bicycles handling unlike the Nomad.
Q. How does the Nomad fold?
A. The Nomad disassembles in less than a minute by removing the quick-release wheels, tow bar, and side panels. It folds to 32.5” x 19” x 9".
Q. Will the Nomad work for commuting?
A. The Nomad works perfectly for commuting, as it provides storage area for your lunch, computer, clothes, and other personal items. It tows effortlessly and when you arrive at your destination, you can simply remove it from your bike and use the tow bar for easy maneuvering while walking.
Pet Trailers
Q. Why buy a Burley Tail Wagon when there are less expensive pet trailers and strollers on the market?
A. Experience, Quality, and Durability. At Burley, we strive to produce safe, high quality products that are durable, fun, and well designed at a great value. We aren’t interested in making the cheapest product on the market. We don’t stop until we know we have done our best to make a safe, fun way for you and your family to spend time together enjoying the outdoors. Burley has been building the high quality family cycling products since 1978. Our testing and safety standards are the most rigorous in the industry, and we helped create the ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) safety standards for the child bicycle trailer market.
Our Tail Wagon pet trailer designs are based on over 30 years experience of making top quality bicycle trailers. Our trailers are easy to tow because we placed the axle at the back of the trailer for added stability. Because of our unique hitch and tow bar design, the trailer tracks behind your bike more efficiently than other pet trailers. The parts we use are high quality and will provide you and your pet with many years of fun. In fact, our trailer are so durable that many people are able to sell their used Burley child trailers for 50% to 75% of their original purchase price after years of use! Our stroller kit uses metal and plastic pieces to create an adjustable, pivoting wheel that you can use around town or on packed dirt trails. Our pet trailers have a removable floor for easy cleaning and drum tight 600D polyester fabric with plenty of ventilation that is water repellant.
At Burley, we take pride in what we do and we wouldn’t put our name on anything that isn’t good enough for our children or pets. If it isn’t good enough for us, it isn’t good enough for you.
Q. Is it possible to use the Burley Tail Wagon for activities other than cycling?
A. You bet! We love the outdoors and wanted to provide a safe and fun way for pets and their people to walk, run, ski and cycle together. For that reason we have included the Burley Stroller kit with the Tail Wagon pet trailer, and the same Stroller Kit is available as an aftermarket accessory for the Rover pet trailer.
For Cycling: Your Burley Tail Wagon or Rover pet trailer comes ready to attach to your bicycle. Simply attach the standard hitch to your bike as shown in the owner’s manual and you are ready to roll.
For Walking or Running: The Burley Tail Wagon pet trailer comes with the Stroller Kit installed. For the Burley Rover, the Stroller Kit is available aftermarket to add to your Rover pet trailer. Once your Burley Stroller kit is installed, it coverts your pet trailer into a stable, sturdy stroller. You can switch between bike trailer and stroller in less than a minute without any tools.
The Burley Stroller Kit package includes a front wheel when attached on the bicycle trailer tow bar, which will retracts for easy maneuvering. The wheel stays on your trailer so when you arrive at your destination, you simply detach the trailer from our bike, turn a knob to place the stroller wheel on the ground, retract the tow bar of the trailer to the walking position for better handling and away you go. For running, simply leave the tow bar of the trailer extended and the pivoting wheel will track incredibly well. Your trailer comes with a padded handlebar.
For Skiing: The Burley Tail Wagon is compatible with our Burley We! Ski Kit for cross country skiing. The ski attachments replace the wheels and a harness is worn by the skier. A great way to get out in the snow and take you pets in tow. Skiing with a trailer will take getting used to so begin on easier trails until you get comfortable.
Q. What is the maximum weight capacity of the Burley Tail Wagon?
A. The maximum weight capacity of the Burley pet trailer is 75 pounds. However, you should check your pet’s dimensions and not just the weight. The internal dimensions of the trailer are 18” x 32.5”. Be sure to check the height, width and length of the trailer compared to your pet. If you have concerns about whether your pet will fit, use masking tape or newspaper on the floor to create a rectangle equal to the length and width of the pet stroller. This will give you an idea of how your pet may fit when they are sitting or lying down. In a pet stroller, your pet doesn't need room for him or her to run around, but your cat or dog must be able to sit, stand, turn around, and curl up comfortably.
Q. Will the Burley Tail Wagon be comfortable for my small dog or cat?
A. Yes, and when you get to your destination, you may find your pet likes the comfort and safety of a home away from home. It doubles as a easy kennel.
For smaller pets, we offer the Critter Compartment accessory to decrease the space front to back of the trailer for a smaller dog or cat to feel more secure in the space. The Critter Compartment can separate your pets from cargo, so you can use your Burley pet trailer or stroller option for errands around town. The Critter Compartment can also allow a nice separation of space for two animals.
Q. How can I help my pet adjust to our new Burley Tail Wagon?
A. Give your pet a little time to adjust. As with any change to a pet's habits, be sure to give your cat or dog some time to get used to the change. Some cats and dogs will be unsure of the trailer at first, but virtually all pets eventually get comfortable and enjoy their trips as a treat.
- Try leaving the pet trailer open and available to your pet with some treats inside the trailer. Let your pet explore the pet trailer and get to the treats inside. Be sure to use the brake and the kickstand that comes with the Tail Wagon (available as an optional accessory for the Rover) so the trailer doesn't move as your pet explores it. Many pets will begin to treat the stationary trailer like a bed or perch.
- Before going out of doors, try wheeling your pet to an open door or window. Let your pet associate the trailer with the great outdoors, but allow him or her to get acclimated from the safety of indoors.
- Reward your pet with a treat the first couple of times you use the pet trailer.
- Plan a few quiet trips first. Pet trailers are great for taking pets to crowded or hectic environments, but plan your first couple of trips to nearby destinations that are quieter and at times that are less busy. Let your pet get used to the new trailer experience without too much hustle and bustle.
- Place a favorite blanket inside a stationary pet trailer. A familiar blanket will provide a sense of safety and will allow your pet to hide when they want some privacy.
- Once accustomed to the pet trailer, only put your pet in the trailer when headed outside. Your pet should associate the pet trailer with the enjoyment of being out of doors rather than with being confined indoors.
