Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Trail-Gator be used with an adult bike that has a child carrier or luggage rack secured to it?
In order for the Trail-Gator to operate, the tow bar must have the freedom to move up and down slightly and side to side when towing. Consequently, it will work with some luggage racks, but will not work with a child carrier.
How far is the front wheel of the child bike lifted off the ground?
The Trail-Gator is provided with an adjustable receiver, which mounts to the front of the child’s bike, that allows you to lift the child’s front wheel a recommended 3"-5"(7.5-12.5cm) off the ground. This keeps the child at a safe and comfortable angle while riding.
Can the child steer their bike when attached?
Since the front wheel of the child bike is lifted off the ground and the handlebars of the child bike are secured by the stabilizer rod which snaps to the front forks of the child’’s bike when attached, the adult bike controls all steering.
What keeps the child’s bike in an up right position, when attached?
The tow bar has a vertical and a horizontal pivot, which allow for side to side and up and down movement only, and keep the bike in an up right position when being towed.
How does towing effect the balance and over all ride of the adult bike?
Anyone who can balance when riding alone should not have problems balancing with the tow bar attached. It is recommended that you first attach the tow bar and ride without towing a child to become familiar with balancing, turning, stopping, starting, and the over all feel of riding with the tow bar. Though towing may feel slightly different at first, most riders adapt quickly and easily.
Do I need to buy any extra kits, or is the towbar complete with all attachments?
The towbar comes with both adult seat post attachment, and child receiver kit. You only need to purchase the extra kits either if you want to be able to tow a second child along(not at the same time), or to have another seat post attached to a second adults bike(e.g one on mums bike and one on dads bike, as they may take the child out riding at different times).
Would the Trail-Gator be suitable to use in rough terrain situations?
The Trail-Gator was designed and tested for the purposes of on-road use. Rough terrain may present riding situations for which the Trail-Gator was not designed or tested.
Can regular training wheels be left down on the child’s bike when using the tow bar?
Leaving regular training wheels on your child’s bike while towing them is dangerous and they must be either removed or replaced by our Flip-Up Training Wheels, which are specially designed for use with the tow bar.
What type of warranty comes with the Trail-Gator?
S&S Industries, Inc. warrants this product to the original purchaser, to be free of defect in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase.
What is the maximum distance that the U-bolts can be apart, to fit around the horizontal bar on the childs bike?
With the previous design, the U-bolts could fit over a horizontal bar of up to about approx 93mm wide. This was usually wide enough for most childrens bikes. The new design, which Biketogether supplies now as standard, should be wide enough for all kids bikes.
My child feels unsafe, as the front of the childs bike is swinging from side to side. Is this right?
No, this is not right. This almost certainly means that the attachment on the front of the childs bike is not tightened well enough. It should not be able to move at all. Please make sure you tighten adequately. The child should feel perfectly safe if the towbar is fitted correctly. There is always a small amount of natural movement to allow for the adults bike to go around corners, but this is only slight, and should be generated from the adult seat post kit, and not the front of the childs bike.
Is the child using the rear wheel brake a problem?
We suggest that you work with your child on when and when not to use the brakes and practice in a vacant area before you go out on a ride. With good instruction this will not be a problem.
Can the Trail-Gator be used on a bike larger than 20" or with persons weighing more than 32kgs?
The Trail-Gator is designed to work with 12"-20"(30-51cm) bikes with riders weighing 32kgs pounds or less. Due to the receiver angle on the tow bar, bike Frames larger than 51cms will not be able to be set up to the proper wheel height clearance. Child riders more than 32kgs also make it more difficult to tow.
What keeps the childs bike in an up right position, when attached?
The tow bar has a vertical and a horizontal pivot located at the adult bike seat post area, which allow for side to side and up and down movement only, and keeps the child bike in an upright position when being towed. The tow bar attachment to the child bike receiver is a rigid mount therefore restricting movement at that end.
Can the Trial-Gator be used on adult front and rear suspension type
bikes?
Yes, the Trail-Gator can be used on most types of suspension bikes. We suggest that the rear end be adjusted so as to limit the up and down movement.
What is the range of clamp sizes for the handlebar stabilizer rod assembly?
The handlebar stabilizer rod clamps will fit 7/8 inch(2.2cm) all the way up to 1and 1/4inch(3.2cm) and can either be mounted on the child bike front fork or the handlebars.
In order for the Trail-Gator to operate, the tow bar must have the freedom to move up and down slightly and side to side when towing. Consequently, it will work with some luggage racks, but will not work with a child carrier.
How far is the front wheel of the child bike lifted off the ground?
The Trail-Gator is provided with an adjustable receiver, which mounts to the front of the child’s bike, that allows you to lift the child’s front wheel a recommended 3"-5"(7.5-12.5cm) off the ground. This keeps the child at a safe and comfortable angle while riding.
Can the child steer their bike when attached?
Since the front wheel of the child bike is lifted off the ground and the handlebars of the child bike are secured by the stabilizer rod which snaps to the front forks of the child’’s bike when attached, the adult bike controls all steering.
What keeps the child’s bike in an up right position, when attached?
The tow bar has a vertical and a horizontal pivot, which allow for side to side and up and down movement only, and keep the bike in an up right position when being towed.
How does towing effect the balance and over all ride of the adult bike?
Anyone who can balance when riding alone should not have problems balancing with the tow bar attached. It is recommended that you first attach the tow bar and ride without towing a child to become familiar with balancing, turning, stopping, starting, and the over all feel of riding with the tow bar. Though towing may feel slightly different at first, most riders adapt quickly and easily.
Do I need to buy any extra kits, or is the towbar complete with all attachments?
The towbar comes with both adult seat post attachment, and child receiver kit. You only need to purchase the extra kits either if you want to be able to tow a second child along(not at the same time), or to have another seat post attached to a second adults bike(e.g one on mums bike and one on dads bike, as they may take the child out riding at different times).
Would the Trail-Gator be suitable to use in rough terrain situations?
The Trail-Gator was designed and tested for the purposes of on-road use. Rough terrain may present riding situations for which the Trail-Gator was not designed or tested.
Can regular training wheels be left down on the child’s bike when using the tow bar?
Leaving regular training wheels on your child’s bike while towing them is dangerous and they must be either removed or replaced by our Flip-Up Training Wheels, which are specially designed for use with the tow bar.
What type of warranty comes with the Trail-Gator?
S&S Industries, Inc. warrants this product to the original purchaser, to be free of defect in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase.
What is the maximum distance that the U-bolts can be apart, to fit around the horizontal bar on the childs bike?
With the previous design, the U-bolts could fit over a horizontal bar of up to about approx 93mm wide. This was usually wide enough for most childrens bikes. The new design, which Biketogether supplies now as standard, should be wide enough for all kids bikes.
My child feels unsafe, as the front of the childs bike is swinging from side to side. Is this right?
No, this is not right. This almost certainly means that the attachment on the front of the childs bike is not tightened well enough. It should not be able to move at all. Please make sure you tighten adequately. The child should feel perfectly safe if the towbar is fitted correctly. There is always a small amount of natural movement to allow for the adults bike to go around corners, but this is only slight, and should be generated from the adult seat post kit, and not the front of the childs bike.
Is the child using the rear wheel brake a problem?
We suggest that you work with your child on when and when not to use the brakes and practice in a vacant area before you go out on a ride. With good instruction this will not be a problem.
Can the Trail-Gator be used on a bike larger than 20" or with persons weighing more than 32kgs?
The Trail-Gator is designed to work with 12"-20"(30-51cm) bikes with riders weighing 32kgs pounds or less. Due to the receiver angle on the tow bar, bike Frames larger than 51cms will not be able to be set up to the proper wheel height clearance. Child riders more than 32kgs also make it more difficult to tow.
What keeps the childs bike in an up right position, when attached?
The tow bar has a vertical and a horizontal pivot located at the adult bike seat post area, which allow for side to side and up and down movement only, and keeps the child bike in an upright position when being towed. The tow bar attachment to the child bike receiver is a rigid mount therefore restricting movement at that end.
Can the Trial-Gator be used on adult front and rear suspension type
bikes?
Yes, the Trail-Gator can be used on most types of suspension bikes. We suggest that the rear end be adjusted so as to limit the up and down movement.
What is the range of clamp sizes for the handlebar stabilizer rod assembly?
The handlebar stabilizer rod clamps will fit 7/8 inch(2.2cm) all the way up to 1and 1/4inch(3.2cm) and can either be mounted on the child bike front fork or the handlebars.
