Bike trailer parts: hitch, axle, wheel, cover

Which bike trailer parts will you find here?

A trailer wears at its contact points: the hitch, the wheels and the covers. This page brings together the parts that replace them, sorted by function.

• Hitches and couplers: cups, ball joints and plates that connect the trailer arm to the bike, including extra couplers for a second bike.
• Axles: thru-axles fitted with a hitch point and trailer wheel axles.
• Wheels: front and rear wheels for child, cargo or pet trailers, with or without an axle.
• Covers: rain covers, canopies, tarpaulins and cushions, specific to each model.
• Arms and bars: trailer hitch arms and tow bars for children's bikes.

The golden rule: a trailer part is chosen by brand and by model. The name appears on the label on the chassis or in the instructions, and a photo of the hitch helps to clear up any doubt.

Hitch and coupler: identifying your trailer's system

Each manufacturer has its own system, rarely interchangeable. Thule Chariot trailers use the ezHitch: a cup fixed to the rear axle of the bike receives a ball joint fitted at the end of the trailer arm. An extra cup lets you hitch the same trailer to a second bike. At Burley, the standard steel hitch slides under the quick release or the axle nut; it fits most of the brand's trailers, except the Coho XC, which has its own adapters. XLC Mono S and Duo S trailers have a replacement hitch block, and light cargo trailers often hitch to the seatpost with a ball joint.

Thru-axle: length and thread pitch

On a bike with a thru-axle, the coupler no longer slides under a nut: the original axle is replaced by an axle with the hitch point built in. Two measurements count. First, the length, measured on your current axle without its head; Burley, for example, offers its 12 x 1.0 axle in several lengths. Then the thread pitch, shown on the axle or in the frame specifications: 1.0, 1.5 or 1.75 depending on the bike brand. On a carbon frame, check compatibility before fitting.

Wheels, covers and tow bars

A trailer wheel is chosen by diameter, often 16 or 20 inches, and by type of fixing: many child trailers use push-button hubs, which come off without tools. Rain covers and canopies are cut for one specific trailer, Thule Cheetah, Corsaire or XLC Duo S for example, and do not fit from one model to another.

A tow bar is another way to take a child along: it connects their bike to your seatpost by lifting its front wheel, and folds away when they want to pedal on their own.

Trailers and other transport solutions

If your trailer has reached the end of the road, bike trailers bring together models for children, pets and loads. For a younger child, see child bike seats, and for parts for car bike racks, bike rack spare parts. The whole range is in the bike transport section.

Bike trailer parts brands

Burley, a trailer maker from Oregon, offers its standard steel hitch, sold singly or in packs, its 12 x 1.0 thru-axles in several lengths, wheels for the Coho and a bed for its pet trailer.

Optimiz supplies the wheels for its child and cargo trailers, with or without an axle, as well as replacement covers.

Peruzzo, an Italian maker of bike transport accessories, offers the Trail Angel, a tow bar that connects a 10 to 20-inch child's bike to an adult's bike, and its seatpost mount.

XLC supplies the parts for its Mono S and Duo S child trailers, covers and hitch arm, as well as wheels for its cargo and pet trailers.

Thule, which took over the Canadian brand Chariot, provides parts for its Chariot trailers, such as wheels for the Cheetah, the canopy for the Corsaire or a thru-axle with a 1.0 thread pitch.

Bike trailer parts on sale

Restoring a trailer before the summer holidays often costs less than replacing it. Take a look at transport clearance, where end-of-line parts arrive, and at new arrivals for the most recent references.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the right part for my trailer?

Note the brand, the model name and, if possible, the reference shown on the label on the chassis or in the instructions. Then compare the shape of the original part with the product photo. If in doubt, the trailer manufacturer's customer service will confirm compatibility.

Does a Thule coupler fit a Burley trailer?

No, as a general rule. Each brand uses its own hitch system: the Thule ezHitch cup only takes Thule Chariot arms, and the Burley hitch only fits Burley arms. Always choose the coupler from your trailer's brand.

Do you need one coupler per bike?

It is the most practical solution. The coupler stays fitted to the bike's axle and only the trailer moves: with a coupler on every bike in the family, you can change towing bike in a few seconds.

How do you change a trailer wheel?

On most child trailers, pressing the button on the hub releases the wheel. Note the diameter, printed on the tyre sidewall, and the axle type of the old wheel before ordering the new one.

Can you still find parts for an old Chariot trailer?

Yes, in part: Thule took over the Chariot brand and sells its trailers under the name Thule Chariot. Wheels, canopies and hitches for older models can be found by searching for the trailer's name, such as Cheetah, Corsaire or Cougar.