Mobility · Half day · Intermediate
Hauling Cargo by Bicycle or Handcart
The lowest applicable rating wins. Burley's 2023 Flatbed: 100 lb cargo, 2–20 lb at the hitch, 15 mph on smooth roads and 5 mph in turns.
This is for educational purposes only. Not professional medical, electrical, or safety advice.
Warning
Cargo increases stopping demands and changes handling. Never exceed the lowest applicable equipment rating. A handcart without effective braking can become uncontrollable downhill — unload or reroute rather than trying to restrain it with your body.
- 01
Establish the lowest applicable capacity first
Check the bicycle's gross-weight allowance, rack and pannier ratings, trailer capacity, hitch compatibility and tire limits — and do not substitute one rating for another. As one example, Burley's 2023 Flatbed manual specifies a maximum cargo load of 100 lb / 45 kg. That is that trailer's figure, not a generic trailer or bicycle allowance.
- 02
Put dense cargo low and balance it
Keep pannier weight reasonably balanced left to right and keep bags clear of the spokes and your heels. On a trailer, place cargo to preserve the manufacturer's required hitch load: the fetched 2023 Flatbed checklist requires tow-bar weight at the hitch greater than 2 lb / 1 kg and no more than 20 lb / 9 kg, fully loaded. Do not apply those numbers to other trailers.
- 03
Secure cargo against movement in every direction
Use sound straps attached to structural mounting points, protect them from sharp edges, and contain loose ends away from wheels and chains. Covering cargo is not the same as restraining it. On a handcart, secure the load before crossing slopes or rough ground and never rely on a person to catch a falling load. No universal tie-down strength or handcart weight limit was verified.
- 04
Check the whole coupling system before each trip
Inspect hitch, tow bar, frame, wheels, fasteners and any specified safety connection. The Flatbed checklist requires securely loaded cargo and a bicycle in proper working order, and its manual prohibits carrying passengers or pets in that cargo trailer.
- 05
Practice with the real load before you depart
Burley instructs users to experiment with a loaded trailer in an uncongested area, and its recommended limits are 15 mph / 24 km/h on smooth, straight roads and 5 mph / 8 km/h when turning or on uneven roads. Those are ceilings, not targets — conditions may require walking, and you should avoid passing an obstacle with only one trailer wheel because it can tip the trailer.
- 06
Make visibility independent of the grid
Fit reflectors and suitable front and rear lighting, with a generator hub as an option when batteries cannot be replenished, and keep lights and reflectors visible beyond the load. Exact statutory colors, visibility distances, mounting positions and trailer requirements depend on jurisdiction and remain unconfirmed here, and reflectors are not a universally legal substitute for lights.
- 07
Choose a route for control, not just distance
Prefer daylight, low traffic, gentle grades, sound bridges, reliable water stops and surfaces wide enough for the trailer. Avoid floodwater, damaged crossings, steep descents and routes that require lifting a load you cannot manage. Plan an alternate and a place to safely abandon or cache nonessential cargo.