Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

We could not be happier with this trailer, especially when compared to our Burley Honey Bee. I know the Bee is a cheaper Burley model but there are not many feature upgrades on the Burley line (that actually work as intended) with moving up in price. The first key difference that sets the Chariot apart is the ball joint connection to the bike that allows the bike to move very freely, even lay down without disturbing the trailer, and if you ride enough you will fall. Second is the seat that has an actual bench and back to keep the kids sitting properly and to keep them from sliding into one another unlike the sagging Burley seats. Last but not least the suspension is a work of art that actually works as designed unlike other afterthought suspensions from aforementioned makers. These are the major things that seperate the Cougar from the pack but the list goes on. If you are tryig to decide between the two and are willing to pay slightly more then get the Cougar, period. Have fun the kids will love it.

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

We bought a Chariot Cougar 2 for our 14 month old after seeing how he always slid forward in his Schwinn Turbo trailer. The price difference is quite a lot, but it is definitely worth it. Especially if you have a kid younger than two and the trails you're riding are less than perfect in terms of bumps and irregularities.

The seat is padded and so do the shoulder straps. The shoulder strap padding is actually a huge "V" shaped single piece pad that covers all the way from one shoulder to the other including the "between the legs" buckle that comes from the seat. It also has a slit at the bottom of the "V" so that you can buckle the lap belt through it.

The adjustable suspension is great! I was skeptical of the "adjustable" part at first, but you can hear the suspension bottoming out if it is set too soft for the weight you're carrying. It can also be individually adjusted for left and right according to the weight of the child on that side.

The Chariot Travel System (CTS) attachments are very easy to attach and store on the trailer when not in use with the VersaWing system. I recommend you check the video instructions out on Chariot website for VersaWing and CTS. Being able to store the stroller/jogger (or both) kit on the trailer while you're pulling the trailer behind your bike and swap them for the biking kit in a matter of seconds is a great option.

It tracks very very lightly behind your bike. To be honest, not that our previous one tracked bad or anything, but compared to that one, the Chariot "glides" behind your bike. The bike attachment is very vell thought out, it fits my bike with rear disc brake very good without any interference. Our son is so comfortable in it that he hasn't been able to stay awake for more than 25-30 minutes when we're riding. The "helmet pocket" is very nice too, when my son is in it, the back of the helmet doesn't rest on the seat back, it comfortably gets recessed in the helmet pocket at the top of the seat back letting him to keep his neck and head upright. It also has one mesh storage (with wallet/purse section) and a big corduroy storage bag at the back. The corduroy bag/section can be folded almost flush with the trailer and is large enough to store a slim/medium picnic coolers so that you can store drinks and food for those ride-n-eat picnics.

The things I wish it had though, the reclining seat when he sleeps and some adjustment for the sun screen. Other than those it is a great product that is well thought out. I also wish that at least one CTS kit of customer's choice should have been included with it. Buying the chassis and then paying extra for cycling or jogging or stroller kit is a bit unexpected when all their competitors include the biking and strolling kit standard.

I definitely recommend the Cougar to anyone that's going to ride regularly with their kid/s. What it lacks in affordability, it makes up in comfort and multi-purposed, wide range utilization.

Service and delivery comments:

The store personnel was of great help. If you are here looking for reviews and hoping to get a better price on the net, do not look any further. You will not find a lower price than $600 (any store or online store), nor will you be able to find friendlier service than REI. If you still aren't become a member and you'll get a sizable end-of-year rebate from this purchase

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

Tried the Burley D'lite, returned it and picked up the Chariot.

I use this much more than I expected to. I thought I would just use it for the occasional 1 hour training ride. I take it everywhere now.

My son loves it (will climb in himself and try and put the harness on).

I frequently take this (and my son) to whole foods to pick up the shipping.

Pros:

- Hitch is easy to use
- harness / seat works really well
- storage is separate from the main compartment (and is large)
- suspension really works
- light
- easy to tow (I like that it is directly behind the bike)
- very easy to collapse
- towing bar comes off quickly to make it a good stroller for shopping

Cons:

- no drainage hole at the lowest point in the passenger compartment (so spilled milk pools)
- putting the stroller wheels on takes a minute and is a little awkward (but really work once they are on!)
- no "foot" on the towing bar so this rests directly on the ground when you take it off the bike
- can't connect hitch with one hand

Probably use it 3 times a week now and love it.

Dan

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

I love this thing! We live 2 miles from the beach, and I have a 7-mile loop along the water I love to do after dinner, so I have ample opportunity to use this trailer with my daughter. She loves it, and routinely falls asleep in the trailer on our evening rides. Once home, I quietly add the optional castering wheels and take the dog for a walk...sweeeet!On the weekends, we avoid parking hassles and bike the 2 miles to the beach. The storage area behind the trailer is plenty big for towels, buckets, diapers, and a change of clothes. My Daughter has shared her ride with friends (we bought the double in case we have another!) and there's plenty of room for two. The safety straps are top-notch and the people at Chariot have thought of everything: quick-disconnect shoulder straps so you can convert from one to two passengers in a jiffy...and integrated shade and mosquito covers that are a snap to roll down (or up) to keep baby happy.There's great visibility through the windows, the suspension ensures a comfy ride, and rolling resistance is minimal. Fully loaded I'm towing an extra 50 lbs (with substantial aerodynamic drag)...so my "modest" 7-mile loop turns into a nice 30 min cardio work-out! (which is what I wanted!)The fit-and-finish on the unit is top-notch and you can just tell the folks at Chariot have put a lot of thought into the design. I would buy it again in an instant (We waited for the REI spring sale...[$] off...thanks REI!)If the price is holding you back, ask yourself the following questions and answer honestly: Am I an avid biker? Do I live in an area where I could use it often? Safely? Short Rides(<1 hour)?If you answered "no" to any of these (or you have to drive to a location and then go biking) you may want to opt for something less pricey, so you don't feel too bad if you don't use it often. In my case, I knew my habits and abilities, and our area is relatively flat and free-flowing (not to mention coast-line rides)...our only "unknown" was whether or not our Daughter would like it!The price of the trailer, amortized over the two to four years I am likely to use it make this a worthwhile purchase for me. [...]. All in all, it's a fantastic product and has enabled our family to expose our daughter to the outdoors in a fun and convenient way; what more can you ask for?p.s. here's a tip when getting baby used to any bike-trailer:Make sure you are just about "ready to roll" before you put the child's helmet on. They usually don't like wearing them at first, but if you start your ride as soon as you strap their helmet on, they are more likely to focus on the cool ride and forget that thing on their head. Eventually, they learn to associate the helmet with the outing, and then they even put their helmets on themselves.

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

I LOVE THIS CHARIOT! The first time I got my 9 month old son in it, he loved it! He fell asleep while in it as a bike trailer. Very easy to use, easy to set up--not like the Burley ones. No tools needed to set up. Although I have to have my husband carry it into our 4runner's trunk...it's very smooth on the road. My son was so comfortable in it. I LOVE the cover over my son's head so sun doesn't burn him. Side windows are tinted, the inside is vented. The only downside is I wish the flag folds smaller so I can easily tuck it in my son's Chariot when not in use, but I guess that is just a very minor setback. Asides to that...IT'S THE BEST INVESTMENT I'VE EVER MADE. The price is worth it!!! Like what they say...you get what you pay for!

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

ok, so I know that REI and Chariot will never condone such use, but I had my son in this at 2 weeks old with Big Sister sitting happily next to him. I just swaddled my son tightly in blankets and created a "bed" to lie on by using more blankets folded in the foot area of the carriage, rear facing for the first few weeks, now front facing at 6 weeks. He was totally content and safe. By the end of our first run, both kids were sound asleep. And on that first run, I was expecting to walk it but decided to just try it out for running and it was suprisingly easier than I expected.
The Chariot is great for all of it's avaialable options (expensive as they may get) and it's easy to put all the pieces on too. My daughter seems to love the side windows and I love how easy the rain fly/windshield thing is to use since it is always attached, yet so easily stowed when not needed (not often in Washington!).
My husband used this a few times last fall as a bike trailer and our daughter loved that too. Husband has been very impressed with the forthought given by Chariot as far as all the options and little extras (storage pockets, wheel holder, storage for accessories, etc, etc) and also impressed with how well it rides as a trailer.
Not that it's EASY to run or bike with 2 kids in tow, but if you're going to do it, this is the way to go. Well worth the extra money!

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

Chariot Carriers are the best! I have well or a 1000 miles on ours. From bike rides to running or just going to the fair. We have done rides well over 3 hours with 2 kids and a dvd player not a problem. Tracks great behind my bikes mountain or road. Price steep but worth every penny!!!!!

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

We own the older model and love it. We use ours with the jogging kit and trailer kit. Our kids fit well and love the ride. The adjustable suspension is great especially after picking up groceries or carrying one versus both kids. The two kits are easily switched and stow securely on the trailer/stroller when not in use so they’re never lost. Having strapped my eldest’s car seat to a toboggan in Aspen for an X-country trek, this would have been perfect; I just can’t justify the cost for the XC kit for only one trip a year. As a trailer it pulls well and the suspension makes the ride comfortable for the kiddies. As a jogger it tracks well although the brake kit is a little hokey but works well. The upgrades to the 2008 model make it near perfect, particularly the parking brake. The only complaints would be the weight with all the kits it adds up to be a little much for my wife loading it into the car, the size when folded is remarkably compact but still too big for some vehicles, and it would be nice if it could attach to our bike carrier for transport. If you have two bikes buy an extra hitch, they are remarkably quick and easy to use. We used to own a Burly and love this way more. All in all it is the best of what I’ve seen and as sturdy as it is and as well as it performs it is quite a bargain, especially if you don’t want to clutter the garage and if you can buy it on sale.

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

We pull the trailer behind our mountain bikes on ruff dirt roads with no complaints from the passengers. They stay safe, dust free and cozy. I love all the attachments!

Comments about Chariot Carriers Cougar 2 Stroller / Trailer Chassis - 2008:

I was apprehensive at first about buying this product. I already have a bike trailer and a jog stroller, so technically I didn't need this. I wanted it because I was tired of looking back at my kids while I was biking and seeing them falling against each other in my Quick-n-EZ trailer. That thing should have been called Cheap-n-Flimsy, but that's beside the point. I bought the jogging and biking attachments for this. First off, it was so easy to put together, it took me 1 minute. Second, putting the attachment on my bike took maybe 5 minutes to do. When I biked with the trailer I almost felt I wasn't trailing anything. It was so easy. The only thing you need to watch out for is when/if you make a hard right because your rear tire will hit the arm. That doesn't bother me because I don't get crazy while I have the girls with me. I debated on buying the jogging attachment, but I did it anyway, and I am so happy I did. I also have a Baby Trend Double Expedition and have been very happy with that, but let me tell you, this blows that out of the water! The ease of pushing this is amazing. We run anywhere from 3-5 miles a day, and I would have a hard time doing it before with the old stroller. With this one I could keep going after 5 miles if I wanted to. I can't tell you exactly what makes it so much easier, but it just is. If I had to say bad things about this I would say that I don't like that the child seat does not recline. My kids fall asleep in it just fine anyway, so not a huge deal. Also, I would like to have a real cup holder on the handle bars. I know I can buy another attachment, but this piece meal stuff is getting a bit old and expensive. As for REI, they were great.[...]I know this is a long post, but when I research a product (especially one that is somewhat pricey) I really appreciate it when people are very indepth. I like to know what I am getting, so I hope this helps some of you. Get out there and enjoy it!