Hauling meat with a bike: Trailer vs Racks & Panniers

[mtnbiker208]

I have pulled 20+ elk and two buck's out by a bike and bob trailer. one wheel vs two wheels. take your pic, my expiernece has been with bob trailers.

i typically carry my loose meat out on the rack and come back with the trailer. But i am typically dealing with elk, not deer.

 

[bwidrick]

I've run e-bike with panniers last year & this year. They work great, actually seem to make the bike more stable (lowers the center if gravity with the added weight of meat quarters).

I just used cotton handled grocery totes last year. Upgraded to these actual panniers this year:

Amazon.com

 

[Read1t48]

This is my setup for this year. I use saddle bags as well. This trailer is good for up to 275lbs. I'm going to use it to haul in Basecamp 5 miles behind a gate. Once we are setup, I'll just use the bags. I think it will be fine for a logging road, but I wouldn't take it on a single track trail. I love using the handle bar gun mounts too. The hassle of keeping the rifle on my shoulder while riding was exhausting.

Which trailer model is this? I like it!

 

[jdamore44]

This one

VEVOR Bike Cargo Trailer 275 lbs. Heavy-Duty 3.94 cu. ft. Metal Garden Cart with 20 in. Wheels and Universal Hitch YYKHZ2275B00P8EV8V0 - The Home Depot

Carry More, Ride Farther with VEVOR Bike Cargo Trailer. Packed with strength, space and durability, this bicycle trailer is your ticket to hassle-free adventures. Stay safe, stay stylish and stay ready

www.homedepot.com

 

[onetreeman]

Watch the used gear ads for an older 2 seater Chariot (now Thule) brand stroller/bike trailer. With a little patience you should be able to find some good deals. The older ones have vinyl windows that eventually crack so people sell them super cheap.
I have hauled gear for base camps and hauled out a few deer (quartered) easily on mine. Stripped it down to just the frame with a plywood base added.

Key thing with this model is there is some suspension or flex built into the axle system. Helps to smooth out the ride and keep bouncing to a minimum. Never had a tip over with the weight kept low.

 

[vevorplease]

This one

VEVOR Bike Cargo Trailer 275 lbs. Heavy-Duty 3.94 cu. ft. Metal Garden Cart with 20 in. Wheels and Universal Hitch YYKHZ2275B00P8EV8V0 - The Home Depot

Carry More, Ride Farther with VEVOR Bike Cargo Trailer. Packed with strength, space and durability, this bicycle trailer is your ticket to hassle-free adventures. Stay safe, stay stylish and stay ready

www.homedepot.com

Did you find the 275 pound model was big enough to haul a deer out? I'm leaning more towards the 160 pound because it's significantly wider.

 

[John pettimore]

I use a hawk helium deer cart behind my bike. Yes it’s noisy but I take it in and stash it, only time I use again is when I need it for meat or I am done hunting.

4 wheels, does not tip, and I find it much easier than dealing with all the extra weight on the bike. If I ever did have to walk, the “trailer” would make taking meat much easier than pushing a heavy and tippy bike.

 

[vevorplease]

I use a hawk helium deer cart behind my bike. Yes it’s noisy but I take it in and stash it, only time I use again is when I need it for meat or I am done hunting.

4 wheels, does not tip, and I find it much easier than dealing with all the extra weight on the bike. If I ever did have to walk, the “trailer” would make taking meat much easier than pushing a heavy and tippy bike.

How did you mount it to your bike's rear axle?

 

[KyleR1985]

Rifle, 25lbs of hunting gear, 80lbs+ of deer parts. In hindsight should’ve strapped the head in the milk crate…

 

[John pettimore]

How did you mount it to your bike's rear axle?

Tried several methods, including a ball joint, and believe it or not the best I found is a tight bungee right to the cargo rack. It needs to be fairly tight but loose enough to let the trailer do its thing. The bike is just pulling the weight, any sort of rigid connection did not work well for me at all.