Is one of your New Years resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle, bike more, be more “green” or even spend more time tinkering around with your new tools in the garage?  …or old tools that look new because you never use them…

Bill accomplished all these in 2012:

I built up a semi-custom trailer off of a Nashbar kid trailer for hauling my kids to and from school, and for hauling cargo. Welding was with my little wire feed unit using 1/2 inch square tube, and the wooden slats are cut from a cedar 4×4.  I now have hitch mounts on 3 of our household bicycles.  The trailer has worked out really well so far; though I suppose I often push the weight limit.  I basically use it like an SUV.  I was able to pick up the kids all of last year with the mild notheast winter, and I leave the trailer locked at the train station each day while I commute on the train / bike to Philadelphia.
I am currently working on a wooden and acrylic weather shell that should look like an old camper to protect the kids this winter.  Next up, a home made Bakfiet using the front end of a junk Chinese scooter!

Let’s hope Bill’s kids don’t outgrow his awesome bike builds too quickly.
Not feeling so “Tim Taylor?”  Chariot and Burley child bike trailers are 10 – 35% off at BikeKidShop.  Also checkout trailer-cycles as an alternative.

Just last month, John took his Burley Nomad Cargo Trailer on the C&O Trail from D.C. to Maryland.  The Nomad proved to be a safe fashion choice amongst the changing of the leaves from last season’s green to this season’s yellow.  Although I’m sure John had a greater appreciation for the Nomad’s heavy-duty carrying capacity – 105 liters and 100 lbs.  Still.  Color-coordinating your gear with Mother Nature doesn’t hurt.  All Burley Cargo Trailers are now 10% off at BikeTrailerShop.

Leslie recently brought her Croozer Cargo Trailer along on a 180 mile ride on the Katy Trail in Missouri.  She loaded the heavy-duty trailer with 3 sleeping bags and a 7-person tent.  Leslie comments “The Croozer was easy to assemble and hook up to my bike.  It had more drag on the trail than I had hoped, but overall I’m pleased with my purchase.”  Select Croozer Cargo, Child, and Dog Trailers are now 10 to 20% off!

The polls are officially closed — Our “most creative trailer build” award is going out early this week!  Bob’s trailer knocks the concept of “re-purposing” out of the park:

I bought a used Adams Trail-A-Bike off Craigslist for $50.  Cut off the handlebars. Removed the drive train.  Replaced the wheel with a stronger BMX wheel.  New 100psi recumbant tire. Installed a rear wheel rack and attached it to the seat post using the support section from the handle bars.  Installed a metal fender.  Attached 2 removable waterproof kitty litter pannier boxes to the rack using S hooks bolted through the boxes.  Top of the boxes are level with the rack.  I almost gave up on the project due to the trailer wobbling horribly as weight and speed increased, which I fixed by wrapping the U joint with strips of rubber bike tire tubing, with a final cover of electical tape.  This makes the joint very stiff, which doesn’t easily allow for tight turns, but as it completely eliminated the wobble problem it is a minor concern.

Send us your re-purposed bicycle photo submissions so everyone can witness your total awesome-ness as well.

Electric boost bike trailers are pretty awesome.  We especially dig the Ridekick, which makes hills less daunting and carrying cargo easy on the legs.  Tim is also manufacturing his own version, pictured below.  As he puts it, “The surging cost of gasoline and a desire for a greener commute are turning more and more people to these electric push trailers to propel their bikes.”  Good call, Tim.  Check out his products at poweredbiketrailers.com.