Burley’s new Bark Ranger bike pet trailer offers more than an adorably-named way to cart your furry friend around. The fold-down unit comes in two sizes (and corresponding weight capacities), with features for two-legged and four-legged rider comfort.
A ton of features we wouldn’t have thought of are on board. Highlights include tool-less conversion from trailer to stroller and even an option to swap the wheels for skis.
Bark Ranger bike pet trailer specs
The Bark Ranger starts with a “roomy” interior compartment with mesh windows to keep your best friend comfy. Two sizes are available. The standard size measures 24″ H x 16″ W x 36″ L. The XL, built for the burliest good boys and girls, is 30″ H x 22″ W x 36″ L.
The regular-sized Bark Ranger accommodates dogs up to 75 lbs; the XL can carry 100-pounders. A rear tailgate helps passengers get in and out easily, and a bed insert (sold separately) gives them plush digs inside. And the front mesh panel zips off over the top so adventurous doggos can feel the wind in their face.
A parking brake should make the rig stay put during scheduled stops. And multiple storage pockets on the outside panels let the rider store leashes, treats, pick-up bags, etc., somewhere other than inside their backpack. Finally, you can add even more storage space with the attachable Pet Trailer Pouch and/or Bark Ranger Bag. Both are about the size of a fanny pack.
You can also convert the Bark Ranger to a stroller without tools. The trailer comes with the parts to swap out the more extended, single-wheel tongue for a short two-wheel set up in front. After you switch from rolling to strolling, you can push it along with the handle on the back.
Skip to 3:25 in the video above for a somewhat psychedelic twist. I don’t live in the frozen north, but I’ve never seen a cyclist pulling their dog in a trailer on skis before. Maybe the Bark Ranger will set a precedent. Riders can also opt for burlier wheels and tires for off-roading it.
When it’s time to hang up the leash for the day, you can remove the Bark Ranger’s cabin from the trailer, then fold it down by releasing a clip on top.
Tail Wagon
You get what you pay for with the Bark Ranger, but there’s also a more affordable option in the Tail Wagon.
Tail Wagon basics, plus Burley trailers availability and pricing
The Tail Wagon, essentially a more rudimentary version of the Bark Ranger, folds down for storage. Its unique abilities more or less end there; it’s a straightforward mesh-ventilated, 75 lb. capacity pet trailer. It bypasses the front wheel and a lot of the Swiss Army-style swap-ability.
The Tail Wagon does fulfill one essential utility: a lower price point. It starts at MSRP $400. And while it’s hard to point out anything Burley didn’t think of on the Bark Ranger, you’ll pay for what you get. It checks in at MSRP $600 or $700 (XL variant).
Both trailers arrive in late March 2022.
