Burley FLATBED User manual

BURLEY FLATBED
Owner's Instruction
and Safety Manual
Contents
Section Page
Introduction 2
I. Hardware Bag Contents and Tool List 3
II. Mounting the Reflectors 3
III. Installing the Quick-Release Levers 3
IV. Attaching the Wheels and Tongue 4
V. Hitching the Flatbed to Your Bicycle 6
VI. Loading Cargo 7
VII. Trailer Maintenance and Care 8
VIII. Safety Guidelines 9
IX. Safety Checklists 13
X. Parts List and Drawing 14-15
Warranty 16
TM

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
Congratulations!
You’ve just purchased a Burley®trailer,the leading choice of discriminating
bicycle trailer owners worldwide.Every effort has been made to ensure your
purchase is of top quality and proven design,ready to provide you with
many years and miles of happy,safe trailering.
IMPORTANT: Because some of the features and guidelines for using
the Burley Flatbed merit close attention, it is very important that
you familiarize yourself with the trailer by reading this entire manual
before use. If you have any questions, we encourage you to
contact your authorized Burley dealer.
Introduction
Your Burley Flatbed is shipped almost completely assembled from the
factory. This manual is written sequentially to assist initial setup.You need
only to install the quick-release skewers,mount the reflectors,and attach the
wheels.
Before trailering,be sure you have a thorough understanding of the trailer
hitch operation.Check to see that the trailer wheels and hitch are securely
attached.We again request that you read this manual from start to finish
before use,and then refer to it as necessary in the future.
NOTE: Any reference to left or right is made in the direction of
travel, as if you were standing behind the trailer looking forward.
When Loaning or Selling Your Trailer
If you loan or sell your Burley Flatbed,supply the new user with this manual.
They must familiarize themselves with all sections—especially sections
“VIII.Safety Guidelines”and“IX.Safety Checklists”prior to use.It is essential
that they understand the differences between riding a bicycle with a trailer
and without one.It is also essential that they understand correct wheel
attachment.

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
I. Hardware Bag Contents and Tool List
IMPORTANT: Please verify that you have received all of the
contents listed. Do not proceed with assembly if any parts are
missing; contact Burley immediately for replacement parts.
Hardware Bag Contents
Reflectors: Quick-Release Levers:
(2) Rear reflector,red (2) Quick-release lever
(2) Self-tapping screw,reflector (2) Pair tie-down straps
Envelope: Tools Required:
Trailer Checklist 5/16",8mm or small adjustable wrench
WarrantyCard
BurleyFlatbedOwner’sInstruction&SafetyManual
II. Mounting the Reflectors
Fasten the reflectors to the brackets located on the rear of the main
frame using the self-tapping screws found in the hardware bag.(Note the
designation“Top”on the back of each reflector.)
III. Installing the Quick-Release Levers
In the bag with the reflectors you’ll find two quick-release levers.Install these
through the hollow axle of the wheel.Make sure the lever is on the flat side
of the wheel,the thumb nut is on the deep-dished side,and the springs are
mounted on each side as shown in the illustration below.
The quick-release lever must
be on flat side of wheel and thumb
nut on deep-dished side. This
ensures that the lever will be on
the outside when wheel is properly
installed.
Deep
Dish
Thumb
Nut
Quick
Release
Lever
Flat

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
IV. Attaching the Wheels and Tongue
First,verify that the tires are inflated to 30–35 P.S.I.Next,tip the trailer frame
on its back end.If you are working on a rough or dirty surface,lay down a
cloth or other protective barrier to avoid damage to your trailer.Move the
quick-release lever to the unlocked position and place the wheels into the
dropouts,making certain that the axles go all the way into the slots.
IMPORTANT: Wheels are dished off-center and must be installed
so that tires are offset away from side rails, closest to outer frame.
Dished wheels are a unique feature from Burley; they create a
wider track, and thus a more stable trailer.
Once the wheels are fully seated in the dropout slots,the quick-release lever
should be positioned so that it operates in the fore and aft direction.The
lever is marked for open or closed positions.Tighten the right-hand wheel by
moving the lever from the front (open) to the rear (closed) position.Tighten
the left-hand wheel by moving the lever from the rear (open) to the front
(closed) position.Use the thumb nut to adjust for correct spacing of the
quick-release lever.
When properly adjusted,you will feel resistance halfway through tightening
the lever (when the lever is pointing straight out away from the trailer).If you
are unfamiliar with the use of quick-release levers,contact your Burley dealer
for a demonstration.
The quick-release lever
operates in fore-aft direction
(with lever below the axle).
The drawing shows left-hand
wheel in the closed position.
Open
Position
Closed
Position
The quick-release
lever and flat side
of wheel must be
installed toward
outside of trailer.
Correct Wrong

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
Make sure wheels are held securely; you should not be able
to rock or shift wheels. Improperly installed wheels can fall
off, causing accident and serious injury.
Safety pin must be locked in place before using trailer,
otherwise tongue could shift and cause accident and serious
injury.
Only use dished, 20 x 1.75 wheels supplied with Burley
Flatbed. Do not operate with tires inflated above 35 P.S.I.
Failure to comply can cause trailer tip over, resulting in
accident and serious injury to cyclist.
Swing Tongue and Hitch into Place
Tip your trailer frame on its back end.If you are working on a rough or dirty
surface,lay down a cloth or other protective barrier to avoid damage to
your trailer.Swing the tongue 180˚ forward,so that it snaps into the plastic
tongue receptacle at the front frame.Slip the safety pin through the hole in
the tongue receptacle to lock the tongue in place.Refer to the illustration
below for correct use of the safety pin.
LockedOpen

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
V. Hitching the Burley Flatbed to Your Bicycle
The trailer hitch was
designed to quickly
and safely attach to
virtually all types of
bicycles.It is inserted
in front of the left
rear dropout of your
bicycle.
Loosen the knob
on the eyebolt until
the two arms are
spread fully apart.
Slip the lower hitch
arm under the chainstay (A) and the upper arm above the seatstay (B).(See
illustration above.)Wedge the hitch cone all the way back into the angle
formed by the stays at the wheel.Tighten the knob until the arms are firmly
clamped against the stays.Wrap the safety strap around the inside of the
chainstay,over the hitch body,and back to the D-ring at the end of the
tongue.
Make sure that the cone is wedged securely into the stays.The knob should
be finger-tight;do not overtighten.The hitch should not move,but should
allow the bicycle complete movement,including lying it down on the
ground.It should clear any racks,bags,or fittings you have on your bicycle.If
there is any interference,contact your Burley dealer.
IMPORTANT: Remove trailer from your bicycle when it’s not in use to
prevent deforming the plastic hitch.
Do not operate trailer without hitch safety strap properly
installed. A dangling safety strap can contact spokes and
damage rear wheel or cause accident resulting in serious
injury.
A
B

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
Hitch must seat properly into stays and not interfere with
racks, bags, or fittings. Inspect hitch and tongue frequently
for damage or loose fasteners. Interfering parts or damaged
hitch can cause accident resulting in serious injury.
Do not use or store trailer at temperatures below 32˚
Fahrenheit as hitch rubber flex connector can become brittle
and possibly break, causing accident resulting in serious
injury.
VI. Loading Cargo
Burley has created the Flatbed trailer to be a flexible and useful tool,for
use in a variety of cargo applications.The trailer is not designed to carry
occupants of any kind (with the exception of pets that are secured
within a pet carrier that is securely fastened to the trailer.) This is a
flexible platform utility vehicle allowing cargo of varying sizes and shapes.
The limitations depend on the operator's ability to properly secure cargo for
good performance and trailer safety.Cargo can be fastened by rope,cargo
tie-down cords,netting,or within a container that is securely fastened to the
Flatbed trailer.
Be Sure Cargo is Secure
When loading cargo on your trailer,always ensure that the load is adequately
fastened and centered on the trailer floor.Cargo needs to remain securely
fastened within the perimeter of the trailer.Do not permit cargo to extend
past the perimeter of the fabric floor on either side.Objects loaded too close
to the trailer wheels when stationary risk catching spokes or interfering
with wheels when the trailer is in motion.The area in front of the trailer
frame must also remain clear to avoid interfering with the bicycle's rear
wheel.Objects that extend beyond the back can obscure reflectors,cause an
unstable weight balance on the bicycle's rear wheel,or contact the ground
on uneven terrain (hills,speed bumps,driveways,etc.)

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
Secure a Container First
When carrying smaller items,it is suggested that you fasten a sturdy
container to the trailer first and then carefully load the items you wish to
carry.Use of a container simplifies securing cargo,and reduces wear on your
trailer due to rubbing of edges of small items.
Center the load
It is important to center the load you are carrying.A load balanced front and
back will detract the least from bicycle handling.As weight is placed further
forward on the trailer,the rear bicycle wheel carries more load.If the load is
placed behind the trailer wheels,weight is removed from the bicycle wheel,
making the bicycle less stable.The weight center of your cargo is ideally
located over the center of the trailer's fabric floor.
Cargo must be secured and fit within the fabric floor space
of the trailer, avoiding any contact with trailer wheels or the
wheels of the bicycle pulling it. Shifting cargo can interfere
with wheels causing an accident that can result in serious
injury or death. Weight limit: 100 lbs. Speed Limit: 15 m.p.h.
VII. Trailer Maintenance and Care
Hitch and Tongue Maintenance
Your trailer is designed for low maintenance and easy care.Clean and grease
the eyebolt threads on the hitch periodically to ensure that the eyebolt knob
can be properly tightened.
Because of ultraviolet degradation,we recommend that the hitch be
replaced every five years under normal use.In sunny or smoggy locations or
for trailers that are stored outdoors,the hitch should be replaced every two
to three years for safety.Replace your hitch or tongue if there are any signs of
damage—i.e.,cracks,dents,scratches.
IMPORTANT: For any eyebolt service other than lubrication, contact
your Burley Dealer.

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
Fabric Care
Your Burley Flatbed is manufactured from tough,durable vinyl coated
polyester.The fabric is coated for waterproofness and is highly resistant to
fading.The fabric can be easily cleaned with any mild soap or detergent and
warm water.For more persistent soil,use a nylon bristle brush.When not in
use,store your trailer in a dry,well-ventilated area;wipe it dry before storing
to help avoid mildew.
To extend the life of your fabric,as well as the hitch and other components,
do not store your trailer in direct sunlight.Do not use bleach for cleaning,as
it will damage the fabric.
VIII. Safety Guidelines
Bicycling with a trailer is different from bicycling without one,in ways which
aren’t always obvious.It is therefore essential that you read and understand
all of the following safety guidelines—in addition to the warnings and
instructions in the previous sections—prior to using your trailer.Before
loaning your trailer to others,make sure they too understand its proper,safe
use.Contact your dealer or Burley if any of these instructions are unclear.
Bicycling with a trailer, and bicycling in general, can be
hazardous. Failure to observe any of section “VIII. Safety
Guidelines” could result in accident and serious injury or
death.
Use Well-Maintained Bicycle and Trailer
Use a bicycle which is in good working condition,with good brakes.A
frequent safety check of your bicycle is essential.Inspect and maintain your
trailer as outlined in section“IX.Safety Checklists”of this manual.Have your
Burley dealer maintain and inspect your bicycle and trailer if you are not
qualified to do so.
Starting and Stopping
Because of the trailer’s additional weight,a bicycle pulling a trailer will be
slower to start up and stop,and because of its length it requires more time to
cross streets or paths.Your entire vehicle is heavier and less responsive.This
means you should think further ahead in anticipating stops,turns,and starts.
Note that your trailer extends out further on the left;allow for this difference
when turning,passing pedestrians,or approaching obstacles (like posts

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Burley Flatbed Owner's Instruction and Safety Manual
on bike paths).We recommend you spend some time experimenting with
a loaded trailer in an uncongested area to become familiar with how your
heavier,longer vehicle responds.
Prevent Trailer Tip Over
Just like automobile and motorcycle trailers,bicycle trailers can tip over.
To avoid overturning:Do not pull your trailer over curbs or hit holes or
other obstructions in the road.Do not make high-speed turns or descents
when pulling the trailer.Always corner with caution at 5 m.p.h.or less,as
the trailer cannot lean into a turn the way a bicycle can.Do not under any
circumstances travel faster than 15 m.p.h.—all road irregularities and your
slowness to react are greatly magnified.
Trailers can tip over causing damage to trailer and serious
injury to cyclists. AVOID causes of tip over, especially:
• Hitting potholes, curbs, other road
obstructions
• Taking turns too fast
• Sudden swerving
• Off-banked turns
• Improper wheel installation
• Improper tire inflation
Fit, Alert, Adult Pilot
To safely pull a trailer,you need to be a fit,experienced cyclist.You must be
alert,have good sight and hearing,and adequate strength in your legs,arms,
and hands.Never let a child or adolescent pull your trailer because it is likely
that they lack the necessary physical ability and judgment.
No Headphones or Other Distraction
Do not bicycle with headphones,radios,or other distractions.You must be
able to hear surrounding traffic,and concentrate on safe bicycling at all
times.