The Retrospec Rover Plus is an affordable bike trailer that performs really well even when compared to more expensive options. This makes it a great option for families on a budget who want to get out on the road with multiple kids that can’t ride (or can’t ride far!).
With comfortable seating and straps for the kids, lots of storage (enough to pop a balance bike in the back!), and the ability to fold down flat for transport, we were big fans!
In fact, we liked it so much that we added it to our list of the best bike trailers.
Review In A Nutshell
Pros:
- Comfortable seat/straps
- Affordable price
- Plenty of storage and pocket options
- Folds down easily and quite flat
- Pretty colors that will be less susceptible to fading
Cons:
- No option for a stroller or ski attachment
- Clear windows
- Doesn’t fit on bikes with thru-axles (without 3rd party modification)
Price: $199 (single) / $229 (double)
Comfortable Seat and Strap System
The feature that made this trailer for us, and that would honestly have us choosing this over more expensive trailers, was the seat and strap system.
In our Burley Bee, for example, the hammock seat seems pretty uncomfortable for younger kids, especially if you’re asking them to wear their helmet. They sit very hunched over, which tends to push their helmet down over their eyes, and the straps don’t seem super comfortable either. It’s significant enough that some of our kids didn’t last very long on rides before tears.
The Rover’s seat, on the other hand, has the kids sitting in a much more upright position, has enhanced seat tension, and has a lot more room for their head and helmet. Our 16-month-old daughter didn’t have an issue at all with having her helmet on. The straps are comfortable and very easy to adjust.
Another slick feature is that although it’s a double trailer, they have a third between the leg strap in the middle of the seat, so if you’re pulling just one kiddo they can sit in the middle, giving them more space and the parent a more balanced ride. You do need to re-thread the straps, so it’s not something you can easily go back and forth between, but would be an option if you had the double but your older child outgrew it.
The footwell is also more roomy than our Burley, and seems quite a bit more comfortable for them.
The padded 5-point safety harness is simple to adjust, easy to buckle, but hard for kiddos to escape, and fits a variety of child sizes. The max weight for this trailer is 80lbs, so your family can use this for a long time!
There are other trailers out there that have a bit higher max weight limit (the Burley Bee can carry up to 100lbs), but we’ve found that by the time we have two 40lb children at least one of them is biking on their own, so this isn’t a make or break item for us.
The interior is quite roomy. We have the double and use it with a 3 year old and 1.5 year old, and while they’re definitely touching, they have plenty of space to be content and comfortable.
Both sides have pockets for each kiddo to keep their treasures, waterbottle, snacks and more.
Smooth ride and an easy pull
When compared to other “budget” bike trailers, the premium 20-inch wheels wheels and tires really set the Retrospec Retro Rover Plus apart. On cheaper trailers, we tend to see smaller 16-inch wheels, often with plastic rims.
The wheels on the Rover Plus offer a smooth rolling and fairly cushioned ride for the kiddo inside. The pneumatic (air) tires are knobby, and the rims are aluminum with stainless steel spokes.
The larger wheel size also means that the trailer rolls more smoothly and is able to make it up and over obstacles.
The trailer rolls great from the parents’ pulling perspective, no tugging or jerking, or excessive bumping around. It didn’t feel excessively heavy even with two riders inside.
The Rover doesn’t have any suspension, but the larger grooved tires seem to give the kiddos a decently comfortable ride if you’re not doing lots of rocks. It also does just fine off-road, as far as trailers go.
The trailer attaches to the parent bike super easily, and to the top of the tow bar, making it quick to do. There is a secondary safety strap as backup as well. Retrospec made the small, but impactful, decision to attach the pin to the arm with a strap, so you’re not in danger of losing it–something that’s quite likely when you’re distracted with kids!
This trailer won’t work on a thru axle, unfortunately, but that seems to be the case with most “affordable” bike trailers out there. My bike is a quick-release skewer and it works just fine, but hubby’s bike with a thru axle is not compatible.
If you have a bike with a thru-axle don’t despair. however! Look into buying an adaptor from Robert Axle Project.
Windows And Doors
The front “door” and rear door zip into place, while the base of the door velcroes to the footwell cover. This is one thing I don’t love. In my experience, velcro on anything outdoor-related wears out fast, or at the very least gets full of dirt, leaves, etc and doesn’t work as well.
In comparison, the Burley has little plastic rings that hook on metal levers to hold the door down, and this feels more durable long-term to me.
There is both a mesh and rain cover, for both the back and front, giving lots of airflow on those hot sunny days!
Both the cover and windows (and overall the whole trailer!) seems quite durable, especially for this more affordable price point.
The only downfall are the clear (rather than tinted) windows. Things like the sun in a child’s eyes can really make or break your ride when kiddos are young.
Plenty Of Storage
In addition to the inside pockets and the rear storage space, there are also outside pockets making it very easy to access important items quickly–say a pacifier or your keys! The rear “trunk” is both large and easily accessible. It’s even big enough for a balance bike for when your older child runs out of steam and wants a ride with the youngest.
Trailer Construction
The Retrospec Rover Plus has a lightweight aluminum frame, that folds down and in on itself, making it super easy to travel with and load into the back of a vehicle.
The wheels aren’t quite as easy to pop off as others on the market, but there are no tools needed. The included orange safety flag pole is in two parts, so that also fits well in trunks.
The exterior boasts plenty of hi-vis accents: wrap around tape, rreflectors, and an orange visibility flag.
Another thing I appreciated was that not only is the fabric weather resistant, but the colors of this trailer are great for camouflaging any sun fading that may happen. The bright colors of our Burley have definitely made fading very evident. There isn’t an option to buy an extra weather cover, so this is helpful.
No Conversion Kits
The Rover Plus does not offer the ability to convert to a stroller, and there are no other conversion kits available either (no XC ski, jogging, etc). With the exception of an additional trailer coupler attachment (a great idea if you switch which bike pulls often), there aren’t any other accessories, cover, etc available for this trailer.
If you’re looking for something that can be used for multiple sports, consider a trailer like the Thule Chariot instead.
In Comparison
In comparison to the other trailer we have, the Burley Bee, which is significantly more expensive, I think this performs just as well, if not better in some areas.
The seat style and strap system resulted in a happier passenger, which is always the overall goal for us. A happy kiddo who loves to ride means a more enjoyable ride for Mom and Dad! That factor alone would put the Retrospec Retro Rover on the top of the list.
Combine that with the way it folds down and how flat it gets, how light and easy it is to move around, and the more fade-resistant colors, would have me buying this version over the more expensive one even if it didn’t save us money.
The slight disadvantages such as the tinted windows on the Bee, the higher weight limit, or the option for other accessories, doesn’t outweigh the comfort for the rider, or convince me to spend the extra cash.
Bottom line
Bottom line is we (and our kids) loved this trailer! The only things that could make it better are tinted windows and a higher weight limit, but they’re not make or break for us. This is a great trailer option, especially at this price point, to get your family with multiple children out on the trails!
More Help Riding With Young Kids
- Bike Trailer Vs. Bike Seat: Which Is Right For You?
- 7 Bicycle Safety Tips For Riding With Kids
- Biking With Baby: From Newborn To Infant To Toddler
About The Reviewer
Kelley Asbury is a mom of three and enjoys mountain biking in Minnesota with her husband and kids. In addition to riding and writing, Kelly is a professional photographer at KelleyJoImaging.com.