The great thing about a bike trailer is that it is an investment that will be with your family for years to come.
But how old is too big for a child to ride in a bike trailer?
I’ve been riding with my two kids since they were infants, and now my oldest is 6 years old. Here’s everything you need to know about riding with an older child and when to know they’re too big.
What’s the maximum age to ride in a bike trailer?
A child outgrows a bike trailer around 6 or 7 years old when they are either taller than 4 feet (122 cm) or weigh more than 80 lbs (36 kg). Every child grows at a different rate, so it recommended to check the bike trailer’s weight and height capacity.
I have a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old, and I still pull both of them in my Schwinn Joyrider. My 6-year-old boy weighs around 45 lbs, and I have no issues towing both kids in the trailer that totals to more than 100 lbs of extra weight behind me. It’s not as hard as it sounds! I wrote a whole post just for you on how to make pulling a bike trailer easier.
Recommended Trailer: The Schwinn Joyrider bike trailer is my recommended trailer of choice for a high weight limit of 100 lbs! Read my hands-on full review here.
What is the weight limit for bike trailers?
Bikes trailers for kids can hold from 40 lbs (18 kg) on the lower end to 150 lbs (68 kg) on the highest end. Double-seated bike trailers are designed to carry more weight, so they may be preferable for growing families. A good bike trailer can hold at least 75 lbs (34 kg).
Bike trailers can hold an impressive amount of weight, which makes them one of the most desirable ways to get around with a child. Particularly for a child that is around 6 or 7 years old, it is important that the bike trailer has a weight capacity high enough to safely hold the child.
Here are the weight limits of seven popular bike trailers:
| BRAND | WEIGHT LIMIT | SEATS | PRICE |
| Schwinn Trailblazer | 40 lbs | Single | $135 (check price on Amazon) |
| Burley Bee | 80 lbs | Double | $300 (check price on Amazon) |
| Schwinn Joyrider | 100 lbs | Double | $490 (check price on Amazon) |
| Burley Honey Bee | 100 lbs | Double | $400 (check price on Amazon) |
| Thule Coaster XT | 100 lbs | Double | $430 (check price on Amazon) |
| Burley D’Lite X | 100 lbs | Double | $850 (check price on Amazon) |
| Wike Special Needs Bike Trailer | 125-150 lbs | Single | $760 for Large, $900 for Extra Large (check prices for Large and Extra Large) |
The above examples of real bike trailers represent a variety of trailers on the market. As you can see, the trailers with the highest weight limits have double seat capacity and generally cost more.
I would recommend getting a bike trailer that has a capacity of at least 80 lbs (36 kg). The Schwinn Joyrider is our personal favorite because of the high weight limit, stroller conversion, and reasonable price tag. Here’s my hands-on full review of that trailer.
Below are some other excellent trailers with high weight limits.
How tall is too tall to ride in a bike trailer?
A child under 4 feet tall can ride comfortably in a bike trailer. If a child is taller than 4 feet (122 cm), then their head will begin to touch the ceiling and their legs will be restricted inside the trailer.
According to the popular bike trailer brand Burley, here is their recommendation:
“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. The max age will depend on the child’s development. Burley manuals say a maximum age of 7 years old. However, the maximums to consider are more related to the height and weight that a trailer is rated to accommodate. All Burley kid trailers have the same maximum height recommendation of 41.25 inches. The weight capacity for a single child trailer is 75lbs, and a double trailer is 100lbs. The recommended max weight per child is 40lbs.”
For children that are taller than 4 feet and want to continue to ride in a bike trailer, it is recommended that they consider getting a dedicated special needs bike trailer, which is an excellent option for kids that just enjoy spending more time in the bike trailer.
Read below for details on getting a trailer for a child over 4 feet tall.
What if a child weighs more than the recommended weight limit?
If a child weighs more than 100 lbs, then a bike trailer designed specifically for children with special needs is the way to go. Some bike trailers offer up to 150 lbs of weight capacity!
Below I’ve outlined some of the most popular bike trailers that have the highest weight limits, including one special needs trailer with a weight limit of 150 lbs.
Top 5 bike trailers with the highest weight limits
Below are four recommended top-rated bike trailers with high weight limits and at least 4.4-star reviews on Amazon. Plus, one special needs trailer that holds up to 150 lbs!
1. Schwinn Joyrider
Price: Around $490 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
The Schwinn Joyrider is a steal of a deal at only around $490 for a double-seated trailer that converts seamlessly to an excellent stroller. It has high-end features, such as stroller conversion out of the box, a solid protective cage, large 20-inch wheels for extra smoothness, and large interior space. You get all of that without breaking the bank at just around $490.
I personally have been using the Joyrider the longest out of all the trailers we have, and I still stand by it as the best bang-for-buck bike trailer on the market!
Note: The Amazon description page mistakenly labels this trailer as a “1 Seat” trailer, but that is incorrect. It is in fact a “2 Seat” trailer.
Pros
- Affordable—A low price point for high-quality features
- Protective cage—Added peace of mind
- Stroller conversion—Converts seamlessly to a comfortable stroller
Cons
- Wide—The frame is slightly wider than average double-seat trailers
- Heavy—On the heavier side of trailers weights (40 lbs)
I wrote a full review of using the Schwinn Joyrider, which you can check out here.
2. Burley Honey Bee
Price: Around $400 (check on Amazon)
Seats: Double
Stroller conversion: Yes
Weight limit: 100 lbs (45 kg)
If you’re looking for a Burley trailer for a good price that comes with stroller conversion, then the Honey Bee is the cheapest stroller-convertible bike trailer that Burley offers.
The Honey Bee comes with all the features you would expect from Burley, like sturdy lightweight frame, large interior space, and those large 20-inch wheels.
Although a high-quality trailer for a good price, I would still recommend the Schwinn Joyrider over the Honey Bee because of the lower price and the more sturdy protective cage that the Joyrider offers.
Pros
- Affordable for a Burley trailer—it’s the cheapest stroller-convertible trailer that Burley sells
- Stroller conversion—a nice touch for this price range
- Large 20-inch wheels—Burley has really solid wheels
Cons
- Front wheel attaches to hitch arm—can make it difficult to handle while strolling
- Folding up is not easy—expected on a non-stroller trailer
3. Thule Cadence
Price: Around $330 (check price here)
Seats: Double
Stroller Conversion: No
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
A lightweight minimalist trailer with the highest quality that Thule has to offer, the Thule Cadence is a steal of a deal at under $350.
If you want the high-quality materials and customer service of Thule without having to pay high-end prices, then the Thule Cadence is a solid option. It does not have the stroller conversion features that I would hope to see on a trailer in this price range, but it is a solid minimalist trailer with large wheels and large interior space.
Pros
- Affordable—for such a high-end brand
- Double seats—wide, spacious bench-style seat
- Large 20-inch wheels—20 inches is the gold standard
- Large interior space—a comfortable amount of space for the kids
Cons
- No stroller conversion—It’s a minimalist, lightweight trailer
- Frame and cover quality—not as good as other Thule trailers
- Harness quality—not as good as other Thule trailers
4. Burley D’Lite X
Price: Around $750 for Single (check on Amazon), $850 for Double (check on Amazon)
Seats: Single or Double
Stroller Conversion: Yes
Weight Limit: 100 lbs (43 kg)
The Burley D’Lite X is a high-end bike trailer designed for all types of riding. From gravel riding to mountain riding to strolling, this trailer can do it all.
You can tell that Burley put a lot of thought into the comfort of this bike trailer, from the incredibly comfortable seat to the rare suspension for added comfort.
Comfortable seat
Both the single and double versions of the D’Lite X come with a sturdy bench-style seat that has an excellent five-point harness and headrest. It is rather rare to find a seat of this quality and comfort.
The D’Lite X seats also recline, which is a notable feature not found on cheaper trailers. However, the seats do not recline very far, so it’s a bit unfortunate.
Suspension for added comfort
Not many bike trailers come equipped with suspension. If you plan to do any type of gravel or mountain riding with your bike trailer, then a trailer with suspension is highly recommended. The suspension is located under the wheels to add comfort when riding over rough terrains.
Pros
- Stroller conversion—an excellent stroller with large wheels
- Comfortable seats—for added comfort
- Suspension—for an extra smooth ride
Cons
- Pricey—a high-end trailer
- Folding up is not easy—expected on a non-stroller trailer
- Seats do not recline much—a nice feature to have, but the seats do not go very far back
5. Wike Special Needs Bike Trailer
Price: High-end, around $760 for Large, $900 for Extra Large (check prices for Large and Extra Large)
Seats: Single
Stroller conversion: Yes
Weight limit: 125 lbs for Large, 150 lbs for Extra Large
Wicycle has bike trailers designed with larger children in mind. Their Special Needs Bike Trailers can accommodate individuals up to 5 foot 4 inches and 125 lbs with their Large Bike Trailer, and put o 5 foot 10 inches and 150 lbs with their Extra Large Bike Trailer.
This bike trailer can accommodate children up to 64 inches tall (162 cm).
Pros
- Highest weight limit—most bike trailers can only hold up to 100 lbs max
- Highest height limit—it can hold someone over 5 feet tall!
Cons
- Expensive—it’s a high-quality trailer
- Cumbersome to purchase for some
My recommended bike trailer: Schwinn Joyrider
My recommended trailer for most people is the Swhinn Joyrider, which is an affordable double-seater that converts beautifully to a stroller. Check out my full review with photos here.
Check out the Ultimate Guide to Buying a Bike Trailer for more help with choosing a trailer. I also have compiled a list of the top bike trailers for every common situation, which you can check out here.
Ride on!
