(Photo © J. Maus)
The Weehoo iGo bicycle pedal trailer is the subject of a recall.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, 2,700 of the popular new trailers are being recalled because the receiver on the trailer’s seat post hitch can crack and cause the trailer to detach, “posing fall and crash hazards to the child in the seat.”
Since the Weehoo caught my eye at Interbike last year, I’ve notice more and more of these on the road in Portland. Similar to tag-along bikes, the Weehoo attaches to an adult bike and kids can pedal themselves. The big difference with the Weehoo is that the child is in a reclined position.
Weehoo’s have been sold locally by River City Bicycles and Clever Cycles. This recall only affects 2011 Weehoo iGo trailers made between April 2011 and July 2011.
Below is more information from the CPSC statement:
The trailer has a steel frame with an adjustable seat for passengers 38 to 52 inches tall, two pedals with straps, an enclosed sprocket and chain, a 20-inch wheel, two pannier pockets, a flagpole and a flag. The seat, pannier pockets, and flag are made of red, heavy-duty nylon. The pannier pockets and the flag have the word “Weehoo” and the logo printed on them in reflective material.
The serial numbers for the recalled trailers contain the letter “D” and can be found on the underside of the iGo frame, by the pedals.
The recalled trailers were sold at bicycle retail stores nationwide between April 2011 and July 2011 for about $390.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled iGo trailers and contact Weehoo for the repair. Consumers will receive a steel reinforcement sleeve to be installed over the receiver.
Please spread the word if you see someone or know someone that has one of these.
I’ve never seen one of those…
I see one parked outside my work sometimes.
I call it the “kidcumbent” and I always imagine a 3 year old with a beard and a helmet mirror.
I think REI also has carried them. I’ve seen one at my work & that’s where the owner got hers.
I watched a kid trailer roll over in the middle of a busy street during sunday parkway this year. The kid was fine because the trailer had a roll bar. This trailer obviously does not offer any roll over protection at all.
These devices that put babies at life and death risk should be regulated by the govt for safety. Obviously there are some adults that don’t have a clue. I ussually dont like big brother telling me what to do, but in this case I say “do it”
obviously there are some commenters who don’t have a clue. this isn’t a typical 2-wheeled trailer. it doesn’t “roll,” any more than your bike does. do you have a roll cage?
look at how it’s attached (at the seatpost) and think about how hard it would be to get the kid upside down. trailers that have low hitches and two wheels do tip, however. not sure about the “rolling over” part.
think a little before you pass judgment next time … better yet, don’t pass judgment. since you seem confused on what the difference between a baby and a toddler/preschooler is, you might want to stay out of the parenting advice arena altogether.
Bummer. I got this from REI and it is a great product. My 3 year old loves it. Just checked and mine is recalled. I guess if I don’t like their fix I can return it to REI.
Update: I called Weehoo last night and left a message and they called back me this morning and I should have the reinforcement part early next week.
Their rep said there was one issue out of the 8,000 they have sold (that they are aware of). In that situation someone really, really overtightened the quick release at the mounting bracket by the seat post and it caused a crack. They tried to replicate this happening to cause the failure themselves and couldn’t do this. After applying 2,000 lbs of force the bracket broke (the equivalent of pulling with a small car), but could still not get the failure of the crack that was reported.
So it sounded like some other issue was at play, but he said they wanted to be proactive and have a solution (which will also be applied to all new trailers sold). They didn’t want anything to happen to a child or to a child down the road whose parents may purchase this product secondhand from an original owner.
Just saw one of these crossing Division St. this morning. Very cool trailer. I have the Burley, which is the best of the conventional tow-behinds, but certainly isn’t recumbent like this one. Having once arrived home to discover that my child had just fallen asleep, slumped over the bars, I can certainly see the benefits of a tow-behind that holds the child securely but still lets them pedal.
Does look pretty long though. For nearly $400 a trailer that long ought to fold.