This site will soon include a new page entitled "Training Tote", introducing a new trailer to be used by those who are serious about world class conditioning and precise benchmarks to help along the way.

A few years ago it was discovered that the ball on a different hitch device used on 24 CycleTote trailers could be broken off under certain conditions. We reported this defect to the Consumer Products Safety Commission and were advised that, based upon the information available, they did not believe the nature and degree of the risk of injury necessitated action by the Commission under Section 15 of the CPSA.

With a new and improved hitch device, we replaced each of those that were defective. This new hitch is now included on all CycleTote trailers. It differs from the old (including the 24 that were found to be defective and all others used on CycleTote trailers in the past 10 years) in that the two parts of the hitch (receptacle and ball) were separate on the old and they are together on the new. With the old hitch a retention slide was pulled back and the receptacle (located on the front of the trailer tongue) was placed on the ball (located on the seat post connection). With the new the receptacle is permanently connected to the ball and stud. The seat post connection now has a hole where the ball used to be. To connect the trailer to the bike the stud (now at the front of the tongue) is to be inserted in the hole in the seat post connection and secured with a lock washer and large hand knob.

old

new

The advantage of the new hitch is that there is less likelihood that the hitch should ever loosen or rattle. The disadvantage is that it takes a bit longer to attach the new hitch than it did the old. The safety strap remains as a fail-safe to assure that the trailer always stays connected to the bike.

We encourage any CycleTote owner with a hitch that is worn or loose, to send it in for replacement. This applies also to a worn safety strap. Both will be covered under the Lifetime Frame Warranty and replaced free of charge.

On hot days, try leaving the canopy off, or improve airflow through the passenger compartment by making "ears" where the canopy attaches in the back and leaving the rear flap open (or unattached). If your child is uncomfortable because the helmet pushes his/her head too far forward, try using a rounder helmet that doesn't stick out so far in the back. Also try placing a pillow (or better yet, a 1" thick foam pad) behind your child's back and up to the neck level.

We recommend that you review your owner's manual periodically to remind yourself of the things you must do to keep both you and your precious cargo as safe as possible. If you have misplaced these items, or if you bought your trailer used and these were not included, just give us a call at (800) 747-2407 or an email at cycletote@cycletote.com and we'll get them to you immediately free of charge.